IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR - NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNELS HOLIDAY MARATHONS ARE HERE!

Snuggle Up with National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild, Eight Holiday Marathons Will Leave Viewers Beguiled

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dec. 1, 2014) To keep your days merry and bright, this holiday season National Geographic Channels marathons pack a bite. From claws to jaws, brains to chains, holidays with Nat Geo on your TV set you won't soon regret. With 140 hours of marathon shows, your family and friends are sure not to oppose!

Here's the holiday lineup:

Wednesday, Dec. 24

National Geographic Channel: The Legend of Mick Dodge Marathon - 9 a.m. - 3 a.m. ET/PT

Nat Geo WILD: Big Cat Specials Marathon - 12 p.m. - 3 a.m. ET/PT

Thursday, Dec. 25

National Geographic Channel: Brain Games Marathon - 9 a.m. - 3 a.m. ET/PT

Nat Geo WILD: Great White Christmas: Shark Specials Marathon - 12 p.m. - 3 a.m. ET/PT

Wednesday, Dec. 31

National Geographic Channel: The '80s: The Decade That Made Us and The '90s: The Last Great Decade? Marathon - 9 a.m. - 3 a.m. ET/PT

Nat Geo WILD: Caught in the Act and Animals Gone Wild Marathon - 12 p.m. - 3 a.m. ET/PT

Thursday, Jan. 1

National Geographic Channel: Locked Up Abroad Marathon - 9 a.m. - 3 a.m. ET/PT

Nat Geo WILD: Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet Marathon - 12 p.m. - 3 a.m. ET/PT

National Geographic Channel

Beginning at 9 a.m. ET/PT on Christmas Eve, catch a marathon of The Legend of Mick Dodge that may make you appreciate your fireplace a bit more. National Geographic Channel takes viewers back to our very first encounter with Mick living off the land in the rough-and-tumble rawness of the (Ho, Ho... ) Hoh Rainforest. Then, during the chaos of Christmas Day, put mind over holiday madness with a Brain Games marathon beginning at 9 a.m. ET/PT. Preparing for the most wonderful time of year may be tricky, but these Brain Games are even trickier.

It's a new year and a new you, but before turning a new leaf, make the resolution to reminisce with 18 straight hours of The '80s: The Decade That Made Us and The '90s: The Last Great Decade? beginning New Year's Eve at 9 a.m. ET/PT. Then, on New Year's Day, retreat into solitude with a Locked Up Abroad marathon starting at 9 a.m. ET/PT. Invite the new year - and former captives - into your home to hear the daunting details of days in captivity.

Nat Geo WILD

Holiday stress can make the claws come out. This year, leave the catfights to Nat Geo WILD's feisty felines with Big Cat specials beginning Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 12 p.m. ET/PT. From "Tiger Dynasty" to "Lion Gangland," escape the cold and get cuddly with some big cats. And while you're enjoying your delicious bites on Christmas Day, sink your teeth into a marathon of Shark specials beginning at 12 p.m. ET/PT.

Let your wild side out on New Year's Eve with five hours of Caught in the Act beginning Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 12 p.m. ET/PT. But the party doesn't stop there! Find your inner (party) animal with the best of Animals Gone Wild starting at 5 p.m. ET/PT. And finally, as we say goodbye to 2014, get ready to say farewell to Dr. Oakley with a New Year's Day marathon of Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet beginning at 12 p.m. ET/PT, followed by the season one finale on Saturday, Jan. 3. It may be a new year, but Dr. Oakley is still the same ol' tough vet momma of the Yukon.

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National Geographic Channels

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in over 85 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 45 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.