PRESS RELEASES

BIG FISH. HIGH STAKES. DANGEROUS BATTLES.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL CHARTS COURSE FOR A SIXTH SEASON OF THE HIT SERIES WICKED TUNA

Tue Feb 28 2017 18:45:00 GMT+0000 (UTC)

Gloucester’s Finest Fishermen Return to Sunday Nights;  
New Season Premieres Sunday, March 12, at 9/8c

(Washington, D.C. – Feb. 28, 2017) — Last season, millions watched as the race to be the top-performing boat in the fleet came down to the final weigh-in, with one captain inching ahead by just $174. Now, with the start of a new season, the captains of Gloucester, Massachusetts, get another shot to top the leaderboard. But it won’t be easy as old rivalries, personal setbacks and a new boat joining the competition make it a battle for the ages. The new season of National Geographic Channel’s hit series WICKED TUNA premieres Sunday, March 12, at 9/8c. The series will also air internationally on National Geographic Channel in 171 countries and in 45 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotvpressroom.com and follow us on Twitter (@NGC_PR).

Filmed on location in Gloucester and the surrounding waters, WICKED TUNA follows a group of salty fishermen from the nation’s oldest seaport as they make their living the way it’s been done for centuries — rod and reel fishing, one catch at a time — all in pursuit of the bluefin tuna. Produced by Pilgrim Media Group, the series gives viewers an in-depth look at the intense battles, fierce competition, crushing losses and major paydays of the country’s toughest captains. For commercial fishermen, the directive is simple: Catch a fish or go home without a paycheck. One “monstah” bluefin can be worth more than $20,000; with that kind of money on the line, every captain is fighting to be the best in the fleet. 

WICKED TUNA'S sixth season picks up following a volatile winter, captured in spinoff series WICKED TUNA: OUTER BANKS, recently renewed for a fourth season. Captain Tyler McLaughlin of the Pinwheel (@PinWheelFV) is feeling confident after one of his best seasons ever down South. After several years of fishing with inexperienced and unreliable mates, McLaughlin has finally found a successful partner in Nick “Fudge” Duffy, and hopes they can continue their hot streak in Gloucester.

Not everyone found success in the Outer Banks — Captain Dave Marciano of the Hard Merchandise (@CaptMarciano), despite being recognized as one of the top fishermen in the Northeast, stumbled down South, returning home without a single fish. And the Hot Tuna’s Captain TJ Ott (@tjHOTTUNA) has struggled in recent years to break out of the middle of the pack. Now back in familiar seas, Marciano and Ott are out to repair and restore their reputations. 

Meanwhile, last season’s winner, Captain Dave Carraro (@TunaDotCom) of the FV-Tuna.com has the most well-respected crew in the fleet, and he is confident he can replicate last year’s success. Still, his former mate, Captain Paul Hebert of the Wicked Pissah (@PissahTunaPaul), proved to be a formidable rival last season, matching Carraro catch for catch. Many attribute Hebert’s former success to his experienced mate, Brad Krasowski, who this season joins the fleet as the captain of his own vessel, the Fish Hawk, leaving Hebert to prove his mettle on his own.

Krasowski is a local legend in Gloucester, known for his friendly personality, trademark long hair and, most important, his ability to put meat on deck when no one else can get a bite. Krasowski’s reputation precedes him, and the other captains know that out-fishing him can be a daunting task. 

In addition to offering an inside look at one of America’s oldest industries, WICKED TUNA also sheds light on important issues surrounding the fate of the bluefin tuna. As the scientific community debates how best to preserve the species, American fishermen, including the WICKED TUNA captains, continue to adhere to U.S. regulations that determine size limits and quotas for the season. Viewers are encouraged to add their voices to the conversation via the website at www.natgeotv.com/wickedtuna, which also features articles, links and message boards devoted to the tuna and oceans. 

Wicked Tuna Premiere Episodes Include:

Wicked Tuna: The First Fish Is the Hardest 
Premieres Sunday, March 12, 2017, at 9/8c
It’s the opening week of the North Atlantic bluefin tuna season, and for the fishermen of Gloucester, Massachusetts, the summer ahead promises the chance for lucrative paydays. The elusive first fish of the season can bring big money and bragging rights for the lucky captain who lands it. Old rivals and a new competitor will battle for the No. 1 spot on the leaderboard. The race is on, and no one’s going down without a fight. 

Wicked Tuna: Trials and Tunalations
Premieres Sunday, March 19, 2017, at 9/8c
The pressure is on for Captain Paul Hebert to land his first tuna. After the Wicked Pissah’s great season last year, many attributed Paul’s successes to the skill of his first mate, Brad Krasowski, now the captain of his own vessel and Paul’s competition. As the other captains in the fleet choose sides, Paul vows to do everything he can to make a name for himself and prove his critics wrong.

Wicked Tuna: Bluefin Brotherhood
Premieres Sunday, March 26, 2017, at 9/8c
It’s a long-standing tradition in commercial fishing to treat other fishermen with respect, but not every captain plays by the rules. A good deed by Captain Tyler McLaughlin earns the Pinwheel some positive karma in return. Meanwhile, Captain Dave Carraro, frustrated with the FV-Tuna.com’s dry spell, resorts to desperate measures. But what goes around comes around, and Dave’s shady tactics could make his luck even worse.

WICKED TUNA is produced for National Geographic Channels by Pilgrim Media Group. For Pilgrim Media Group, executive producers are Craig Piligian and Mike Nichols. For National Geographic Channels, executive producer is Robert Palumbo; senior vice president of programming and development is Alan Eyres; and president, global original programming and production, National Geographic Channel, is Tim Pastore.

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About National Geographic Partners LLC:
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 128 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the non-profit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About Pilgrim Media Group:
Pilgrim Media Group, a Lionsgate company (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), produces a wide variety of unscripted programming for television, including Wicked Tuna for National Geographic; “Ghost Brothers” and “My Big Fat Fabulous Life” for TLC; “Fast N’ Loud,” “Street Outlaws,” “Misfit Garage” and “The Wheel” for Discovery; two-time NAACP Award winner “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” for OWN; “Bring It!” for Lifetime; “David Tutera’s CELEBrations” for WE tv; and “Zombie House Flipping” for FYI. Last year Pilgrim also launched “The Runner” for Verizon’s go90, with executive producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, which earned Pilgrim CEO Craig Piligian Next TV’s first-ever Innovator of the Year award. The company also struck a deal with e-sports company ESL to create and distribute original e-sports entertainment content for television and digital platforms, with 343 Industries’ “Halo 5: Guardians” emerging as the first project. Pilgrim’s digital studio and platform, 1620 Media, produces both short-form series and branded content in genres including documentary, comedy and animation, with projects also serving as an incubator for linear development. For more, visit pilgrimstudios.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS: 
Chad Sandhas, 202-912-6537, csandhas@natgeotv.com 
Amanda Hebert, 212-918-2047, amanda@high10media.com