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Discovery Channel to Open Expo Center in NYC
4-Jun-2009
Written by: John Winn
Partnership with production company, Running Subway , will feature exhibition space for experiential shows.
An exposition center jointly operated by the Discovery Channel and a New York City production company, Running Subway Productions, is set to open in Times Square, according to The Associated Press.
Known as The Discovery Times Square Exhibition, the showroom, which is about two football fields large, will feature over 480 artifacts from its "Tutankhamun" and "Titanic" shows, including 40 never before seen objects from the Egyptian pyramids--larger than the original King Tut exhibit in 1970.
While the Tut exhibit is still in the works, exhibition attendees on opening day will be treated to opening exhibits from the "Titanic" show as well as showings from the upcoming "Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopa." The exhibits will feature dramatic recreations of the Titanic's staterooms as well as the Lucy fossil itself.
"The effort is all part of an effort to bring the 'immersive' and 'exploratory' feel of the Discovery Channel's programming," said Tom Cosgrove, Discovery's chief operating officer.
The idea is to duplicate the cable network's award-winning programming in the real world, such as its "Planet Earth" and "Shark Week" themed shows.
In an announcement Thursday, the two companies explained their reasons for merging their expertise.
"So often, these major exhibitions bypass New York because there's no venue for them due to the size, the time requirements and expense," said James Sanna of Running Subway Productions.
The exhibition is not without some controversy. Scientists have already expressed concerns that the rigors of on the road travel may damage the Lucy fossil irreparably. The fear is enough for many museums to refuse exhibiting it. But Cosgrove and Sanna have gone out of their way in reassuring the scientific community that Lucy will remain unharmed.
"In no way are we going to risk any of the artifacts," Cosgrove said. "Our goal is to do it with the utmost integrity, quality and authenticity."
"The facility has museum level climate control and lighting," Sanna quipped.
In a case of history echoing through the years, the West 44th Street space where the Discovery facility will be housed was formerly owned by The New York Times. Conveniently located across from the Times' old headquarters at 229 W. 43rd Street, it was used to store their printing presses from the mid 60s until the Times moved into its swankier digs at 620 Eighth Avenue, between West 40th and 41st Streets.
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