Factual
Discovery celebrates ‘100 Greatest Discoveries’
BANGALORE: Discovery, which is celebrating 10 years in India has announced a new show which will present landmark discoveries that have been made in the past few centuries in the fields of biology, physics, chemistry, medicine, genetics, geology, astronomy and evolution.
100 Greatest Discoveries airs every Thursday at 10 pm.
The show features dramatic accounts of how the great discoveries of science were made, how they impacted the development of scientific knowledge and how they touch our lives today. Each episode of this eight-part series showcases scientists from the earliest days who have questioned the underlying nature of the universe and those who continue to examine what makes the human race and planet Earth tick.
From making a bold exploration of human anatomy to the evolution and extinction of species to explaining the working of the universe; discoveries revealing the incredibly complex and dynamic universe will be presented in this highly entertaining and engaging series. 100 Greatest Discoveries will air on Discovery Channel every Thursday at 10 pm till 17 November 2005
Discovery Networks India brand director Raja Balasubramanian said, “From the world of medicine to the expanse of space, 100 Greatest Discoveries features the greatest discoveries of our time across eight different categories. One of the most comprehensive science series, viewers will witness landmark scientific revelations that significantly changed the world forever”.
Discussing the discoveries covered in the series, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, director – National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore and Isro’s former chairman, Dr. Kasturirangan said, “Through carefully selected themes, presented with forceful rendition and extraordinary articulation, Discovery takes the viewers through a memorable tour de force of COSMOS with its multifarious manifestation, from micro to macro.
“It is all about great discoveries, magnificently put together by Discovery Channel on the eve of Einstein Centenary Year and International Year of Physics, towards understanding the history of life on our planet. Discovery has imaginatively recreated the works of some of the most creative minds, to derive insights into the grand design of the creator Himself.”
Commenting on the programme, the popular science communicator, Padma Shri Professor D. Balasubramanian, Director of Research at the L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad and Vice President of the Indian Academy of Sciences, said, “Discoveries in biologies have forever changed man’s place and importance in the living world. They have made us realise how all organisms on earth are connected through a common string called DNA and how the composition and content of the beads in this string define the various life forms that occur in such breathtaking enormity on earth.
“They also make us understand our own ancestry – how we all came to be from a single parent organism through four billion years of evolution. 100 Greatest Discoveries, being presented by the Discovery Channel, bring to us these remarkable advances in a form that is both lucid and captivating. This is popularisation of science at its best.”
The episode on 6 October 2005 shows how studying the Earth’s atmosphere helps scientists to understand the weather and long-term climate changes. The episode will feature discoveries about our planet include continental drift theories, the composition of the inner and outer cores of the Earth and cosmic radiation.
The episode on 13 October focusses on the advances that have been made in the field of medicine. One of the greatest achievements here was the discovery of Penicillin, the first antibiotic. Other top discoveries have included anesthesia, X-ray and germ theory.
DUBLIN: Ireland is betting big on reality television. In a move that has Hollywood scouts scrambling for their passports, Dublin has unveiled Europe’s first tax credit dedicated solely to unscripted programming—think The Traitors rather than Game of Thrones.
The scheme offers producers a juicy 20 per cent rebate on qualifying expenditure, capped at €15 million ($17.5 million) per project. It’s a cultural credit with strings attached: programmes must pass a test proving they genuinely promote Irish and European culture. No word yet on whether Love Island derivatives need apply.
Ireland tánaiste and minister for finance Simon Harris says the incentive will cement Ireland’s reputation as a “centre of excellence” for audiovisual production. His colleague, minister for culture, communications and sport Patrick O’Donovan, insists Ireland has “the talent, creativity and production expertise to lead” in unscripted television. Bold claims for a nation that has spent decades exporting scripted drama.
The timing is canny. Unscripted production costs have soared globally, making Ireland’s existing infrastructure—and now its tax breaks—increasingly attractive. Fox Entertainment Studios already churns out shows like Beat Shazam and The Floor from Irish studios. Whether these American productions will pass the cultural test remains to be seen.
Producers must secure an interim cultural certificate before filming begins, allowing them to claim credits during production rather than waiting until wrap. A final certificate follows completion. The European Commission has blessed the scheme through December 2028.
Minimum thresholds apply: productions must cost at least €250,000, with eligible expenditure above €125,000. Only one season per project can claim relief in any 12-month period, though producers can juggle multiple projects.
Britain, take note. The UK industry has clamoured for similar support for 18 months, but Westminster has dithered. India’s ministry of information and broadcasting pay heed. Its incentive scheme for co-productions excludes unscripted television. To what end, no one knows! Ireland, meanwhile, is already rolling out the red carpet—or should that be green?
The message from Dublin is clear: when it comes to backing reality TV, Ireland isn’t messing about. Lights, camera, tax action.
