Shark Week Ditches Megalodons and Inches Toward Real Programming
OutdoorHub Reporters 06.29.16
In case you didn’t already know, it’s Shark Week on the Discovery Channel.
Shark week is a celebration of all things shark related, but in recent years, the Discovery Channel has received some criticism for their choice in programming. Some of the most controversial episodes to date revolved around the alleged search for a Megalodon. The problem is that Megalodon sharks went extinct about 2.6 million years ago. The episodes that aired in 2013 and 2014 were an obvious ploy to boost ratings, and the network faced tough criticism from the media and viewers.
In response, the Discovery Channel made a move towards programming based on reality instead of fiction. Last year’s shark week special was titled “Monster Mako” and it focused on an actual living species. This year’s special titled “Return of Monster Mako” followed up on their previous success with a new technological twist called “Shark Eye” technology. Shark Eye technology consists of a special array of cameras attached to the body of a shark. This new filming technique gives viewers a new and unique perspective on shark behavior while avoiding the “mockumentaries” of the past. This year’s programming also included 360 videos such as the one below.
It’s refreshing to see the Discovery Channel getting back to its science-based roots instead of presenting fantasy as fact. If not for this move, we would most likely see another video debunking their scripted reality shows like this:
