DISCOVERY CHANNEL WORLD PREMIERE SERIES GIVES VIEWERS AN INSIDE LOOK AT ONE OF THE TOUGHEST RACES ON EARTH

-- Mushers and Their Sled Dog Teams Endure 1,150 miles of Unforgiving Alaskan Wilderness along the Iditarod Trail in Hopes of Making it Across the Finish Line --

(Silver Spring, Md) � Through dense forests, over mountain ranges and across frozen rivers and isolated tundra in the wilds of Alaska � Discovery Channel was there to chronicle one of the most demanding competitions in the world though the eyes of the men and women who dared to take on the monumental challenge. TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH: IDITAROD, premiering Tuesday, October 14 at 10 PM ET/PT, follows mushers and their sled dog teams across 1,150 miles of rugged terrain as they take on Mother Nature � and each other � in The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The grueling competition from Anchorage to Nome puts the teams through the ultimate test of human and animal teamwork and endurance. Mushers prepare all year to ready not only themselves but also their team of 16 sled dogs � elite athletes in their own right. It is said that no animal on earth travels as much ground as fast as an Iditarod sled dog. Though the harsh environment and extreme concentration can take its toll on the teams, no matter how hard they trained. Of the 96 dog mushers who started the 2008 Iditarod competition, only 78 completed the race.

For TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH: IDITAROD, Discovery Channel followed seven mushers and their dog teams � both race rookies and race legends. Some are hoping to win while others are just hoping to finish. To scratch � or drop out of the competition � would be devastating for any musher who has put everything on the line for a chance to compete, including personal finances.

Mushers featured in Discovery Channel's new series include: Four-time Iditarod winner and record-holder Martin Buser, Iditarod rookie Rick Holt, pioneering musher and breast cancer survivor DeeDee Jonrowe, "winningest musher in the world" Jeff King, two-time racer and diabetic Bruce Linton, two-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey and race rookie Darin Nelson.

The Iditarod Trail is steeped in history. It was originally used as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps and eventually all he way to Nome. Mail and supplies went in and gold came out � all by dog sleds. Mushers became legends. In 1925, part of the trail became a life-saving highway. Mushers and their dog teams were called upon to bring serum to epidemic-stricken Nome and save the town from Diphtheria that had overtaken it. The Iditarod is a commemoration of those brave and legendary mushers and their faithful dogs.

TOUGHEST RACE ON EARTH: IDITAROD is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Productions. Thom Beers and Phillip Segal are executive producers and Jeff Conroy is co-executive producer. For Discovery Channel, Paul Gasek and Tim Pastore are executive producers.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications 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, 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. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.