CE PROGRAMMING PLAN 2Q09

1. CEPROGRAMMINGPLAN2Q09 MAY UPDATE

2. MAY 2Q09 • HIGHLIGHTS/PRIORITIES • Ancient Megastructures(6 x 60) Wed 3rd @ 22:00 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 Paul’s 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 6 – The Alhambra IN JUNE: Ep 5 – Istanbul’s Hagia Sofia,

3. MAY 2Q09 • HIGHLIGHTS/PRIORITIES • Inside The Wire: Guantanamo (120 mins) Sun 10th @ 21:00 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 @ 22:00 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 @ 22:00 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 21:00 Egypt: Secrets Of The Dead 21:00 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 22:00 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 eye…until now.