SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM) HONORS PASSING OF LEONARD NIMOY THIS WEEK WITH ENCORE PRESENTATIONS OF "THE REAL STORY: STAR TREK"

New York, March 2, 2015 - Smithsonian Channel will commemorate acting great Leonard Nimoy by airing encore presentations this week of THE REAL STORY: STAR TREK, which features interviews with the late actor.

THE REAL STORY: STAR TREK will air on Tuesday, March 3 at 5 pm ET; Wednesday, March 4 at 1 pm ET; Thursday, March 5 at 6 am ET; and Friday, March 6 at 3 am ET.

With 12 films and multiple television series in its 30-year history, "Star Trek" is one of the most successful franchises in film history. This episode of THE REAL STORY investigates the life of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry and reveals actual scientific advances that inspired the series or were inspired by its fiction. Featuring interviews with Nimoy ("Mr. Spock"); Roddenberry's son, Rod; and original members of the Star Trek fan club, the program charts Roddenberry's meteoric rise to fame and extreme tactics to keep his series on the air. THE REAL STORY also investigates how Star Trek inspired the scientific world and NASA scientists--from the concept of antimatter in experiments at CERN in Switzerland to the development of the first scientific principles of teleportation, to the replication of human organs by 3D printers and the creation of artificially intelligent androids.

Separating fact from fiction and real life from reel life, Smithsonian Channel's original series, THE REAL STORY reveals some of the real-life events that have inspired Hollywood's most famous blockbusters.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, L.A. Frock Stars, Secrets, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.