Thunderbird Entertainment’s Great Pacific Media Celebrates the Renewals of Highway Thru Hell, Heavy Rescue: 401 and Mud Mountain Haulers

Bell Media Picks up All Three Factual Series Produced by Great Pacific Media for the 2021/22 Season on Discovery

Highway Thru Hell Enters Season 10; Heavy Rescue: 401 Enters Season Six; Mud Mountain Haulers Enters Season Two

Season 10 of Highway Thru Hell Launches Monday, Sept. 6 at 10 p.m. ET on Discovery

Great Pacific Media, the unscripted division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV: TBRD, OTCQX: THBRF), is pleased to confirm that Bell Media has ordered new seasons of three factual properties – Highway Thru Hell, Heavy Rescue: 401 and Mud Mountain Haulers, for Discovery in Canada. Previously announced at the Bell Media Upfront, each series is consistently among the most watched series on Discovery and its digital platforms, CTV.ca and the CTV app, and represent nearly a decade of ground-breaking, adrenaline-filled Great Pacific Media content to air on the network.

“Great Pacific Media is proud of the enduring legacy of Highway Thru Hell and its spinoffs Heavy Rescue: 401 and Mud Mountain Haulers – and we are thrilled to bring them all back for new seasons on Discovery,” said David Way, President of Great Pacific Media. “All three series demonstrate the strength, determination and resilience of men and women facing mother nature, and we are honoured that viewers across Canada – and around the world – continue to embrace these powerful and impactful stories. We are also thankful to the creative, talented teams behind these series at GPM and Discovery, as these renewals would not be possible without dedicated personnel over the seasons, and for the continued support and fantastic partnerships with Bell Media and the CMF.”

Highway Thru Hell launched in 2012 to showcase the heroic teams of heavy equipment operators, who put their lives on the line to keep vital freight moving and communities connected across southern British Columbia. The upcoming season, premiering Monday, Sept, 6 at 10 p.m. ET on Discovery, features 18 brand-new episodes, which highlight the grit, ingenuity and heart of heavy recovery like never before. In its most recent season, Highway Thru Hell was a top three Canadian series across all Entertainment Specialty networks in the key A25-54 demographic.

Heavy Rescue: 401 was introduced as a spin-off of Highway Thru Hell in 2016. It follows the efforts of tow truck drivers, emergency workers and police officers who work tirelessly to keep Ontario’s famous 400-series highway network open for business. In its recent fifth season, Heavy Rescue: 401 was a top 10 series on Discovery in the A25-54 demographic. The upcoming sixth season will feature 13 brand-new episodes.

Mud Mountain Haulers launched in 2021 as a second spin-off of the Highway Thru Hell franchise. It follows the LeBeau brothers and their third-generation family logging business in British Columbia’s Cariboo Region, as they confront some of the steepest, muddiest and most treacherous mountain conditions in North America. In its first season, Mud Mountain Haulers was the number three Canadian program on Discovery for the A25-54 demographic. Season Two returns to the mountain for eight new episodes and new adventures with the LeBeau family. Mud Mountain Haulers has also been sold to international markets by Bell Media. Season One aired in the U.S. on The Weather Channel earlier this year, with the network committing to air the second season, and it will air on lifestyle channel DMAX in Germany.

“We are excited to strengthen our long time, successful partnership with Great Pacific Media, to deliver another round of fan-favourite Discovery originals Highway Thru Hell, Heavy Rescue: 401, and Mud Mountain Haulers,” said Justin Stockman Vice President of Content Development and Programming, Bell Media. “Consistently top performers, these tentpole factual series are a constant source of thrills and inspiration for Discovery viewers, and we look forward to their return to the schedule for the 2021/22 broadcast season.”

For information on Thunderbird and to subscribe to the Company’s investor list for news updates, go to www.thunderbird.tv.

Source: Numeris, 8/31/20-8/8/21, minimum three airings.

ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. Thunderbird’s vision is to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various divisions, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons), and Thunderbird Factual and Scripted (Great Pacific Media). The Company also has a division dedicated to global distribution and consumer products. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.

About Bell Media Original Programming

Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include #1 Canadian drama TRANSPLANT; record-breaking Canadian formats THE AMAZING RACE CANADA and MASTERCHEF CANADA; comedy series JANN; and upcoming new comedy CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING from the producers of LETTERKENNY. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are CTV Life Channel’s culinary series MARY MAKES IT EASY with Mary Berg; CTV Sci-Fi Channel’s SURREALESTATE; and CTV Comedy Channel’s CORNER GAS ANIMATED. Crave Originals include hit series LETTERKENNY and its upcoming official spinoff series SHORESY, CANADA’S DRAG RACE, and WAY OVER ME (SORTEZ-MOI DE MOI); docuseries DARK SIDE OF THE RING; and acclaimed documentaries FANNY: THE RIGHT TO ROCK and A.RTIFICIAL I.MMORTALITY. Discovery is home to Bell Media’s hit factual series and franchises HIGHWAY THRU HELL, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, and MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS, in addition to MAKE IT TO THE MOON, and others. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.

About Discovery

With compelling real-life programming that inspires and entertains, Discovery reveals the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. Discovery offers a signature mix of adrenaline-charged stories, larger-than-life personalities and vivid imagery for viewers with curious minds. With the best factual programming from Canada and around the world, Discovery captures the excitement of a passion for life – one lived fully and at its most extreme. With exceptional and immersive storytelling, the channel offers in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the extraordinary people and places that shape our world. Discovery Canada is a joint venture between Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company, and Discovery Communications Inc. Fan favourite series and exclusive Canadian original Discovery content is available to stream on CTV.ca and the CTV app.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210830005203/en/