NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL UNLEASHES "SOUTHERN JUSTICE" WITH SPECIAL PREVIEW EPISODE
Produced by Electus and the Weinstein Company, new series takes viewers inside the action of the
nation's toughest law enforcement agencies
Series preview airs Tuesday, April 15 at 10 PM ET/ 9 PM CT
Los Angeles (April 11, 2014) - National Geographic Channel invites viewers to explore a dangerous world where upholding the law requires a mix of bravery, grit, and readiness to spring into action at a moment's notice. The new weekly series Southern Justice will premiere on National Geographic Channel this fall, but viewers can catch a special preview episode on Tuesday, April 15 at 10 PM ET/ 9 PM CT.
Produced by Electus and the Weinstein Company, Southern Justice explores the work of law enforcement agencies in Sullivan County, TN and Ashe County, NC, headed up by Sheriff Wayne Anderson and Sheriff James Williams, respectively. These sheriffs share a philosophy best described as "Andy Griffith in the 21st century," and are tasked with protecting these unique, close-knit communities, which often requires a mix of action and compassion. And if a peaceful solution proves impossible, both agencies are ready with SWAT teams to handle the most violent situations.
"Southern Justice is an exhilarating ride that embraces the spontaneity of unscripted television and allows our cast and crew to showcase real reality at its very best," said Corie Henson, EVP, Unscripted TV, Electus. "We're honored to work so closely with the law enforcement agencies that allowed unprecedented access to their agencies and jails."
Where moonshine was once the most difficult banned substance to control, now it's meth, prescription-pain killers and designer drugs like bath salts and "gravel". Drugs or alcohol play a role in 90 percent of arrests. Sullivan County jail holds 700 inmates, Ashe 200, and both are nearly filled to capacity. Sullivan County, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, covers 400 square miles and is home to 150,000 residents. Seventy miles to the East, at a higher mountain elevation of 4000 feet, Ashe County also covers 400 square miles but is home to just 27,000 residents.
"Southern Justice is totally unique - filmed by experienced documentary filmmakers in a cinema verite' fashion, the series captures stories from start to finish, from initial emergency calls to encounters with victims and suspects, all the way through the investigations, bookings, court arraignments and sentencing," said Jim Lindsay, Executive Producer. "Nothing is staged. Sheriffs Anderson, Williams, and their staffs have been wonderfully cooperative, resulting in a show that's unlike any previous law enforcement series."
In the debut episode, titled "Bath Salts and Battery," Sullivan County, TN deputies launch a successful manhunt for a suspect who allegedly assaulted both his girlfriend and father under the influence of bath salts. In Ashe County, NC, a middle-aged woman thought to be pregnant is beaten by her boyfriend, who denies any wrongdoing despite evidence to the contrary.
About Electus
Electus is the first integrated multimedia entertainment studio to unite producers, creators, advertisers and distributors under one roof and produce all forms of content for distribution across a variety of platforms around the world, including: broadcast, cable, digital, OTT and various emerging technologies. The company connects advertisers, distributors and content creators early on in the development process, enabling marketers and advertisers to be true partners in campaigns and content creation. Electus International, the global distribution arm of Electus, is responsible for all international sales and distribution for Electus' programming and its studio partners as well as programs and formats from other well-known 3rd party providers. Electus is an operating business of IAC [NASDAQ: IACI]. For more information on Electus, visit www.electus.com.
About 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.
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