National Geographic Channel Announces New Series RAFTING ALASKA

By: Oct. 01, 2014
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Thousands of miles into the bush, trapped on a handmade floating log island drifting down the unforgiving and sometimes volatile Yukon River, are a chosen few with no escape plan, and only the will to survive. The River, deadly predators, starvation and the ever-changing harsh environment are their worst enemies. Every year, groups of hardened Alaskan bushmen descend on the Yukon River in a last push for cash and supplies to get them through a harsh Alaska winter. Following in the footsteps of generations and generations of log rafters before them, these true Alaskans will be forced to hunt, fish, sell their logs to villages along the way and trade for their daily necessities while navigating down Alaska's largest river. Every day they will fight for their livelihood and survival. With any luck, the haul will be enough for their families to purchase the goods they'll need to make it through the long winter ahead, but in the end it's the Yukon that decides.

Premiering on National Geographic Channel in Summer 2015 and globally in 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages, new series RAFTING ALASKA (W.T.) will introduce viewers to the age-old tradition of the log-rafting trade by following a cast of adventurous travelers as they navigate along the Yukon River collecting logs to trade in camps or native townships. When they de-board their rafts at the end of the trip, they'll disassemble their makeshift shelters and sell off the timber for cash. But to get to that point, they face harsh obstacles that test their survival skills, and only the strong and masterful will survive the journey.

"Rafting Alaska embodies what our viewers want from our programming," said Tim Pastore, president, original programming and production, NGC US. "We're giving them a glimpse into the hard-core lifestyle and the pioneering spirit of these tenacious and skillful log-rafting Alaskans, invoking a sense of adventure that's based on sheer survival and 'NO WAY!' moments."

"These guys are some of the toughest I've seen - true LEGENDS in the making," said executive producer Scott Gurney, Gurney Productions. "On the Yukon it comes down to survival, and it's amazing to see what they'll do to protect each other - and their livelihoods."

For Gurney Productions, Scott Gurney and Dierdre Gurney are executive producers; Rick Sasson, Adam Flacks and Joseph Quigley are co-executive producers. For National Geographic Channel, Eric Lange is executive producer; Lynn Sadofsky is vice president, production and development; Noel Siegel is senior vice president, development and production; and Tim Pastore is president, original programming and production.

National Geographic Channels

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and FOX Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel NAT GEO WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in over 85 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.



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