or


[03/11/15 - 09:34 AM]
Smithsonian Channel(TM) Set to Premiere Docu-Series Chronicling Black Gold Rush in North Dakota and Montana
"Boomtowners," comprised of six one-hour episodes, will debut Sunday, April 26 at 9:00/8:00c.

[via press release from Smithsonian Channel]

SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM) SET TO PREMIERE DOCU-SERIES CHRONICLING BLACK GOLD RUSH IN NORTH DAKOTA AND MONTANA

"BOOMTOWNERS"

Six Episode Series To Debut Sunday, April 26 At 9 PM ET/PT

NEW YORK - March 11, 2015 - The oil boom that has been drawing thousands of workers to the Bakken shale region of North Dakota and Montana is the subject of a new Smithsonian Channel docu-series. BOOMTOWNERS, comprised of six one-hour episodes, will debut Sunday, April 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The announcement was made today by David Royle, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production, Smithsonian Channel.

The series chronicles the daily lives of people who live and work in the Bakken region, the epicenter of the area's oil boom. Oil was originally discovered in the area in 1951, but the recent development of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has rapidly transformed the Bakken into one of the world's leading oil-producing regions. Since 2010, when the boom began, production has grown to over one million barrels of oil a day, which has led to lower gas prices in the United States.

But with that black gold, the towns surrounding the Bakken may have been changed forever. And while many seek their fortunes amid the boom, others worry about potential environmental damage from fracking. The region struggles mightily to keep up with the infrastructure needs, housing demands, and the massive influx of workers and their families. Schools are beginning to be overrun and can't keep up with the demand for teachers. Restaurants and grocery stores can't keep employees as many favor the big checks coming from the oil fields.

"The Bakken Boom is a modern-day gold rush, fueled by the American dream of rags to riches," said Royle. "It's like the Wild West all over again, with compelling characters from all walks of life and from all across America seeking their fortunes. And like the Wild West, it's transforming some lives but leaving others with shattered dreams. It is certainly one of the most important economic developments of our time... but at what cost?"

BOOMTOWNERS plunges into the lives of people who are experiencing this historic transformation - like Ben and Phoebe Moorhead, the parents of two young boys who left Phoenix, Arizona for steady work in the Bakken. Ben is a truck driver for one of the oil companies, while Phoebe is a court reporter in Sidney, Montana. They've always talked about doing more with their lives and see the oil boom as a means to get to where they'd really like to be.

The series also follows Ray and Deanna Senior, parents of four, who picked up their entire family and moved from Rancho Mirage, California. They are struggling with their new way of life as Ray works non-stop and the kids are combining teenage angst with their unfamiliar surroundings. Judge Greg Mohr of Sidney, Montana experiences the dark side of the boom in a way few, if any, can. Every day his courtroom is packed, so he knows firsthand the pitfalls of a boom town. "No one could sit there and predict what was going to happen," Judge Mohr says of the early days. "We woke up and here's an 800-pound gorilla in bed with us called the Bakken."

Others followed in BOOMTOWNERS include Sean Banks, a street preacher/oil worker, who spreads his gospel to anyone who will listen and even some who don't; Dan and Hannah Dooley, who see the Bakken boom as their ticket to entrepreneurial wealth; Tony Miller, an oil supervisor who has put his career before his happiness; Sandi Beagle Angel, a lifelong resident of Sidney, who yearns for the town she grew up in, not the one it has become; and Travis and Justin, young men in their late 20's who know that it takes hard work to unearth the riches of the Bakken.

On April 19 Smithsonian Channel will make the first episode of BOOMTOWNERS available for free at www.smithsonianchannel.com/boomtowners, as well as on its mobile platforms, and on Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

The series is produced by Partners in Motion in association with Smithsonian Channel and Landmark Media Productions. Executive Producer for Partners in Motion is Jeff Stecyk and Supervising Producer is Steve Allen. Production Executive for Landmark Media is Peter Hartogs and Supervising Producer is Michael Watts. Executive Producers for Smithsonian Channel are Tim Evans, David Royle and Charles Poe.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, L.A. Frock Stars, Secrets, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.





  [march 2015]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· BOOMTOWNERS (SMITH)





[11/08/24 - 08:35 AM]
ESPN Films' "Missing at Sea" to Premiere November 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+
Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Nicole Noren, with reporting by ESPN's Sam Borden, the film tells the gripping story of Ivan Gjorgievski, who was swept out to sea and survived 18 harrowing hours in the Aegean.

[11/08/24 - 08:21 AM]
Nominations Announced for "The 67th Annual Grammy Awards"
Topping the list of nominations are Beyoncé (11), Charli xcx (7), Billie Eilish (7), Kendrick Lamar (7), Post Malone (7), Sabrina Carpenter (6), Chappell Roan (6) and Taylor Swift (6).

[11/07/24 - 01:17 PM]
The CW Acquires "Bob Hearts Abishola" Repeats
Look for a marathon of the first four episodes on Friday, November 15.

[11/07/24 - 01:03 PM]
Snoop Dogg Returns to E! with "Snoop's Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne's Story" Premiering Thursday, Dec. 5
The three-part docuseries features Cori Broadus and her fiancé, Wayne Duece, as they journey through the ebbs and flows of love, life and new beginnings with friends and family.

[11/07/24 - 10:30 AM]
CBS Orders Full Seasons of "Poppa's House" and "NCIS: Origins"
According to VideoAmp and internal streaming data, with seven days of multiplatform viewing, "NCIS: Origins'" premiere has been seen by 9.0 million viewers and "Poppa's House" by 6.41 million viewers.

[11/07/24 - 09:15 AM]
Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions Confirm Fight Week & Fight Night Broadcast Team and Livestream Details for Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Mega-Event
British sports broadcaster Kate Scott (née Abdo) will serve as the main host with former world champion Andre Ward as lead booth analyst.

[11/07/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Alien: Romulus" - Coming Soon - Hulu
Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, and Isabela Merced, "Alien: Romulus" is streaming November 21, only on Hulu.

[11/07/24 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?" Debuts in January
The comedian, writer, and host of "Real Time with Bill Maher" will tape his special in front of a live audience at the CIBC Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

[11/07/24 - 08:01 AM]
First Season of NWSL on ION: 50 Matches, 53 Studio Shows, 130+ Hours of Content, 20.5 Million Unique Viewers
Matches drew an average audience of 145,000 P2+ per game with a high of 234,000 on July 6 for the Orlando-Kansas City match.

[11/07/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Reveals First Look at Third Season of "Sago Mini Friends"
The five-episode season is a delightful nod to gratitude, featuring Harvey the floppy-eared dog and his best friends, Jinja the cat, Jack the rabbit and Robin the bird.

[11/07/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: Prime Video Announces Premiere Date and Teaser Trailer for UK Original Movie "My Fault: London" Starring Asha Banks and Matthew Broome
The new film will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on February 13, 2025.

[11/07/24 - 06:00 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Reveals Official Trailer for the New Christmas Comedy Film "Dear Santa"
The film is the story of a young boy (Robert Timothy Smith) who mails his Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial spelling error, resulting in a devilish Jack Black's arrival to wreak havoc on the holidays.

[11/07/24 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "Camp Crasher" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In a bid to save her son's end-of-school camping trip, a single mom steps in as the bus driver while trying to show him she really can be a cool mom.

[11/07/24 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Love Never Lies: South Africa" - Official Teaser - Netflix
Six couples face trust issues, temptations, and a ruthless lie detector in South Africa's first dating show of its kind - testing their love and honesty.

[11/07/24 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain" - Special Trailer - Netflix
In the chambers of the Edo harem, two newcomers uncover political intrigue, rivalry and a vengeful spirit only one traveling medicine seller can vanquish.