Gator Country owner stars in CMT series 'Gator 911'

The owner of the Gator Country entertainment and educational park in Jefferson County will star in a CMT series 'Gator 911.'

Gary Saurage tells KFDM News that for the past month a crew from CMT has been filming episodes at Gator Country. The crew is led by an executive producer from CMT.

The deal calls for at least ten episodes.  Saurage says they're scheduled to begin airing around April.

The crew has filmed at Gator Country and on location when Saurage is rescuing gators around homes, highways and waterways.

LOS ANGELES – November 4, 2009 - From CMT – CMT dives into adventure with the announcement of two new series, DANGER COAST and GATOR 911 (working titles), designed to be the foundation of a new, branded evening of programming on the network. Scheduled to premiere in second quarter 2010, these originals mark CMT’s first official entry into the adventure genre.

DANGER COAST, produced by ITV Studios, Inc., follows the dramatic exploits of Miami’s elite waterborne Marine Operations Bureau as they fight against overwhelming odds to selflessly protect the public at large, while risking their own lives. GATOR 911, produced by 12 Forward Entertainment, chronicles the adventures of Gary Saurage, conservationist and owner of the Texas-based adventure park, Gator Country, as he and his team work in dangerous waters to rescue wandering gators and return them to their refuge. Each of these series has received a half-hour, 10 episode order.

Mary Beth Cunin, CMT’s SVP Programming Strategy, states: “The addition of these new adventure reality shows to our schedule is the next logical step in CMT’s overall progression, and vital to expanding our viewership base. Our research repeatedly confirms that our audience responds to strong, redeeming characters and storylines, as well as to television that families can watch together, both of which describe these new series. A branded adventure block complements our current programming strategy and gives us a broader promotional platform to build upon.”

Bob Kusbit, CMT’s Head of Development adds: “Adventure is a genre that we’ve wanted to get into for a long time. The inherent excitement and suspense of both DANGER COAST and GATOR 911 make them perfect shows to launch this new direction for CMT. We’re thrilled to work with ITV Studios, Inc. and 12 Forward Entertainment on what promises to be a wild ride!”

Long known for its high-profile music programs and events such as CMT CROSSROADS and its annual fan-voted CMT MUSIC AWARDS, CMT continues to excel in multiple genres of programming as evidenced by such hits as WORLD’S STRICTEST PARENTS, DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERLEADERS: MAKING THE TEAM and SINGING BEE. The network just closed its most-watched third quarter ever, and is on pace to deliver its ninth consecutive year of Primetime growth.

Danger Coast is produced by ITV Studios, Inc., with Chris Sloan of 2C Media serving as Executive Producer. Nicole Zien is Executive Producer for CMT. GATOR 911 is produced by 12 Forward Entertainment, with Melanie Wester and Terry Wester serving as Executive Producers. Claire McCabe is Executive Producer for CMT.
   
   Visit CMT's press-only Web site www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.

    CMT, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 89 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.