British 18th Century 'First-Rate' Warship and Bronze Cannon Discovered by Odyssey
Marine Exploration and Captured in Discovery's Original Series TREASURE QUEST
LONDON and SILVER SPRING, Md., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
HMS Victory Subject of Thursday, February 5 Episode of 11-part Series
Odyssey Marine Exploration (OME) announced today that it has found the HMS
Victory, believed to be one of Britain's greatest historic shipwrecks and
potentially an estimated value of one billion dollars for four tons of gold.
Featured in the fourth episode of Discovery Channel's world premiere original
series TREASURE QUEST, to air in the U.S. on Thursday, February 5 at 10PM
EST/PST, viewers will witness first-hand how each artifact and piece of evidence
leads OME to this resounding conclusion. In the UK, viewers can tune in to a
two-part special TREASURE QUEST: Victory Special beginning Sunday, February 8 at
9PM GMT.
"Discovery has a nearly 25-year history of documenting exploration as it
unfolds and our series TREASURE QUEST is the latest example of being at the
forefront of the action," said John Ford, President and General Manager of
Discovery Channel. "This ongoing series provides viewers with the perfect blend
of adventure, knowledge and edge of your seat excitement. Being able to follow
OME as they search the ocean floor for shipwrecks is a thrill ride each week."
As reported by Odyssey Marine Exploration, they discovered and solved in 2008
one of the world's most enduring naval mysteries. In 1744, HMS Victory, the
direct predecessor to Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, was the
largest and most sophisticated warship in the world. This first-rate, three-
decked man-of-war is the only ship lost with a complete consignment of 110 bronze
cannon, including colossal 42-pounders, the biggest guns in the world and the
ultimate naval deterrent.
Victory was lost in the English Channel, presumably during a ferocious storm
in October 1744, which took its more than 900 souls, including one of the
greatest Admirals in British naval history, Sir John Balchin. The wreck site was
discovered in a location approximately 100 kilometers from where it has long
believed to have been lost, countering the legend that it was lost on the Casquet
rocks due to faulty navigation and a lighthouse that had gone dim.
Online, viewers in the U.S. can dive deeper into the shipwrecks featured in
TREASURE QUEST at discovery.com/treasurequest. Online features include shipwreck
tours, disaster timelines and a treasure chest that details the types of coins
and artifacts brought up from the depths. Users will get a closer look at life
on a modern-day exploration vessel in exclusive webisodes, from gourmet meals
(fruit sculptures!?) to MacGyver-like ingenuity and high-seas hijinks. Odyssey's
unique and spectacular shipwreck photomosaics and crystal clear images of
previously undiscovered deep ocean sites will also be available on the site.
about this hidden treasure. For territories outside the US and the UK, more
TREASURE QUEST airs Thursday nights at 10PM EST/PST in the US. The series
will premiere in the UK on Sunday, February 20 at 9PM GMT. TREASURE QUEST will
also premiere on Discovery Channel throughout Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin
America and the Asia-Pacific beginning this spring.
The series is produced for Discovery Channel by JWM Productions. Jason
Williams and Bill Morgan are executive producers for JWM. Paul Gasek is
executive producer for Discovery Channel.
Media can log on to press.discovery.com for additional information about
TREASURE QUEST and today's announcement, download photos, or to watch the
February 2nd press conference with Odyssey Marine Exploration (video available
after 12noon EST).
About JWM Productions
JWM Productions is one of the world's leading non-fiction production
companies. Their clients have included almost every major broadcaster in the US,
the UK and around the world. Founded by multiple Emmy Award-winning producers
Jason Williams and Bill Morgan in 1996, JWM has now filmed over 200 hours of
high-definition broadcast programming, on six continents and in every situation
imaginable.
TREASURE QUEST, their latest Discovery Channel series, was filmed between May
and November in the Western Approaches to the British Isles as well as in the
English Channel. During production, a rotating crew of producers, cameramen, and
technical assistants lived, ate, and worked alongside the Odyssey Marine
Exploration team. Further information about past and current JWM Productions
About Discovery Channel
DISCOVERY CHANNEL (DSC) is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-
fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all
its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which reaches 98.1 million
viewers in the US, can be seen in over 170 countries, offering a signature mix of
compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres
including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth,
behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISAD, DISBD, DISCK) is the world's number
one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative
subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their
world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by
Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green,
Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and
educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media
services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit
SOURCE: Discovery Channel
CONTACT: Elizabeth Hillman:
+1-240-461-3053,
Elizabeth_Hillman@discovery.com,
Amy Hagovsky,
+1-240-662-2931,
Amy_Hagovsky@discovery.com,
or Cecelia Bender,
+1-240-463-5325,
Cecelia_Bender@discovery.com,
all for Discovery Channel
(DISAD DISBD DISCK)
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