Animal Planet (DStv channel 264)

Animal Feeding Frenzy (premiere)
Saturday, 5 November at 22:55.

Hungry? Then join Animal Planet for a feast of programming which delves deep into the animal feeding habits of some of our planet's greatest predators. In ‘Shark Feeding Frenzy’, presenter Les Stroud examines the true eating behaviours of the world's deadliest sharks as they happen in the wild. Never-before-seen tests will challenge long-standing myths and beliefs, revealing new insights into these ocean predators. ‘Bear Feeding Frenzy’ sees host Chris Douglas venture into the Alaskan bush to locate and study large grizzly bears. Chris continues his tour heading onto the African plains in ‘Lion Feeding Frenzy’ where he observes the majestic lion and its voracious nature. Finally, in ‘Crocodile Feeding Frenzy’, follow Chris as he journeys into the Everglades to locate and study crocodiles and alligators. Through a series of controlled experiments, Chris and reptile expert Donald Schultz strive to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

Pet Zone (premiere)
Monday, 7 November at 18:20.

This November, Animal Planet brings its viewers a collection of entertaining pet-themed programmes. ‘Dogs 101: Specials’ sees the guide to dog breeds go one step further as we meet the perfect canine companions for people with active lifestyles, the best family dogs and canines that love to travel, and learn about dog grooming and canine extremes. In ‘America's Cutest Pet’, there's back-to-back video clips of America’s funniest, craziest and most adorable pets while ‘Your Pet Wants This’ and ‘Your Pet Wants This, Too!’ showcase the latest and greatest products for pets, from an airline catering exclusively for animals to GPS tracking units for dog collars. Finally in ‘World’s Ugliest Dog Competition', get up close and personal as their fanatical owners reveal how they took these grotesque mutts off the streets and into warm and caring homes.

Whale Wars (season premiere)
Friday, 25 November at 22:00.

Captain Paul Watson and his team of Sea Shepherd volunteers return in an adrenaline-fuelled new series as they wage a life-and-death battle to find and stop Japanese ships from hunting whales in the name of research. Highlighting the controversial whaling trade and the fearless tactics that the team deploys in their attempt to cripple it, this fourth series documents the campaigners' three-month expedition across dangerous icy Antarctic waters. As the crusade begins, things are looking good; a new vessel, the Gojira, joins the fleet, and the activists quickly track down two harpoon ships before the whalers are able to kill a single animal. But as the mission continues and the fleet goes in search of their ultimate target, the factory vessel Nisshin Maru, the operation takes a turn for the worse, with mental and physical exhaustion setting in amongst the team. Will Paul see his life's work pay off with the ultimate victory?

Discovery World (DStv channel 250)

Voyages of the World (premiere)
Wednesday, 2 November at 18:30.

This November, Discovery World takes viewers on a captivating voyage around the world. Beginning the great journey is ‘Marley Africa Road Trip’ which sees musician Bob Marley’s three sons Ziggy, Rohan and Robbie return to Africa 30 years on from their father’s landmark freedom performance there. This candid documentary series offers an intriguing look into one the most legendary musical families in history, following the trio as they travel through South Africa on motorcycles, and embraces their thoughts, memories, observations and frustrations. Also, as part of Voyages of the World, comes ‘Joanna Lumley's Nile’ which sees her travel the river from its mouth to its source, encompassing the rich, varied history and contemporary daily life of the world’s longest river. From the luxury of Egypt to the searing heat of Sudan, and on to the jungles of Rwanda, Joanna’s interaction with everyone she meets bring this rare expedition to life.

HMS Ark Royal (premiere)
Saturday, 5 November at 19:20.

There has been an Ark Royal in the British fleet since 1587. But now with its final incarnation decommissioned, there will no longer be any ship bearing this illustrious name. Discovery is joining the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal on her final, poignant voyage, capturing the incredible dedication and sheer professionalism of the 1000-strong crew of the ship, led by the indomitable Commanding Officer, Captain John Clink. The series follows the aircraft carrier as it undertakes an emergency mission directed by the British Government, participates in international war games with fellow military powers, receives a visit by dignitaries including the UK’s Prime Minister and, ultimately, prepares for her final journey.

Rugby: The Lifeblood of New Zealand (premiere)
Sunday, 6 November at 20:10.

To celebrate the culmination of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Discovery World brings viewers a fascinating documentary which journeys from the North to the South Islands of New Zealand, to try find out how such a small nation produces such outstanding players, feared and respected by all other major rugby nations. This captivating special features interviews with key rugby professionals and experts including: Chief Executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Steve Tew; All Blacks coach Graham Henry; All Black stars Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Byron Kelleher, Kees Meuws, Jimmy Cowan, Hosea Gear and Ma’a Nonu; and personality Inia Maxwell. Rugby: Lifeblood of New Zealand resonates with the All Blacks' qualities of respect, passion and humility, and explores not only their world famous rugby, but New Zealand’s spirit and culture.

TLC (DStv channel 186)

Medical Anomalies (premiere)
Thursday, 3 November at 22:50.

Medical Anomalies is an extraordinary series documenting the struggles and accomplishments of a number of unique human beings with exceptionally rare medical conditions. Maurice Simpson has been disfigured by massive facial tumours caused by neurofibromatosis since childhood. However, an operation to remove his tumours could put his life on the line. Six-year-old Deepak has a one-in-a-million condition, a parasitic twin. Born with four extra limbs growing out of his chest, his partially formed twin grows as he grows, threatening his very existence. Now, Deepak and his family are beginning a journey to surgery that could drastically change his life. Finally, for two years, 17-year-old Calvino Inman has been crying blood and no one can explain why. Now, Calvino has set out to look for answers. Follow these individuals and others as they try to understand the cause of their conditions and investigate whether anything can be done to improve their quality of life.

Addicted (premiere)
Sunday, 27 November at 23:40.

TLC’s new series Addicted follows the lives of six individuals and their families, as they struggle with various addictions. Ex-addict and interventionist Kristina Wandzilak works alongside each addict: Amanda, whose alcohol and heroin addiction has left her jobless, homeless and on probation; Kevin, an alcoholic who has alienated his friends and family with his downward spiral of drinking; Alissa, who has spent most of her life in a heroin-induced haze; Klea, a meth amphetamine addict who has turned to prostitution; Jeremy, who is addicted to OxyContin and whose family history has been devastated by numerous addictions; and Annie and Mike who, after falling in love in rehab, have relapsed back to their old ways. Wandzilak guides them through the process of accepting their habits, from the initial crisis stage to intervention, through treatment, to understanding how their lives have been affected by the disease.

Discovery Channel (DStv channel 121)

Nothing Personal (premiere)
Thursday, 3 November at 22:20.

Explore the sinister underworld of contract killings as Nothing Personal reveals mafia disloyalties, romantic infidelities, stale friendships and the trio of characters at their centre: the conniving 'client', the professional murderer and the victim who never saw it coming. Each episode is hosted by true crime aficionado Steve Schirripa, who grew up on the fringes of the mob, had schoolmates who became hit men or, unfortunately, succumbed to the work of hit men. Seamlessly woven into each story, Schirripa's commentary exposes viewers to an insider's view of the business of crime. Why did the victims have contracts on their lives? Who wanted them dead? And how did the hit men carry out their gruesome assignments? Meet the key players in each story and experience every side of the tale before learning how their relationships fatefully resulted in murder-for-hire.

Curiosity: Did God create the universe? (premieres)
Sunday, 13 November at 20:55.

Ever wondered what it would be like to live forever? Is there a creator? What would happen if aliens attacked? Why sex is fun? Find out as brand new series Curiosity attempts to uncover the truths behind life's most challenging questions. Hosted by a stellar line-up of celebrity presenters including Stephen Hawking, Morgan Freeman and Maggie Gyllenhaal, each episode focuses on a single enduring question in science, technology and society. Embarking on a fascinating voyage of discovery, this unique and engaging series goes to extreme lengths to seek surprising and exciting answers to life’s mysteries.

Deception with Keith Barry (premiere)
Wednesday, 23 November at 20:30.

Reading people, implanting thoughts, predicting behaviour and hacking into the subconscious may sound like science fiction, but one man does it – and will show you how. World-renowned mentalist Keith Barry delves into the mysteries of the mind, revealing how ordinary people can better harness their own abilities in Deception with Keith Barry. These skills have been seen on the stage in Vegas, but rarely have they been applied to the real world. In a variety of scenarios, from the everyday, such as turning the table on the car salesman and showing what really happens when people buy and sell; to the extreme, when Barry turns his attentions to the Cold War in a series of mind experiments,which see him attempt mass hypnosis, programming ordinary people to be spies and even creating a sleeper agent, this fascinating series will have you on the edge of your seat.

Coal (premiere)
Monday, 28 November at 20:30.

Coal is one of the most valuable natural resources on the planet. Used to generate more than half of America’s electricity, it is the foundation of a multi-billion dollar industry that directly employs more than 80 000 people and creates countless other jobs. In the small towns of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, coal is a way of life. Toiling daily in cramped spaces, many miners have inherited this difficult and dangerous job from their fathers and grandfathers. Coal goes underground, exploring the workings of a modern coalmine, meeting the people who undertake the potentially lethal, complex task of extracting this vital natural resource. Each episode features a different member of the crew, from the men who work at the coal face, to the shift bosses who oversee the whole operation, focusing on both their work and home lives. In a part of the country that's struggling economically, coal is the only industry that pays, and it pays well. But is the risk worth the reward?

Discovery HD Showcase (DStv channel 172)

Storm Surfers (premiere)
Thursday, 3 November at 17:00.

Big wave surfing legends Ross Clarke-Jones and Tom Carroll have spent the last few years scouring the earth for the most dangerous waves they can find. Now the daring duo target the treacherous seas of Bass Strait, Australia, determined to surf a mythical, never-before-ridden wave called Dangerous Banks. Using the latest storm prediction technology, meteorologist and surf forecaster Ben Matson helps Ross and Tom to track and chase the largest storms in the Southern Ocean in a mad, high-stakes race against time and the elements. Storm Surfers follows Ross and Tom as they risk life and limb to pursue their goal: coming close to death in near-freezing waters and enduring body battering wipe-outs from waves the size of houses. In a nail-biting adventure that takes them from Tasmania to Western Australia, can Ross and Tom overcome inhospitable conditions and fearsome swells to conquer the ‘Everest’ of big wave surfing?

Stan Lee’s Superhumans (premiere)
Sunday, 6 November at 22:50.

Stan Lee, the legendary creator of comic classics Spiderman and X-Men, hosts Discovery’s new series Stan Lee’s Superhumans. Going in search of people with genuine, real-life super-powers to rival Lee’s fictional characters, co-host Daniel Browning-Smith investigates four people rumoured to have amazing abilities. These include a man who claims to be immune to electrocution and someone who says he is the first human who can actually fly. These 'superhumans' undergo scientific testing to help explain their astonishing gifts and face the ultimate test: a demonstration of what separates them from every other person on the planet.