Outdoor Channel Turns Up The Heat This Summer

Network Debuts Extreme Adventure Series Featuring Miss Kansas Theresa Vail and Reveals New Seasons of Star-Studded Shows

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Outdoor Channel

Jun 24, 2015, 10:00 ET

DENVER, June 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Outdoor Channel heats up its summer programming slate, with an unparalleled roster of outdoor programming that will captivate viewers craving gritty adventure. Kicking off on Monday, June 29, the network's third quarter (Q3) schedule is packed with 86 shows, including two new TV series, Limitless with Theresa Vail presented by Franchi and Guntucky. The cast of unmatched characters leading the charge on Outdoor Channel's returning favorites with new episodes includes: Willie Robertson, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Joe Mantegna, Craig Morgan, Jim and Eva Shockey, Mark and Terry Drury, Gary LeVox, Jim Thome, Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, Michael Waddell and Shawn Michaels, among others.

"This summer, Outdoor Channel is poised to super-serve our audiences with edgy and gripping outdoor adventure content," said Jeffrey Wayne, executive vice president of programming and production for Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks. "The untamed landscape serves as a backdrop for the bold men and women that appear on our network. Their enduring passion for the active outdoor lifestyle creates the type of lean-forward TV entertainment that can only be found on our network."

New this quarter is Limitless with Theresa Vail presented by Franchi (Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. ET), featuring the heart-pounding adventures of Theresa Vail – aka Miss Kansas 2013, a 2014 Miss America top ten finalist and a Sergeant in the Kansas Army National Guard. Watch as this all-American woman goes on a mission to prove that she is capable of anything – from a grueling 26.2 mile trek through New Mexico's high desert terrain and whitewater rafting on the rough waters of West Virginia's New River Gorge to charging through the mud in a demanding Warrior Dash in Kansas City, Missouri. This former beauty queen will push herself to the limits to prove she can keep up with the boys, and then some.

Also new to Outdoor Channel is Guntucky (one hour episodes on Mondays at 11:00 p.m. ET and half hour episodes on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. ET). The former Country Music Television (CMT) series from the producers of Pawn Stars follows the Sumner Family and offers an inside look at their family-owned business – the world-famous Knob Creek Gun Range. But this summer, family drama reaches a boiling point as Grampa Biff turns over the day-to-day operations to his reliable son, Kenny, who now has his hands full with the rest of the family, including his brother Steven, son Chad, niece Stephanie and nephew Payton.

"Reflective of our programming strategy, Outdoor Channel's summer slate expands the definition of outdoor entertainment and redefines adventure with a range of larger-than-life talent, high-profile celebrities and powerful brands," said Jim Liberatore, president and CEO of Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks. "There are more than 130 million* outdoor enthusiasts and arm-chair adventurers in America, and we aim to entertain, inform and engage them to the fullest."

Among the 70-plus shows returning with new episodes this quarter is MidwayUSA's Gun Stories (Wednesdays at 11:00 p.m. ET), starring actor Joe Mantegna who takes viewers through a firearm's history, from the heart of the design through its use on the range. Jim Shockey, an avid outdoorsman with a passion for the extreme, leads the sophomore season of the network's breakout hit, Jim Shockey's UNCHARTED (Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET). Follow him and his crew on their global journey to remote and dangerous destinations – all in the name of cultural exploration and discovery. Jim will be joined by his co-host and daughter Eva Shockey for all new episodes of Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures (Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET).

The Buckmen – Willie "Boss Hog" Robertson, country music stars Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, and current and former Major League Baseball (MLB) players Adam LaRoche, Ryan Langerhans and Tom "Tombo" Martin – are back with season six of Buck Commander Protected by Under Armour (Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET). Another crew serving up "Go Where You Don't Belong" experiences is Jason Carter and the Under Armour team – Kip Fulks, Bryan Offutt and Koby Fulks, on the third season of Under Armour Presents Ridge Reaper (Mondays at 9:00 p.m. ET).

For viewers seeking thrilling family pursuits, season two of Drury's THIRTEEN (Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET) tells the tale of man versus mother nature, featuring Mark, Terry, Matt and Taylor Drury, along with guest stars: former MLB power hitter Jim Thome and Rascal Flatts front man Gary LeVox. The Holders also make their sophomore season debut with Raised Hunting (Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. ET). Tune in to see David and Karin Holder use hunting as a platform to teach ethics and values to their teenage sons, Warren and Easton.

Back with new adventures is Booger Bottom's own Michael Waddell on Michael Waddell's Bone Collector (Sundays at 10:30 pm. ET), along with co-stars Nick Mundt and Travis "T-Bone" Turner. The tough trio pull double duty this summer with new episodes of Realtree Road Trips (Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET). Country music entertainer and military veteran Craig Morgan stars in the sixth season of Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors (Sundays at 11:00 p.m. ET), during which he goes king salmon fishing, rafts while on tour in Alaska and takes part in the annual Opry hunt with fellow country music celebrities. In addition to tackling the adventure of being new parents, Lee and Tiffany Lakosky are setting out on epic hunting quests this season on Crush with Lee & Tiffany (Sundays 7:30 p.m. ET), from hunting elk in Utah to monster bucks in Iowa, and everything in between. And, Laramy "Sasquatch" Miller offers viewers another look at the "mountain man" lifestyle of living off the land in Sasquatch Mountain Man (Thursdays at 11:00 p.m. ET).

Additional series returning with new episodes this summer include:

Ted Nugent in Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild (Tuesdays 8:30 p.m. ET)
Joe Thomas in Ultimate Match Fishing (Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. ET)
Shawn Michaels and Keith Mark in Shawn Michaels' MacMillan River Adventure (Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. ET)
Jessie Duff in NRA All Access presented by Taurus (Wednesdays at 7:00p.m. ET)
Gregg Ritz in Hunt Masters (Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET)
Pat and Nicole Reeve in Driven with Pat and Nicole (Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET)
Shawn Luchtel and Michael Hunsucker in Heartland Bowhunter (Mondays at 9:30 p.m. ET)
Bill Jordan in Realtree's NASCAR Outdoors (Thursday at 10:30 p.m. ET)
Tom Massie in Gold Fever (Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. ET)
Jim Scoutten, Mike Irvine and John Scoutten in Shooting USA (Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET) and Mike Irvine in Shooting USA's Impossible Shots (Wednesdays at 11:30 p.m. ET)

Outdoor Channel offers a number of themed programming blocks that combine the network's leading shows with the most recognizable brands in the outdoor adventure space. Weekday primetime programming blocks include: "Elite Archery's Monday Night Challenge," "TenPoint Trophy Tuesdays," "Mossy Oak Tuesday Night Pursuits," "MidwayUSA Wednesday Night at the Range," "Primos Thursday Night Calls of the Hunt," "Bear Archery Bowhunting Friday" and "Academy Sports and Outdoor Friday Night Forage." Weekend programming blocks include: "Chevy Silverado Saturdays," "Bass Pro Shops Big Sporting Saturdays" and "Yamaha Real World Tough Saturdays," along with "Bushnell Sunday at First Light," "Moultrie This is How You Know Sunday" and "Wildgame Nation Sunday Night on the Hunt."

For the full Q3 programming schedule, please visit: http://outdoorchannel.com/Schedule.aspx. Check local listings or visit www.OutdoorChannel.com/ChannelFinder to find out how to get the network in your area.

(*Source: 2014 MRI)

About Outdoor Channel
Outdoor Channel has been taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1993. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Outdoor Sportsman Group and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is received by nearly 40 million U.S. households – the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country – and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and download our iPhone and iPad app. #WhatGetsYouOutdoors

SOURCE Outdoor Channel