or


[03/21/11 - 07:26 AM]
Spike TV Digs Down Deep for New Original Series, "Coal" Featuring the Lives of West Virginia Coal Miners
Jeremy Sisto has been tapped to narrate the series, premiering Wednesday, March 30 at 10:00/9:00c.

[via press release from Spike TV]

Spike TV Digs Down Deep for New Original Series, "Coal" Featuring the Lives of West Virginia Coal Miners

Premieres Wednesday, March 30 At 10 PM, ET/PT

Series Narrated By Jeremy Sisto

Series Produced By Reality Powerhouse Thom Beers' Original Productions

NEW YORK, March 21, 2011 -- Spike TV takes viewers down into the depths of the earth for an unprecedented look at one of the most dangerous and compelling jobs in the world, coal mining. Spike TV will premiere the 10 episode, one-hour docu-reality series, narrated by Jeremy Sisto, starting Wednesday, March 30 at 10 PM, ET/PT. The series comes to Spike from Thom Beers' Original Productions, a FremantleMedia company. Beers is the mastermind behind hit cable series that explore high-risk occupations such as the Emmy� Award-winning "Deadliest Catch," "Ice Road Truckers" and "Ax Men."

"Coal" centers on the operations of a single mine, Cobalt Coal, located deep in the heart of coal country in McDowell County, West Virginia. The story is told through the eyes of part owners, Mike Crowder and Tom Roberts. The two struck up a mining partnership while watching their sons practice football and have invested their life savings into starting this mine operation. Crowder and Roberts face pressure every minute of every day to keep the mine up and running or face personal financial ruin but, more importantly, to keep their workers safe in a highly combustible environment where one wrong move could prove deadly.

Coal mining is an integral part of the American economy and the lifeblood of many communities, not only across the United States, but around the entire world. Cobalt is a metallurgical mine and the coal mined here is used primarily for making steel. This type of mining is called pillar mining, which means miners enter the bottom of a mountain horizontally and cut channels through the rock that measure a mere 36 to 48 inches in height. It is within this cramped, claustrophobic environment more than 600 feet into the mountain that "Coal's" life and death drama unfolds.

"Coal" also focuses on Cobalt's machine operators, foremen, electricians and bolt operators in one of the most dangerous workplaces on the planet, underneath the mountains of Appalachia. "Coal" tells the personal stories of sacrifice and survival that these miners face each day to provide for their families and keep their local communities thriving.

Viewers can learn more about coal mining and the miners at Cobalt Coal by visiting coal.spike.com. The site offers exclusive videos, interviews with the miners and production crew, an interactive map of West Virginia where Cobalt Coal is located and a series of informational articles about the coal industry. Spike has also launched COAL badges as part of its social media outreach for the series. Found on Spike's "Coal" Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/SpikeCoal fans, supporters and family members of coal miners can post COAL badges in their Facebook newsfeed showing their pride and support of coal miners. Viewers can also follow the "Coal" Twitter @COAL_SPIKE for all the latest on the series including pre-screening events in Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Sharon Levy is Spike TV's executive vice president, original series and animation, Tim Duffy is vice president of original programming for Spike TV and Joe Weinstock is director, original programming. Executive Producers for Original Productions are Thom Beers and Philip D. Segal and co-executive producers are Jeff Conroy and Eric Lange.

ABOUT SPIKE TV:

Spike TV is available in 99.4 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com.

Original Productions, a FremantleMedia Company

Founded by Thom Beers, Original Productions produces authentic non-fiction programming featuring everyday heroes in extraordinary situations including the Emmy� Award Winning Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, Ax Men, Black Gold, The Colony, Wild Justice, Storage Wars and 1,000 Ways To Die. Beers' steadfast focus on top-notch storytelling with engaging personalities in high risk circumstances has produced more than 1,200 hours of original programming. In February 2009, a majority stake in the 12 year-old-company was purchased by FremantleMedia, one of the leading creators and producers of world-wide entertainment brands. www.originalproductions.com/ www.fremantlemedia.com.





  [march 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AX MEN (HISTORY)
· COAL (SPIKE TV)
· DEADLIEST CATCH (DISCOVERY)
· ICE ROAD TRUCKERS (HISTORY)





[03/28/24 - 11:07 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion" Debuts April 9
The film uncovers the toxic culture of the teen brand Brandy Melville and the global ramifications of mass-produced clothing known as fast fashion.

[03/28/24 - 11:02 AM]
FX's "Welcome to Wrexham" Shifts Season Three Premiere Date
The May 2 premiere will include the first two episodes of the eight-episode season, with a new episode available each following Thursday.

[03/28/24 - 10:36 AM]
Claire Danes Will Reunite with "Homeland" Showrunner & Executive Producer Howard Gordon on the Netflix Limited Series "The Beast in Me"
A grieving author finds a new subject in a real estate mogul who was once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance. Her investigation spirals into a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly.

[03/28/24 - 10:32 AM]
Roku Originals Reunites "The Real Bros of Simi Valley" for New Movie; Directed by Jimmy Tatro
"The Real Bros of Simi Valley: High School Reunion" is a continuation of the beloved original series, co-created by Jimmy Tatro and Christian Pierce, which became a social media phenomenon generating over a billion views across video platforms.

[03/28/24 - 10:04 AM]
Bravo Reveals Returning Cast for "The Real Housewives of New York City" Season 15
After a successful first bite out of the Big Apple, all six ladies of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City" will return for season 15, including Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank and Brynn Whitfield.

[03/28/24 - 10:03 AM]
Matt Barnes and Anansa Sims Give a Close-Up Look at Navigating Love, Co-Parenting, Fame and More in New Series, "The Barnes Bunch," Premiering Friday, April 19 at 10PM ET on WE tv
This endearing new series follows NBA champion and successful Podcaster, Matt Barnes, alongside his fiancée, model and reality personality, Anansa Sims, as they navigate love, forgiveness, and personal growth while reconciling their past.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Dan Da Dan" - Official Trailer - Netflix Anime
This is the story of Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
"Karamo" Renewed for Third Season in National Syndication
"Karamo" is hosted by reality television personality, author, actor, producer and activist Karamo.

[03/28/24 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Neal Brennan: Crazy Good" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Comedian Neal Brennan riffs in this stand-up special on crypto, social media flexes, sex compliments and the link between greatness and mental health.

[03/28/24 - 09:03 AM]
ESPN+ Unveils Major League Baseball Game Schedule for March and April
ESPN+ will stream a game every day in April, featuring all thirty Major League Baseball Clubs.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Jurassic World: Chaos Theory" - Teaser Trailer - Netflix After School
Set six years after the events at Camp Cretaceous, members of "The Nublar Six" are struggling to find their footing off the islands, navigating a world now filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
WWE on A&E Continues with Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias Joining "WWE Rivals" & More "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" & "Biography: WWE Legends"
Kicking off on Sunday, April 14, "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" will feature WWE Hall of Famers Booker T, Mick Foley, and Lita as they hunt for iconic memorabilia and share the history behind some of the most famous items in WWE history.

[03/28/24 - 09:00 AM]
"The Omen" Complete Franchise, Streaming Now on Hulu
To celebrate the new theatrical release, catch up on the supernatural saga with all five films available to stream on Hulu!

[03/28/24 - 08:29 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases the Official Trailer for Horror Anthology Series "THEM: THE SCARE" Starring Deborah Ayorinde, Luke James, Pam Grier, and More!
This second installment will consist of eight episodes and premieres on Thursday, April 25, in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[03/28/24 - 08:16 AM]
Netflix Lights Up the Sky with 1,000 Drones to Reveal May 1 Launch Date for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Epic Saga, "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar"
In the series, arch nemeses Mallikajaan and Fareedan are locked in a battle for succession of Heeramandi, where courtesans reign as queens.