Discovery’s pop culture phenomenon, Shark Week is back with bigger breaches and world-first discoveries that are nothing short of jaw-dropping.
This year’s event takes viewers to oceans around the world, including Australia, to reveal remarkable insights into the mysterious world of sharks, and also investigates how the COVID-19 global lockdown and reduced human activity on the water has impacted shark populations and behaviours.
Sharks and shark conservation are in Discovery’s DNA and we’ve been championing the ocean’s greatest predators for 25 years in Australia through Shark Week. It’s our mission to educate audiences about and help build respect for these misunderstood and mysterious species. Yes, mysterious, because there’s still so much we don’t know about sharks.
The number one destination for shark programming, Discovery continues to work with nearly two dozen of the world’s most respected marine biologists and science institutions to deliver brand-new, innovative shark research technology and compelling insight on some of the most unique shark species in the world.
This year we’ve recruited a line-up of A-list celebrities to help spread the message of Shark Week and hopefully change some perceptions of these awe-inspiring creatures.
Diving into the action is Will Smith, Snoop Dogg, Mike Tyson, Adam Devine and his Workaholics co-stars Anders Holm and Blake Anderson, Shaquille O’Neal and YouTubers Mark Rober and Dude Perfect. They team up with some of Discovery’s renowned shark experts and conservationists including Australians Paul de Gelder and Luke Tipple and Kiwis Dr Riley Elliott, Kina Scollay and Clarke Gayford.
The 2020 edition of Shark Week features unmissable documentaries filmed in Australia and New Zealand, and also heads to South Africa, the Bahamas, California, the Bermuda Triangle and beyond.
The local content includes Great White Double Trouble which launches this epic week. A recent study revealed there are two tribes of great white sharks in Australia, eastern and western, and the sharks in the west appear to be more deadly – Paul de Gelder and Dr Riley Elliott join forces to find out why this is.
Abandoned Waters heads to South Australia, where the global lockdown has seen great white numbers increase around the Neptune Islands due to the lack of human activity in the water. Marine ecologists DrCharlie Huveneers and Dr Lauren Meyer lead a team on this critical research mission.
Meanwhile Lair of the Great White also investigates the behaviour of great whites on our west coast as US marine biologist Dr Craig O’Connell joins local experts in Esperance, Western Australia.
New Zealand delivers some remarkable shark insights when Dr Riley Elliott and shark cinematographer Andy Casagrande make a world first discovery about the fastest sharks on the planet in Mako Nation. And in Shark Lockdown, shark expert Kina Scollay teams up with Clarke Gayford – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s partner – to search for 20ft-long female great whites in southern New Zealand.
On the celebrity front, Will Smith sets out to overcome his fear of sharks in Will Smith: Off The Deep End; former heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson enters the aqua ring in Tyson vs Jaws: Rumble on the Reef; Shaquille O’Neal is back in ShaqAttack and brings along Mark Rober and Dude Perfect along for the ultimate showdown; Adam Devine’s Secret Shark Lair follows the comedian and his co-stars to a hidden location of tiger sharks; while Snoop Dogg brings the shizzle to Shark Week as the rapper takes on the role of nature documentarian for Sharkadelic Summer, and more!
The action doesn’t stop there. In Extinct or Alive: Land of Lost Sharks wildlife biologist Forrest Galente rediscovers three species of shark that were thought to be extinct – one shark hasn’t been seen for nearly 120 years!
On the edge of the Bermuda Triangle, five Naked and Afraid veterans including New Zealand twins, Amber and Serena Shine, attempt to survive on a remote strip of islands whose waters are so teeming with predators, locals call it “Shark Alley” in Naked and Afraid of Sharks 2.
With over 20 hours of premiere content this year, other titles include Jaws Awakens, Air Jaws: Ultimate Breach Off, Alien Sharks: First Contact, Tiger Shark King and more.
The full list of Shark Week premieres is below.
Shark Week (24/7 Event) Starts Thursday 26 November at 9:30pm – stream or watch on Discovery Available on Foxtel & Fetch
SHARK WEEK 2020 PREMIERES
Great White Double Trouble │ Stream or watch Thursday 26 November at 9.30pm AEDT AUSTRALIA
In Australia, scientists have made an astonishing discovery: there’s not just one population of great whites, there’s two – western and eastern. The western population appears to be more deadly to humans than the other, accounting for 22 fatalities between 2000 to 2019, while there has been four fatalities in the east during the same time. Is the western great white a super predator? Australian shark conservationist, Paul de Gelder and New Zealand shark scientist, Dr Riley Elliott pit the shark tribes against one another to discover what’s really going on in Great White Double Trouble.
Are the western sharks bigger and more aggressive? Or is there something else going on that we don’t know about? Paul and Riley put together a great white showdown, testing their size, bite force and hunting behaviour. Paul heads to the Neptune Islands in search of western great whites with the help of Dr Charlie Huveneers. Meanwhile, Riley believes the elusive east Australian adult great whites migrate to Stewart Island, New Zealand in summer in search of food. Off the coast of New Zealand, Riley make a jaw dropping discovery while studying predation techniques.
Jaws Awakens │ Stream or watch Thursday 26 November at 10:25pm AEDT NEW ZEALAND
Shark expert Chris Fallows joins Jeff Kurr and Dickie Chivell to search for the largest male great white shark in the world. Together, Chris, Jeff and Dickie explore the waters of New Zealand trying to find a nearly six metre long, two-tonne shark named Fred.
Will Smith: Off The Deep End │ Stream or watch Friday 27 November at 7:30pm AEDT
Will Smith is diving headfirst into action, excitement, and shark infested waters, as he confronts his fear of the open seas and the open jaws of nature’s fiercest predators.
Mako Nation │ Stream or watch Friday 27 November at 8:30pm AEDT NEW ZEALAND
Shark scientist Dr Riley Elliott and shark cinematographer Andy Casagrande are on an epic expedition to uncover the mysteries of the mako shark in one of the last places on earth where these apex predators rule the waters: New Zealand. The mako is the fastest shark in the world but there is so much about the species that we don’t know. In Mako Nation, Riley and Andy test the speed, power and intelligence of the species to see how they use their superpowers and try to understand how it has evolved its deadly arsenal of weapons in one of the harshest environments on Earth.
Their search takes them to Castle Rock, Mayor Island and to the edge of the continental shelf where the water is over 1,800m deep and home to some of the biggest sharks on the planet. No one has even dived here before… until Riley. In Mako Nation, Riley and Andy make a groundbreaking discovery about the species.
Air Jaws: Ultimate Breach Off │ Stream or watch Friday 27 November at 9:30pm AEDT
The Air Jaws team returns to the newest great white hunting spot at Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. The mission is to capture breaching behaviour in shallow water and to continue the research where the most epic shark vs. seal battles in the world occur. Using fin and tow cams, the team will capture hunting sharks and “mobbing” seals. Who will prevail? Shark or seal?
Great White Serial Killer Extinction │ Stream or watch Friday 27 November at 10:25pm AEDT
The great white serial killer returns – this time on a mysterious killing spree that may push the beloved California sea otter to the brink of extinction. Over 200 otters are killed by sharks every year. Attack investigators Ralph Collier, Brandon McMillan and Jimi Partington are on the case and in the water with a 4.5 metre otter killer they call Joker. At their offshore field lab, the team deploys a life-like otter dummy in front of this battle scarred great white and witness one of the most spectacular attacks in Shark Week history.
ShaqAttack │ Stream or watch Saturday 28 November at 7:30pm AEDT
After surviving a shark encounter in Shaq Does Shark Week, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is back! This time around he’s on a mission to find out what shark has the perfect predatory attack. But he can’t do it alone. Shaq is deploying YouTube stars Dude Perfect and Mark Rober to put various species to the test and uncover the most mind-blowing hunting techniques of this ultimate predator. Australian marine biologist, Luke Tipple helps former NASA engineer Mark Rober deploy his experimental ‘man cage’ he hopes can withstand a reef shark feeding frenzy so that he can study the pack mentality of the sharks.
Tyson vs. Jaws: Rumble on the Reef │ Stream or watch Saturday 28 November at 8:30pm AEDT
Former heavyweight boxer and entrepreneur Mike Tyson is taking on a new challenge… and he picked the most unlikely training partner. Iron Mike will go head-to-head with some of the ocean’s top apex predators including the black tip reef shark in Tyson Vs. Jaws: Rumble on the Reef. With famed ring announcer Michael Buffer calling the shots, these two heavyweights will square off underwater, where Mike Tyson will try to score a TKO over the massive shark… all in the name of research. Shark Week experts Paul de Gelder, Andy Casagrande, and Dr Craig O’Connell are on hand to run him through his training. No sharks were harmed (or bitten) in the making of this episode.
Sharkadelic Summer │ Stream or watch Saturday 28 November at 9:30pm AEDT
Snoop Dogg is bringing the shizzle to Shark Week 2020. The rapper takes on the role of nature documentarian to look at why great white sharks are taking up residence along America’s shores. Will this be the “sharkiest” summer in US history? In this special, Snoop will breakdown the craziest shark encounters caught on tape, marvel at the wild and unpredictable reactions, and meet with the leading experts who are trying to unlock the secrets behind this great white shark invasion.
I Was Prey: Shark Week 2 │ Stream or watch Saturday 28 November at 10:25pm AEDT
Two adventure seekers recount their horrifying shark attack experiences. Off the coast of Australia, a spearfishing expedition turns into a nightmare featuring a ferocious bull shark and a great white attack a paddle boarder on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Shark Lockdown │ Stream or watch Sunday 29 November at 7:30pm AEDT NEW ZEALAND
The global lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has quietened the ocean and is luring some of New Zealand’s biggest great whites out of hiding. Shark expert Kina Scollay is on a mission for answers on why the largest female great whites are drawn to southern New Zealand. He’s hoping to find ‘747’ – the largest female great white he’s ever recorded. She is one of the first sharks Kina and his team tagged in the area, then she disappeared… right until the start of winter when someone spotted her, and she was even bigger.
For this expedition, Kina teams up with marine filmmaker, Clarke Gayford, the partner of New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. They build a self-propelled dive cage, the ‘Snackbox’ to enter the shar’s domain to see first-hand how their hunting patterns have changed since the global lockdown. Where are the big sharks and what are they doing here? While the ocean is quiet, this might be their chance to track them down.
Naked and Afraid of Sharks 2 │ Stream or watch Sunday 29 November at 8:30pm AEDT
On the edge of the Bermuda Triangle, five Naked and Afraid veterans attempt to survive on a remote strip of islands whose waters are so teeming with predators, locals call it “Shark Alley.” Joining New Zealand’s favourite twins, Amber & Serena Shine, is Matt Wright, Jeff Zausch, and Alex Manard. With limited resources and punishing conditions on land, they’ll have no choice but to take to the waters and compete with hungry sharks for the same food.
Alien Sharks: First Contact │ Stream or watch Sunday 29 November at 10:25pm AEDT
Paul Clerkin is back… and now he’s hunting down the freakiest alien sharks on the planet. This time, Paul will go to three different locations to find the fastest jaws in the sea – goblin shark in Indonesia, frilled shark in New Zealand and the cookie cutter in Hawaii. Mysterious and bizarre alien sharks lurk far beneath the waves in remarkably deep waters where researchers are on a quest to make first contact. Pursuing the elusive frilled shark, sleeper shark and cookie cutter shark brings even more unexpected encounters.
Adam Devine’s Secret Shark Lair│ Stream or watch Monday 30 November at 7:30pm AEDT
Last year, Adam Devine and a team of marine biologists deployed a CATS camera tag on a massive tiger shark that yielded a surprising scientific discovery: a secret tiger shark lair. Scientists believe this may be the largest congregation of tiger sharks on the planet or in Adam’s mind, the ultimate shark party! Adam Devine, Anders Holm and Blake Anderson find out what makes this tiger shark party so epic. Are they mating? Are they pupping? Are they feeding? What makes this such a great shark party?
Abandoned Waters│ Stream or watch Monday 30 November at 8:30pm AEDT AUSTRALIA
COVID-19 has changed the world’s behaviour and that has presented shark researchers with a once in a lifetime opportunity to study the massive great whites at the Neptune Islands in South Australia Islands which sits on a known great white migration route. Usually a hot spot for cage diving with thousands of people visiting each year, for the past two months the waters here have been abandoned. With no human interaction for the first time in decades, some of the biggest great white sharks on earth are returning to their natural behaviour, allowing scientists to study them up close and personal in ways that were nearly impossible before.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected their behaviour? Are they more aggressive or curious? Have more sharks flooded the area without boats in the water? Before lockdown on average four sharks were spotted here per day and more of them were male. Has that changed after two months with no boats in the area? Marine ecologists Dr Charlie Huveneers and Dr Lauren Meyer team up with cage dive operators, Andrew and Rodney Fox on this critical research mission to unlock the secret world of Neptune’s great whites.
Wicked Sharks│ Stream or watch Monday 30 November at 9:30pm AEDT
As the number of great white shark encounters on Cape Cod spikes, shark expert Dr Greg Skomal breaks out cutting-edge tech to capture the white shark’s point-of-view – revealing exactly how and where they hunt in the summer to better protect the public.
Tiger Shark King│ Stream or watch Monday 30 November at 10:25pm AEDT
In the Caribbean, a deep-sea camera captured footage of a 4 metre tiger shark suffering an assault by a large, unseen beast. It could be an unknown species of mega-shark or even a cannibalistic tiger shark. Dr Austin Gallagher wants to find out.
Extinct Or Alive: Land of Lost Sharks│ Stream or watch Tuesday 1 December at 7:30pm AEDT
Wildlife biologist and conservationist Forrest Galante dives into some of the most treacherous, shark-infested waters in the southern hemisphere all in an attempt to rediscover three unique sharks lost to science for as long as 100 years. From crystal clear tropical reefs to turbulent stormy bays, the Mozambique channel is home to four fantastic species of lost sharks – whitetip weasle shark, eastern shyshark, honeycomb catshark, and African whitespotted izak shark. Forrest and shark biologist, Dave Ebert will venture into “The Land of the Lost Sharks” to track down these rare species, all while dodging great whites, erratic weather and currents, and possibly even modern-day pirates.
Lair of the Great White│ Stream or watch Tuesday 1 December at 8:30pm AEDT AUSTRALIA
Marine biologist Dr Craig O’Connell leads a team of experts, including Aussies Marc Payne and Andre Rerekura, in a study to find out why the population of great whites off the coast of Western Australia are so much more aggressive than any other. Is there a connection between this ancient underwater landscape and the sharks’ frightening behaviour? Are the great whites using an elaborate cave system beneath the surface to lie in wait as they hunt? To find the answers, they are venturing into the caves to find out for themselves, and they make a valuable discovery.
Sharks of Ghost Island│ Stream or watch Tuesday 1 December at 9:30pm AEDT
On the edge of the Bermuda Triangle lies Ghost Island, a place locals have abandoned after multiple shipwrecks and shark attacks. Dr Craig O’Connell has been here before to study the potential shark hot spot, but his first trip ended abruptly when his boat nearly sank. Now Craig is back with a team of experts and they are determined to find why this island attracts so many sharks, even the great white.
Monsters Under the Bridge│ Stream or watch Tuesday 1 December at 10:25pm AEDT
Scientists believe the artificial reef under the Old Seven Mile Bridge in Florida is home to monster sharks – bulls, lemons, tigers and even great whites. But according to fisherman, the boss of the bridge is a great hammerhead shark called Big Moe. He is rumoured to be over 4.5 metres long and weigh nearly a half tonne. If the legend is true, he could be the largest hammerhead on the planet.
