Travel Channel's "WE ARE SUMMER" Programming Event/Social Media Photo Contest

In a press release:

[important] As of Tues. 6/24/14 – SCHEDULING UPDATES FOR AMERICAN GRILLED AND MAN FINDS FOOD.
AMERICAN GRILLED’ MOVES TO NEW TIME SLOT: WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 9:00 P.M. ET/PT

‘MAN FINDS FOOD’ POSTPONED

Travel Channel’s new original series “American Grilled” will move to a new time slot: Wednesday, July 2 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. In “American Grilled,” hardcore grilling enthusiasts from across the country go head-to-head for a chance to compete for a $10,000 cash prize and bragging rights when they are crowned the ultimate “grill master.” In this outdoor cooking challenge, host and renowned chef/restaurateur David Guas turns up the heat on four highly-motivated contestants who must use locally sourced ingredients – blue crab in Maryland, quail in Georgia and T-bone steaks in Texas, to name a few – to create delicious and original plates that test their epic backyard skills.

Series Premiere: “You Hear That Sizzle?” – 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

In the premiere episode, host David Guas travels to Asheville, N.C. – a scenic arts community tucked between the Blue Ridge and Smokey mountains. Here, it’s all about homegrown foods, the great outdoors and beer. Four killer grillers – Jeff, Dillon, Will and Tiny – battle it out to take home the $10,000 prize in Asheville’s Pack Square Park – a favorite local spot for concerts, festivals and art. They must use unique local ingredients – like scuppernongs, stinky goat cheese and liver mush – and some of the juiciest cuts of meat to win over the judges in each round. Guas is joined by guest judges Elizabeth Karmel (owner of Hill Country BBQ restaurants) and Jason Sandford (a food writer and journalist from Asheville). It’s a high-heat, high-intensity rush to the finish.

Travel Channel is postponing the July 2nd series premiere of “Man Finds Food.”
[/important]

SUMMER IS ON! TRAVEL CHANNEL CELEBRATES THE SIGHTS, SOUNDS AND FLAVORS OF THE SEASON WITH ITS ANNUAL

“WE ARE SUMMER” PROGRAMMING EVENT

Network Premieres Four Brand-New Series, Two New Specials and

Five Returning Fan Favorites

Plus: Travelchannel.com Features Extensive Summer-Centric Web Extras

And A Social Media Photo Contest

CHEVY CHASE, MD (April 24, 2014) – Dive headfirst into summer with Travel Channel’s annual “We Are Summer” multi-platform programming event! From Memorial Day through Labor Day, a variety of all-new series, specials and new seasons of fan-favorites create a sizzling lineup that make Travel Chanel the “go to” destination all summer long. Whether you’re looking for thrills, grills, adventures or exciting places both near and far, sit back and experience the best summer ever – Travel Channel style.

“We Are Summer” launches Memorial Day weekend with a schedule to whet your appetite for food and fun, anchored by the season finale of “Bizarre Foods America” with Andrew Zimmern on Monday, May 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. Things heat up with the premieres of four new original series including “Man Finds Food,” “American Grilled,” “Underground BBQ Challenge” and “Big Time RV.” Additionally, the following five hit series return with all-new seasons: “Insane Coaster Wars: World Domination,”“Xtreme Waterparks,” “Food Paradise,” “Bikinis & Boardwalks” and “BBQ Crawl.” A new set of “Extreme RVs” specials also launches this summer, along with “Mega RV Countdown” – a series of specials premiering during Travel Channel’s “RV WEEK” from June 22 – 26. Furthermore, the week of July 4^th and Labor Day weekend will be marked by special programming rosters.

“Our lineup celebrates everything we all love about summer – beaches, road trips, boardwalks and finger-licking food,” said Ross Babbit, SVP of Programming and Development, Travel Channel. “From an exclusive look at the building of the world’s tallest waterslide, an all-access pass inside America’s largest RV dealership and barbeque galore, Travel Channel is taking you on the ultimate summer getaway.”

SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTO CONTEST

On TravelChannel.com, summer-themed travel content will complement on-air programming, and include weekend getaway and local “daycation” ideas, vacation planning tips, summer-centric “Travel’s Best” lists, an amusement parks guide, a gear and gadgets guide, along with TravelChannel.com’s picks for the best state fairs, fireworks displays, wackiest roadside attractions, best beaches, aquariums and much more. #MySummer – a social media photo contest launching on May 25^th – asks fans to share summer experiences via @TravelChannel’s Instagram and will be featured across Travel Channel’s digital, social and on-air platforms, including Facebook and Twitter.

The “We Are Summer” lineup includes:

New Original Series (in order of premiere):

“Man Finds Food” [important] As of 6/24/14 – PREMIERE IS POSTPONED Per Travel Channel [/important]

Premieres Wednesday, July 2 at 9:00 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (Back-to-Back Premieres)

In “Man Finds Food,” foodie Adam Richman is on the ultimate hunt to uncover the most unique, surprising and delicious hidden food treasures across America. He searches for the dishes you would never find, and in places you would never expect. Thirteen half-hour episodes; produced by Sharp Entertainment with Travel Channel’s Brian Leonard as Executive Producer.

“American Grilled”

Premieres Wednesday, July 2 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT [important] As of 6/24/14 – MOVES TO NEW TIME SLOT: WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 9:00 P.M. ET/PT per Travel Channel update[/important]

In “American Grilled,” local grill masters from various backgrounds compete against one another in the ultimate outdoor cooking challenge. Host and renowned chef David Guas turns up the heat on grillers across America as they compete for a $10,000 cash prize and bragging rights. In each episode, four contestants use locally sourced ingredients – blue crab in Maryland, quail in Georgia and T-bone steaks in Texas, to name a few – to test their epic backyard skills. They’ll serve up delicious and original plates that skillfully showcase the grill and embrace the amazing local flavors. Thirteen one-hour episodes; produced by Original Media with Travel Channel’s Patrick McManamee as Executive Producer.

“Underground BBQ Challenge”

Premieres Tuesday, July 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

“Underground BBQ Challenge” pits neighborhood against neighborhood across the country in an epic BBQ cooking contest. Host and acclaimed chef G. Garvin offers two teams of local grill masters a chance to prove they’ve got the chops to represent their town with the tastiest, most creatively cooked and presented BBQ. Garvin and two local judges decide which neighborhood’s dish will win the Underground BBQ Challenge and the $10,000 prize. Eight one-hour episodes; produced by The Michael Group with Travel Channel’s Dale Roy Robinson as Executive Producer.

Neighborhoods compete against each other in an epic BBQ cooking contest in “Underground BBQ Challenge”

“Big Time RV”

Premieres Sunday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. ET/PT (Back-to-Back Premieres)

“Big Time RV” gives viewers an all-access pass inside America’s largest, and most prestigious, RV dealership located in Tampa, FL. While touring and testing every make and model of RV available, the expert sales force and first rate service center work together to satisfy the demands of RV lovers looking to buy or rent the biggest, most over-the-top RV’s in the business. Six half-hour episodes; produced by Half Yard Productions with Travel Channel’s Patrick McManamee as Executive Producer.

Returning Series (in order of premiere):

“Bizarre Foods America” – Season Six Finale

Premieres Monday, May 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

In “Bizarre Foods America,” three-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and culinary explorer Andrew Zimmern continues his quest to discover unique foods and cultures in North and South America. On the season finale, Zimmern travels to paradise in the Florida Keys. He heads out with a family to hunt and cook iguanas, competes in a fishing derby to tackle the lionfish invasion and learns the art of Cuban cooking and cigar making from a master.One-hour season finale; produced by Tremendous Productions with Travel Channel’s David E. Gerber as Executive Producer.

“Insane Coaster Wars: World Domination” – Season Three

Premieres Sunday, June 29 at 7:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. ET/PT (Back-to-Back Episodes)

Japan’s ‘Steel Dragon 2000’ roller coaster, featured in “Insane Coaster Wars: World Domination”

In season three of “Insane Coaster Wars: World Domination,” we’re jetting around the globe on a quest to find the most terrifying roller coasters full of death-defying drops, spine-torqueing twists and impossible inversions. From the world’s first wooden coaster with multiple inversions located in Missouri, to the world’s only tilting coaster in Taiwan and the world’s tallest vertical loop (160 ft.) in California, strap in and get ready for a wild ride on some of the most insane, pulse–pounding roller coasters on the planet.Seven half-hour episodes; produced by Indigo Films with Travel Channel’s Patrick McManamee as Executive Producer.

“Xtreme Waterparks” – Season Three

Premieres Sunday, June 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (One-Hour Special Premiere)

The Tower of Poseidon water slide in Dubai, featured in “Xtreme Waterparks”

“Xtreme Waterparks” is back for season three, taking viewers on an adrenaline-filled ride on the world’s wettest, wildest, most over-the-top and exhilarating water rides. Whether it’s the world’s tallest trapdoor slide in Benidorm, Spain, a 50 mile-per-hour loop in Montreaux, Switzerland, or an off-the-beaten path water slide in Mexico, this series showcases the most insane water slides that will thrill any demanding adrenaline junkie. The season kicks off with an exclusive one-hour special episode featuring the making of the world’s tallest water slide – Schlitterbahn’s Verrϋckt in Kansas City, KS.

Two one-hour special episodes and four half-hour episodes; produced by High Noon Entertainment with Travel Channel’s Patrick McManamee as Executive Producer.

“Food Paradise” – Season Five

Premieres Tuesday, July 22 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

“Food Paradise”scours the country for the most delicious, finger-licking foods and this season, there’s a heaping plate full of new and delicious eats. We’re talking BBQ in Tennessee and Alabama, juicy burgers in Chicago, dangerously spicy wings in Seattle, deep-fried calzones in North Carolina, giant burritos in San Diego, and that’s only the beginning! So bring your appetite as we dive into a hearty new season.Six one-hour episodes; produced by O’Malley Productions Inc. with Travel Channel’s Sean McKnight as Executive Producer.

“Bikinis & Boardwalks” – Season Two

Premieres Sunday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. ET/PT (Back-to-Back Episodes)

Locals walk along a private hidden beach in Cozumel, Mexico in “Bikinis & Boardwalks”;

Take a trip to the world’s ultimate summer hotspots. “Bikinis & Boardwalks” is back and has your ticket to indulge in the sinfully delicious foods, adrenaline-pumping thrill rides and unexpected attractions of the world’s most gorgeous beaches and boardwalks. From base jumping off Thailand’s 400 ft. limestone cliffs and feasting on fresh tuna in Honolulu, to hang gliding over the beaches in Rio and checking out the world famous bikini contest in Tampa, FL – we’re taking viewers behind the scenes to summer’s most sizzling destinations. Eight half-hour episodes; produced by Indigo Films with Travel Channel’s Patrick McManamee as Executive Producer.

“BBQ Crawl” – Season Two

Premieres Sunday, August 31 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT (Three Back-to-Back Premieres); Moves to Regular Timeslot at 8:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. ET/PT beginning Sunday, September 7

Grab a napkin – “BBQ Crawl” is back for a second season! The mouth-watering road trip continues, following world champion BBQ competitor Danielle Dimovski (a.k.a. Diva Q) as she samples delectable BBQ and competes her way through the American South. Visiting 27 BBQ joints, eight states and seven BBQ competitions, Dimovski is in search of the best hometown ‘cue. Dimovski ventures through a hickory haze of smoky meat perfection, rubs shoulders with pit masters and meets the locals. In between competitions, it’s all about exploring. With a map, a truck and the open road, there are no rules except pull over – often – and leave no rib unturned. Thirteen half-hour episodes; produced by Beyond Distribution with Travel Channel’s Dale Roy Robinson as Executive Producer.

New Specials:

“Extreme RVs”

Premieres Sunday, June 15 beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (Three Back-to-Back Specials)

A smart car is lowered out of a Volkner Hero Coach in “Extreme RVs”

“Extreme RVs” features million dollar mega-mansions on wheels with incredible designs and luxurious interiors that put most real homes to shame. There are a handful of designers and craftsmen around the U.S. responsible for these one-of-a-kind machines — big, small or crazy. Each special goes inside three shops and one-of-a-kind extreme RV builds. From design drawings and computer renderings to fabrication and interior build outs, these shops will cut every piece of metal, turn every bolt and spray gallons of paint in order to create these outrageous rolling mansions, vintage restorations and crazy camping vehicles. As with every custom vehicle build, the drama will be in keeping the budget in line and finishing the project on time. Three one-hour specials; produced by BCII Productions with Travel Channel’s Patrick McManamee as Executive Producer.

“Mega RV Countdown”

Premieres Sunday, June 22 through Thursday, June 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

(Five Consecutive Nights of Premieres; Part of “RV WEEK”)

We’re on a quest to find the most outrageous, tricked-out and retrofitted RV’s in the world! Each fun and fast-paced special counts down the best automotive works-of-art around the world; and reveals some mind-blowing, extravagant coaches of A-list celebrities. Explore some of the world’s greatest RVs and meet the owners who conceptualized these unbelievable designs. From the most opulent, jaw-dropping luxury land yachts to monstrous off-road survival vehicles around the world, “Mega RV Countdown” will showcase these customized “homes on the road.”Five one-hour specials; produced by BCII Productions with Travel Channel’s Patrick McManamee as Executive Producer.