"AERIAL AMERICA" LIFTS OFF WITH NEW EPISODES BEGINNING SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 ON SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL

Aerial Tour of the 50 States Continues With Louisiana, New Mexico, Michigan, Nevada, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and More

New Year's Day 24-Hour Marathon Features Encore Presentations of All Previously Aired Episodes

New York, NY - December 22, 2011 - Smithsonian Channel's overhead tour of the 50 states continues as it rolls out nine new episodes of AERIAL AMERICA beginning Sunday, January 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The most expansive aerial television project ever produced, AERIAL AMERICA provides rare glimpses of some of our nation's most treasured and unusual landmarks, telling stories that can only be revealed from the air.

For those looking to get caught up on the series, Smithsonian Channel is presenting a 24-hour AERIAL AMERICA marathon starting at 6 a.m. on New Year's Day, January 1. Some of the states featured during the marathon include New York, California, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee and others.

Upcoming AERIAL AMERICA premiere episodes:

AERIAL AMERICA: LOUISIANA - Premieres Sunday, January 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT Visit the state where the Big Muddy comes to an end and the Big Easy comes to life. Louisiana is home to both great celebrations and great devastation. From cool jazz to hot cooking, from a vast paradise of wetlands to the giant industries endangering its fragile ecosystems, explore the stark contradictions of the Sugar State from soaring heights. Having survived natural and manmade disasters, Louisiana proves it has never lost its festive, fighting spirit.

AERIAL AMERICA: NEW MEXICO - Premieres Sunday, January 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT With 121,000 square miles and a population of just two million, New Mexico may appear to be a lonely state, but its natural wonders and rich diversity help make it an extremely popular tourist destination. Here, past, present, and future rub shoulders every day. Mexican-American culture thrives in a land settled by missionaries and conquistadors. Filmmakers keep the state's Wild West history alive. Traditional Native-American dwellings inspire modern architects. And rumors of a spaceship cover-up in Roswell have curiosity-seekers scanning the skies.

AERIAL AMERICA: NEVADA - Premieres Sunday, January 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT It is the nation's driest state and home to the brightest city in the world. Nevada is a state of extremes, of enormous booms and busts. Since 1852, dreamers have flocked to the Silver State in search of great riches, and their stories of success and failure define the state's high-stakes ethos. Join us on an aerial tour of Nevada's vast landscape, offering breathtaking views of neon-lit streets, sun-baked deserts and dazzling lakes as we expose the unique mix of glitz and grit, fantasy and reality, which make Nevada one of a kind.

ABOUT SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL

Smithsonian Channel is owned by Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution. Its programs are largely inspired by the assets of the world's largest museum complex. Smithsonian Channel features award-winning original documentaries, series, and groundbreaking programs highlighting America's historical, cultural and scientific heritage. Smithsonian Channel brings the American experience home in high definition and Dolby Digital 5.1 and is available to customers of DirecTV, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, Cablevision, Verizon, AT&T, and more. Learn more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.