A SEA CHANGE FOR DEADLIEST CATCH: FRESH CONFLICT, NEW CAPTAINS JOIN TV'S ULTIMATE REALITY

New Season Premieres Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 9 PM (ET/PT) on Discovery Channel

(Silver Spring, Md) - New blood, old wounds and rivalries that never die. For some it's a season of change; for others, a chance to make a name for themselves, but some things remain constant: the perilous, icy waters of the Bering Sea and most dangerous job in the world. After a record breaking, heartbreaking season last year, the Emmy award-winning DEADLIEST CATCH returns to Discovery Channel, Tuesday, April 12 at 9 pm ET/PT.

The dark clouds and long shadow of their father's death still hang heavy on sons Josh and Jake Harris but now they need to show the rest of the fleet that they can come back and step it up as co-owners of the Cornelia Marie.

After briefly auditioning successors in the wheelhouse of the Time Bandit last season, Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand are center stage again with no intention of stepping down but they soon find their lucky streak in crabbing could be coming to an end.

Over on the Northwestern, Captain Sig Hansen is left guessing if his brother Edgar is even showing up at all this season. And the usually steady and reliable, Captain Keith Colburn gambles and ventures into uncharted fishing grounds hoping for a big payoff for the Wizard.

Two new boats join the fleet this season. Dubbed "the floating frat house," the Ramblin' Rose introduces a young, rowdy crew skippered by Elliot Neese, all of 28 years old, and already boasting about his fishing prowess. Seabrooke Captain Scott Campbell Jr., 36, adds youth and cockiness as well but behind the steely confidence, Junior is still haunted by the loss of a deckhand at sea. Can he battle back and conquer his demons?

"DEADLIEST CATCH has the best storytelling on television. Our captains and crew are real, raw and magnetic characters who bring an intense and honest reality to everything in their world," said Clark Bunting, President and General Manager, Discovery Channel.

DEADLIEST CATCH is produced for Discovery Channel by Original Productions. Thom Beers, Jeff Conroy and Bill Pruitt are executive producers, Matt Renner is series producer. For Discovery Channel, Paul Gasek and Tracy Rudolph are executive producers.

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in over 180 countries, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 180 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, Planet Green and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.