JOIN THE HUNT FOR LEGENDARY CREATURES WHEN "MONSTER WEEKEND" COMES TO THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL ON SATURDAY, MAY 31ST AND SUNDAY, JUNE 1ST

(New York, NY) Starting Saturday, May 31st at 8pm ET/PT, join the Discovery Channel for a jam-packed MONSTER WEEKEND, exploring the world's tiniest animals to most mysterious and legendary monsters. Boasting brand new specials and first looks at upcoming series, MONSTER WEEKEND will take viewers on an adventure that follows the lives of extraordinary creatures and those who hunt them!

Kicking off MONSTER WEEKEND is ALASKAN MONSTER HUNT: HILLSTRANDED on Saturday, May 31st at 8pm ET/PT. Follow the DEADLIEST CATCH captains Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand as they return to their hometown of Homer, Alaska for a very different kind of hunt -- to investigate sightings of a strange sea animal, Alaska's answer to the Loch Ness Monster.

Then comes a look at the world's tiniest animal superheroes with MINI MONSTERS on Saturday, May 31st at 9pm ET/PT. Narrated by GAME OF THRONES' Peter Dinklage, the special follows a cast of animal characters from chipmunks to beetles to marmoset monkeys, revealing life on a different scale. Two years in the making, MINI MONSTERS immerses viewers into the worlds of these tiny animal superheroes, inviting them to witness the incredible, action-packed lives of these miniature creatures from a whole new, unexplored perspective.

On Sunday, June 1st Discovery Channel is on the hunt for legendary monsters - from an ancient Cajun werewolf in the Louisiana swamplands to one of the most well-known monsters, Yeti. Starting at 8pm ET/PT, BEASTS OF THE BAYOU follows Captain Blimp Cheramie, his first mate Eric and his nephew Nathan through the marshes of Venice, Louisiana. They are on the hunt for legendary creatures that haunt the thousands of square miles of swampland around their homes. All the while scientists are seeking alternative explanations for the sightings and stories that have plagued this region for 100s of years. Blimp and his team will use all their hunting and tracking skills to uncover the truth. The scientists will rely on their theories and a lifetime of research to dispel the myths. In the end, who will shed light on these timeless tales of beasts, creatures, demons and monsters? It's book smarts versus swamp smarts on BEASTS OF THE BAYOU.

At 9pm ET/PT, head into the depths of Siberia with American explorer Mike Libecki as he investigates the mysterious deaths of nine students in RUSSIAN YETI: THE KILLER LIVES. On February 2, 1959, nine college students hiked up the icy slopes of the Ural Mountains in the heart of Russia but never made it out alive. Investigators have never been able to give a definitive answer behind who - or what - caused the bizarre crime scene. Fifty-five years later, American explorer Mike Libecki reinvestigates the mystery - known as The Dyatlov Pass incident - but what he uncovers is truly horrifying. The 2 hour special follows Mike as he traces the clues and gathers compelling evidence that suggests the students' deaths could be the work of a creature thought only to exist in folklore.

Full Listing of Programming:

Saturday, May 31st:

· ALASKAN MONSTER HUNT: HILLSTRANDED - 8pm ET/PT

· MINI MONSTERS - 9pm ET/PT

Sunday, June 1st:

· BEASTS OF THE BAYOU - 8pm ET/PT

· RUSSIAN YETI: THE KILLER LIVES - 9pm ET/PT ##

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 210 countries and territories, 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

About Discovery Communications: Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching 2.5 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content on more than 200 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and the Hub Network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.