Fox Reality Channel Heats Up This Fall with The Academy: Orange County Fire

Tune in Saturday, October 24 at 9p/8c to Meet a Sizzling New Group of Recruits

LOS ANGELES -- More than 2,500 firefighters have courageously battled the destructive wildfires that have burned over 160,000 acres of land in Southern California over the last few weeks. Fox Reality Channel's groundbreaking original series, The Academy: Orange County Fire, premiering Saturday, October 24 at 9p/8c, will give viewers a unique opportunity to see exactly what firefighters go though in order to prepare for such blazes.

The Academy: Orange County Fire marks the third season of the Fox Reality Channel original series franchise, The Academy. Only the toughest can take the heat when California's Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) opens its doors to give viewers an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the training process for recruits of OCFA Recruit Academy 36. Watch as 28 recruits endure 18-weeks of grueling fire academy training in order to become Orange County Firefighters.

"After two seasons of following every physical and emotional step made by recruits for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, Fox Reality Channel is expanding The Academy franchise to encompass the intense training process of another highly respected public service department," said Bob Boden, SVP of Programming, Production & Development at Fox Reality Channel. "The Academy: Orange County Fire provides viewers with all the drama and passion they've come to expect from The Academy series.

The Academy: Orange County Fire also follows a team of instructors known as the "Cadre", who guide the recruits through their journey to the frontlines of firefighting. The rigorous training with the Orange County Fire Authority team includes fighting wildfires, structural fires and dealing with building collapses as well as the handling of hazardous materials, working with vehicle and aircraft fires, and proficiency in emergency and rescue activities.

The Academy: Orange County Fire is produced by Scott Sternberg Productions. Scott Sternberg and Scott Weinberger are executive producers of The Academy franchise. The duo, along with Tracy Whittaker, are also executive producers of The Academy: Orange County Fire. The previous two seasons of the hit series, The Academy, followed classes of recruits for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department academy program.

"I am delighted to extend The Academy franchise with Fox Reality Channel," said Scott Sternberg, president of Scott Sternberg Productions. "Working with the OCFA has been a real highlight, and we are incredibly grateful that they opened up their doors to us. The OCFA's training academy program is one of the most demanding and rigorous in America. It's everything you would expect from an academy that prepares people for one of the toughest jobs in the world. The Academy: Orange County Fire continues to showcase the action, unique characters and intensity that have become hallmarks of The Academy franchise."

The OCFA, headquartered in Irvine, CA serves 22 cities in Orange County and all unincorporated areas, protecting over 1,380,000 residents with its 62 fire stations located throughout the county.

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ABOUT FOX REALITY CHANNEL

Fox Reality Channel launched in May 2005, to become the premier destination for lovers of unscripted programming. Fox Reality Channel is the only all-reality, all-the-time cable and satellite network featuring compelling original programming and network favorites. Fox Reality Channel is available in nearly 50 million homes and can be accessed via broadband, mobile devices and other digital platforms such as Hulu and iTunes� (excluding American Idol Extra). For more information on Fox Reality Channel programs and schedules, please visit foxreality.com.

ABOUT SCOTT STERNBERG PRODUCTIONS

Scott Sternberg Productions is a full service television production company focusing on unscripted programming. Emmy-award winning CEO, Scott Sternberg, founded Scott Sternberg Productions in 1991. The firm provides content to broadcast and cable networks, web portals and satellite radio stations. Scott Sternberg Productions also produces branded content for major non-broadcast entities. Scott Sternberg Productions is located at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, CA. Recent credits include Shatner's Raw Nerve (Bio), The Chris Isaak Hour (Bio), Hey Paula (Bravo), The Academy (Fox Reality Channel), Catch 21 (GSN) and the upcoming On The Case With Paula Zahn (Investigation Discovery). www.ssprods.com