Discovery’s biggest year of local production

Discovery Channel has its biggest year of local productions this year.

Yesterday it premiered Saltwater Heroes, featuring Andrew ‘ET’ Ettinghausen learning what it takes to make it as a commercial fisherman.

From Mackerel, mud crabs and sea slugs; to crocodiles, lobsters and squid, ‘ET’ experiences first-hand the daily dangers faced by the men and women whose livelihood depends on these hauls.

In the next couple of months will be John Eales Reveals: Life After Sport an eye-opening series which looks at some of the physical, psychological and social issues experienced by elite athletes as they struggle to make the transition from normal human to superhuman and back again and features interviews with former athletes including Grant Hackett, Lauren Jackson, Layne Beachley and Shane Webcke.

Then head back to South Australia for a highly-anticipated new season of Abalone Wars which sees the divers return to battle the elements, fulfill their multimillion dollar quotas, play roulette with their nemesis, The Great White Shark, and face new challenges along the way. The deep sea action continues with the return of Shark Week in December and will feature new documentaries filmed in Australia.

Two new location productions are set to premiere on Animal Planet. Snake Boss follows ex-pastry chef Julia Baker as she embarks on her new career as a snake wrangler. From encountering deadly eastern brown snakes inside children’s bedrooms to removing them off roofs, this brand new series will follow her as she visits the homes of Brisbane residents to remove unwanted slippery visitors. The later in the year Animal Planet goes on The Hunt for the Tassie Tiger which sets out to discovery if this infamous species is extinct or not.