Spike TV Orders 26 Additional Episodes of "Auction Hunters" Including First Ever LIVE Telecast

NEW YORK, June 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Spike TV has ordered a third season of 26 episodes of its highest-rated non-scripted original entertainment series, "Auction Hunters,"  it was announced today by Sharon Levy, Spike TV's  executive vice president, original series and animation.  From Brooklyn to Anchorage, from New Orleans to Hawaii, "Auction Hunters" once again follows Allen Haff and Ton Jones as they traverse the country in search of treasure hidden in storage units.  The new season will include one special LIVE episode in early 2012, the first time ever for the network's popular franchise.  In this momentous event, Ton and Allen will open up a special pod live in primetime.

"We are thrilled to take the series to all different corners of the country, from New York City to Alaska, to uncover rare and extraordinary items unique to that area," said Levy.

The markets for season three include Anchorage, Alaska, New Orleans, Washington D.C., New York City, New Jersey, Hawaii, Denver and Los Angeles.  Details for the LIVE episode will come at a later date.

The second season (April 5-May 31) featured episodes in Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Las Vegas and Chicago.  The show averaged 1.7 million viewers and routinely ranked in the top 5 of shows on cable with Men 18-49 in its timeslot.  "Auction Hunters" also improved the timeslot for Spike (Tuesdays at 10pm) by 53% in total viewers compared to last year.

Every year in America, 50,000 storage facilities hold auctions for abandoned storage units and, at these auctions, over $1 billion worth of goods changes hands.  Each unit has the potential to be a goldmine or a bust for those who make their living hunting unclaimed property.  "Auction Hunters" cuts the lock and opens the door into the high stakes, financial risks and potential rewards where the right purchase can bring in serious cash.  The series follows Haff and Jones in their quest to win auctions, dig for abandoned historical treasure and sell them for a profit. 

"Auction Hunters" is produced by Gurney Productions and executive produced by Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney.  Levy is Spike TV's executive vice president, original series and animation, Tim Duffy is senior vice president of original programming for Spike TV.

Allen Haff is a second generation antiques dealer and collector with over 20 years of experience in the field.  By the age of 24, he owned his first antique business in Houston, TX and was one of the earliest eBay sellers of vintage collectibles online.  He moved to Los Angeles ten years ago and immediately began hunting in storage unit auctions, Hollywood thrift stores, estate sales and swap meets and earned a living buying and selling antiques and collectibles.  In 2008, Haff started Hollywood & Vintage, a high volume liquidation company specializing in movie memorabilia and vintage collectibles that he operates from his office and warehouse in Los Angeles.

Ton Jones is a self-described hobbyist who has spent years hunting and fishing, as well as collecting knives, swords, guns, old currency and jewelry.  Jones was introduced to storage unit auctions more than seven years ago when he was looking for old cars to take into the desert to wreck for fun, but what he found was a world specifically tailored to his unique skills.  Jones, an imposing figure standing over 6'0", 300lbs., is a renowned auction hunter in the Southern California area.  Jones' expertise lays in rare coins and weaponry, such as medieval swords, daggers and armor.

Spike TV is available in 99.6 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 and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.   Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

SOURCE Spike TV

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