Velocity Rings In The New Year With Three High Octane Original Series Representing The Best Of Men's Lifestyle Programming

SILVER SPRING Md., Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Velocity starts 2012 off with a bang, as the network debuts three world-premiere series during the first week of January; AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE, SAW DOGS and SHOOTING STARS.  As Discovery Communications' new all-HD network for an upscale male audience, Velocity's new series deliver the very best of men's lifestyle programming; spanning the worlds of vehicles, the outdoors and action skills competitions. 

Headlining the programming is AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE; the car lover's ultimate television destination. Premiering January 3 at 8:30PM (ET/PT), the all-new, original series promises the best in automotive; from design to driving, customization, lifestyle, technology, and everything in between.   Named for the storied auto repair shop on Detroit's legendary Woodward Avenue, AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE gives a closer look at car culture from all over the country. 

Later in the week, two series that redefine high-stakes competition debut back-to-back on Velocity. SAW DOGS introduces viewers to "Master Carver" Steve Blanchard and the little-known folk art of "Chainsaw Carving."  This artform combines best in brawn, horsepower and muscle - with the result being high-end wooden sculptures commissioned by some of the world's top clients.

Immediately following, SHOOTING STARS showcases what happens when the top shots in trick shooting and shot-gunning light up a Texas target range with the best in weaponry and high stakes challenges. SAW DOGS premieres January 7 at 8:00PM (ET/PT) followed by the premiere of SHOOTING STARS, January 7 at 9:00PM (ET/PT).

Launched in October of this year, Velocity is the newest network from Discovery Communications featuring the best of the travel, leisure, automotive, adventure, and sports genres.  Velocity, an upscale men's network now occupies the channel formerly known as HD Theatre.

For more information on Velocity, please visit Velocity.tv, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VelocityTV or on Twitter @VelocityTV1

FULL SERIES DESCRIPTIONS BELOW:

AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE

Series Premiere Tuesday, January 3 at 8:30PM (ET/PT)

AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE unleashes our passion for the automobile. Hosted by car enthusiast and TV personality Courtney Hansen (Spike TV, TLC), AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE covers everything from design to driving, customization, cooking and cruisin', travel, technology and all in between.  Taken directly from the pages of Autoweek, this is the stuff people living the automotive lifestyle care about – all in an action-packaged half hour show.  Named for a storied auto repair shop on Detroit's legendary Woodward Avenue, AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE is the hottest thing to come out of Detroit since the Motown Sound.  While it originated in the Motor City, AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE puts a new shine on sheet metal and the people who live for their car.

SHOOTING STARS

Series Premiere Saturday January 7, at 8:00PM (ET/PT)

See what happens when eight of the best trick shooters and celebrity shotgunners turn the Texas night into an explosion of pyrotechnic targets are firepower with thousands of fans adding to a Monday Night Football like carnival atmosphere. It's big guns, electrifying shots, and plenty of rivalry and laughter as the lost art of Annie Oakley exhibition shooting meets modern weaponry, science, and big event entertainment.

SAW DOGS

Series Premiere Saturday January 7, at 9:00 (ET/PT)

A team of the world's top chainsaw sculptors battle a deadline, and conflicting artistic sensibilities, to complete a series of commissioned wood carving projects on a scale never before seen.  American "Master Carver" Steve Blanchard and his Canadian foreman introduce us to the hidden folk art of "Chainsaw Carving" – an incredible world hidden from the masses for over 50 years.  From Saw Dogs headquarters in Vancouver, Steve and his foreman will pull from a pool of the best carvers in the world, matching their special skill sets to each week's project, to craft some of the most intricate wood carvings imaginable. But unlike other crafts, chainsaw carving has an element of danger. Mistakes have resulted in loss of limb and even death. Confronting the chainsaw challenge requires a steady hand, a fearless disposition and a healthy ego.

VINSETTA GARAGE is produced by AUTOWEEK MEDIA GROUP for Velocity. SAW DOGS is produced by BUCK PRODUCTIONS for Velocity, and SHOOTING STARS is produced by ORION MEDIA for Velocity.

About Velocity:

Velocity, a division of Discovery Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), is the upscale men's cable network that provides thrilling HD programming for its viewers.  Velocity programming is diverse, intelligent and engaging, with series and specials representing the best of the automotive, sports and leisure, adventure and travel genres.  Formerly HD Theater, the fully HD network is available in approximately 40 million homes.  For more information on Velocity, please visit Velocity.tv, on Facebook at facebook.com/VelocityTV or on Twitter @VelocityTV1

About Autoweek Media Group

The Autoweek Media Group delivers automotive information and insight to car buyers and enthusiasts across multiple platforms, from print to online and mobile to video and television. Its team of car experts share opinion, insight, news and data that guide buyers and enthusiasts in their automotive quests. The group includes Autoweek magazine, autoweek.com, Autoweek Productions, and its newest ventures, shopautoweek.com and AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE. Autoweek is the nation's only fortnightly enthusiast car magazine that for more than 50 years has tested new vehicles, reported the latest car news and trends, and covered auto racing in all its forms. autoweek.com delivers breaking news and fresh content to enthusiasts 24/7. Autoweek Productions creates audio and video content, developing podcasts, interviews, vehicle walk-arounds and more. shopautoweek.com delivers an Internet car shopping experience unlike any other available site, powered by the unbiased insight, opinion and expertise of Autoweek editors.  AUTOWEEK'S VINSETTA GARAGE is a television show on Discovery Communications' Velocity network all about the automotive lifestyle, with unadulterated car enthusiasm torn from Autoweek's editorial pages. Autoweek Media Group is owned by Crain Communications Inc., publisher of leading industry trade publications Advertising Age and Automotive News, among others, and is based in Detroit, Michigan. For more information on AUTOWEEKS VINSETTA GARAGE please visit http://www.vinsetta.com/ .

SOURCE Velocity