Exciting News - Twist The Throttle Goes Broadcast!

‘What a long strange trip its been indeed’…

After many months of hard work, a severe lack of riding, some coy hints, and many days and nights spent in the edit bay, I’m excited to finally be able to share some fantastic news — Twist The Throttle is going to Broadcast!

Starting January 5th, 2009, you’ll be able to check out hour long episodes on each of the eight manufacturers showcased in the original online version of the series but this time around in the comfort of your own living room in high-definition on Discovery HD Theater. The time slot has yet to be finalized, but needless to say once it is I’ll certainly post something about it.

On a personal level, I’m extremely excited about the broadcast version of the series for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that the additional time afforded on air has allowed us to greatly expand on each individual manufacturers story. We’ve added a great number of new ‘voices’, new footage, historical vault material and lengthened just about everything else. If you enjoyed the original online version, I’d imagine you’ll greatly enjoy the new broadcast versions.

Right now I’m limited in how much I can divulge about the shows, but needless to say it’s been quite a trip to get to this point — This is an idea that has been percolating in one form or another for almost two years now and when I look back on it, it’s extremely exciting and fulfilling to see how the smallest germination of an idea can grow into something greater.

There are a number of folks who deserve a great of the credit for all of this, starting with our immensely talented Director of Photography Andrew Warsuzki and 2nd Unit Shooter (and as I’ve mentioned previously, Jack of All Trades) Andrew Cochrane. As I’ve mentioned previously both poured their hearts and souls into the project and each episode proves it. Ira Rappaport did a fantastic job with the new opening animation and show graphics. Truly awesome stuff… Finally I’d also like to toss a shout out to the incredibly talented Peter Karr, who has completely outdone himself once again by composing an absolutely rock’n original score for each show. Stuff like this ought to be available on CD’s…

So without further ado here’s the official press release:

HD THEATER TAKES TO THE ROAD WITH TWIST THE THROTTLE, AN EIGHT-PART SERIES EXPLORING SOME OF THE GREATEST MOTORCYCLE BRANDS IN THE WORLD

– Original Turbo.com Broadband Series Makes Its Television Debut
with New Footage on HD Theater Starting Monday, January 5 –

(Silver Spring, MD) – Millions of people ride motorcycles and millions more fantasize about what it would be like to ride these cultural icons of speed, freedom, craftsmanship and personal rebellion. HD Theater’s new series, TWIST THE THROTTLE, takes audiences on a remarkable 36,000 mile journey across the globe to explore eight of the most famous sport motorcycling brands. Each episode focuses on a single brand, showcasing the remarkable history; the behind-closed-door factory, design facilities and R&D departments; and ultimately, what it is like to ride these magnificent machines on some of the most picturesque roads and spectacular racetracks in the world. The brands covered in TWIST THE THROTTLE include Bimota, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, MV Agusta, Suzuki and Yamaha. TWIST THE THROTTLE premieres on HD Theater starting Monday, January 5 and stories will continue to be featured on HD Theater’s online home for motorized content, Turbo.com.

Using spectacular 1080i high-definition and 5.1 digital surround sound, TWIST THE THROTTLE takes viewers directly to challenging racetracks like Kawasaki’s Autopolis on the island of Kyushu and Honda’s top-secret proving grounds in California’s Mojave Desert. For the first time ever, outside cameras were permitted on Yamaha’s private test track, Fukoroi, in Hamamatsu where TWIST THE THROTTLE put two of Yamaha’s newest sports bikes to the test. In addition to exclusive access to these private test facilities, the series travels on the open road through picturesque locales like northern Italy’s Futa Pass. Originally an ancient Roman road linking Florence to Bologna, the Futa Pass has over 200 curves carved into the mountainside in just a 20 mile stretch.

In addition, TWIST THE THROTTLE journeys through the history of each brand through interviews with the people behind their unique design philosophies. The series features an exclusive interview with Massimo Tamburini, considered to be the “Michelangelo of Italian motorcycle design,” who created some of the most iconic motorcycles including the Ducati 916 and the MV Agusta F4. Normally a recluse, Tamburini unlocks the doors of his design studio to reveal how he creates “mechanical art” and why he believes machines have souls. Additional interviews feature some of the most important names in the motorcycle world telling each brand’s remarkable story including:

• Honda’s Masanori Aoki, BMW’s David Robb and Yamaha’s Atsushi Ishiyama
• Former racing World Champions Freddie Spencer, Wayne Rainey, and Kevin Schwantz
• Current American road racing stars Mat Mladin, Neil Hodgson, Miguel Duhamel, Ben Bostrom, Jamie Hacking and Reg Pridmore
• Legendary motorcycle journalists Nick Ienatsch, Mark Hoyer, Mitch Boehm, Clement Salvadori and Mark Tuttle

About HD Theater
The first 24-hour high-definition network to broadcast all of its content in brilliant 1080i and 5.1 digital surround sound, HD Theater offers compelling real-world and motorized content from a wide range of categories including adventure, technology, nature and world culture – all designed to provide viewers with the highest-quality television experience available. For more information on Discovery Communication’s premier HD network, please visit www.dhd.discovery.com or www.turbo.com.

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISAD, DISBD, DISCK) is the world’s number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 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, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery 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.

Update: We’ve now got air dates!

NETWORK: 

DISCOVERY
 HD 
THEATER

 AIR
DATES
 & 
TIMES 

(NOTE:

 ALL
 TIMES 
ARE 
’LOCAL
TIMES’ )


MONDAY,
 JANUARY
 5TH
 10PM



 - HONDA


MONDAY,
 JANUARY
 12TH 
10PM


 - DUCATI


MONDAY,
 JANUARY
 19TH
 10PM


 - BMW


MONDAY,
 JANUARY
 26TH
 10PM


 - KAWASAKI




MONDAY,
 FEBRUARY
 2ND 
10PM -




 SUZUKI


MONDAY,
 FEBRUARY
 9TH
 10PM




 - MV
AGUSTA


MONDAY,
 FEBRUARY
 16TH
 10PM




 - BIMOTA & ALPINESTARS


MONDAY,
 FEBRUARY
 23RD 
10PM





 -
 YAMAHA




Quick Update on the Twist The Throttle front — Discovery HD Theater has decided to push the premiere of the series back until later in the 1st Quarter of 2009 in order to give it more promotion on both TV and in the Mags.

Unfortunately we don’t have the new air dates just yet but I’ll post them as soon as the new schedule is announced.