CE PROGRAMMING PLAN 2Q09

1

• CE PROGRAMMING PLAN 2Q09

MAY UPDATE
2
MAY 2Q09

• HIGHLIGHTS/PRIORITIES

• Ancient Megastructures (6 x 60) Wed 3rd _at_ 2200

Ancient Megastructures tells the incredible story
behind the construction of 6 of the world's most
iconic ancient monuments. Each episode will be
the definitive story of how each of these
astonishing buildings was constructed and will
follow the story on a number of levels
scientific, engineering, human. They are dramatic
stories full of jeopardy, wrong-turns, and the
flashes of inspiration that turned these awesome
dreams into an even more awesome reality.
Ep 1 Petra, Wed 3rd
Stuck between a rock and a hard place in the
unforgiving deserts of Petra, in modern day
Jordan, the Nabataean dream of a glorious royal
city must have seemed like little more than a
very grand mirage. Standing at the crossroads of
the ancient Near East, discover how these wealthy
traders would turn engineering on its head to
create one of the most awe-inspiring monuments,
the Khazneh. Discover how the Nabataeans held
back flash-floods to protect their greatest
monument, and why clues hidden deep in the
building reveal the great king whose vision
created this masterpiece. We travel back through
time to reveal how human resourcefulness and
courageous endeavour would create one of the
ancient worlds most magnificent megastructures,
the Khazneh.
Ep 2 Machu Picchu, Wed 13th
To celebrate his god-like status as "Son of the
Sun God", the creator of the Inca Empire,
Pachacuti the "World-Shaker" orders the building
of an "impossible" city in the sky - a sacred
residence where he will commune with his fellow
gods. The site, perched high in the Andes almost
two-and-a-half kilometres above sea level,
presents the Emperor's engineers with an almost
impossible task. How to make sure this city of
spectacular temples, altars, residences, and
fountains will resist the torrential rains,
landslides, and earth tremors of the region.
Brilliantly conceived, perfectly executed, using
techniques that even surpass those of today, the
Inca create their masterpiece Machu Picchu.
Ep 3 Angkor Wat, Wed 20th
Hidden deep in the impenetrable jungle of
Cambodia, the mighty temple of Angkor Wat is a
humbling representation of the Hindu universe. A
usurper king who seizes the throne by murdering
his great uncle, King Suryavarman II seeks to
justify his absolute power over the enormous
Khmer Empire with a towering monument to Hindu
god Vishnu. The largest of the five huge towers
soars 65m into the sky, surrounded by a network
of concentric courtyards, causeways and
outbuildings, all guarded by an enormous 200 m
wide moat. Experts estimate workers must cut and
transport at least 300 blocks of sandstone
weighing from three to fifteen tonnes every day
to ensure the temple is completed in
Suryavarman's lifetime.
Ep 4 St Pauls Cathedral, Wed 27th
England 1666. A great fire engulfs the city of
London, devastating everything in its path,
including the magnificent Gothic cathedral of Old
St Paul's. Christopher Wrens dream is to raise a
new cathedral from the ashes, the centre piece of
a city set to rival the grandeur of Ancient Rome.
With a mathematicians belief in the inherent
superiority of Classical architecture, Wren wants
to create England's first Baroque cathedral,
crowned by a great dome. But even before the
first stone is laid, he faces unprecedented
challenges. Through a mixture of defiance,
cunning and engineering brilliance, Wren sets out
to realise his vision. And 36 years later, the
Phoenix of St Paul's rises from the ashes of the
Great Fire to become an iconic landmark of
London.
Ep 5 Istanbuls Hagia Sofia,
Ep 6 The Alhambra
IN JUNE
3
MAY 2Q09

• HIGHLIGHTS/PRIORITIES

• Inside The Wire Guantanamo (120 mins) Sun 10th
  _at_ 2100

Now - for the first time in Guantanamo's history
- National Geographic Television is poised to
secure exclusive access to film an in-depth look
"inside the wire." With the broad goal of
creating a balanced portrait of this
controversial place, our production will take an
unprecedented and immersive look at the troopers,
the operations officers, and the intelligence
officers as they go about their daily tasks.
These tasks will likely include controversial
activities like an interrogation and officers
responding to "non-compliant" detainees. From
specific immersive moments, we'll expand out to
hear from key individuals who can provide context
and perspective on how the practices at
Guantanamo connect to larger questions of policy,
allowing us to explore the history and
controversy of this place. In classic National
Goegraphic style, this will be a portrait of
Guantanamo from the ground up, driven by the
characters we meet and their immediate mission,
with an unflinching exploration of the most
difficult issues.

• Inside Marijuana Sun 3rd _at_ 2200

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug on
the planet. In most countries, this plant is
illegal some brand it as dangerous others seem
to look the other way. In the U.S. the federal
government places it in the same category as
heroin. Across the globe, bold growers plant
"gardens" in national forests, national parks and
suburban homes converted into greenhouses.
Scientists who study this plant consider it among
the most complex in the plant kingdom with 400
active chemicals and compounds. And in California
alone, the marijuana trade out paces the entire
wine industry, placing it among the largest cash
crops in the United States. Intertwined with
culture, economics, law enforcement and perhaps
medical miracles, this plant holds both peril and
promise.
4
MAY 2Q09

• HIGHLIGHTS/PRIORITIES

OTHERS
Dangerous Encounters Thu 7th _at_ 2200
Take an adventure with Dr. Brady Barr as he
tangles with some of the most fearsome beasts on
the planet in an effort to inform the public and
promote wildlife conservation.
Egypt Special Sun 31st from 2100
Egypt Secrets Of The Dead 2100
Innovative, fast-paced, full of cutting-edge
recreations, exciting archaeology and CGI, it is
like no other film on ancient Egypt. It pitches
us head-on into the lives and deaths of ancient
Egyptians, and the nightmarish, beautiful,
terrifying territory through which they had to
travel after death. For the first time on film, a
true exploration of the stunning depth of ancient
Egypts fascination with dying and death.
Egypt King Tut Uncovered 2200 REPEAT
To this day, a number of objects belonging to the
untouched golden treasure of Tutankhamen have
been missing since its initial discovery by
Howard Carter in 1922. Recent discoveries prove
that Carter, together with his financial backer
Lord Carnavron, had already entered the burial
chamber before the official opening. The
"Tutankhamen task force" comprised of chief
investigator Dr. Abdul Kareem Abu Shanab and
archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass trace the movements
of grave robbers, crooks and scientists to go in
search of the pharaoh's treasure in places that
have been hidden from the public eyeuntil now.