Discovery en Español to air World Cup 2006 Special.

Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group announced the May 2006 programming highlights for its three networks: Discovery en Español, Discovery Kids en Español and Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir). Among the featured programs to air in May will be “Built for Champions,” a preview of the new World Cup soccer stadium in Munich with interviews with leading Hispanic World Cup soccer stars. The special airs on Sunday, May 7, at 9PM (ET/PT) on Discovery en Español. Other May programming highlights for the three networks are shown below:

DISCOVERY EN ESPAÑOL – MAY 2006

SPECIALS:

Built for Champions – Sun., May 7 at 9 PM (ET/PT)
Discovery explores the host stadium of the 2006 soccer World Cup in Munich. The show highlights what will become the most modern sports arena ever built, and the daring and ambitious architects, planners and hard-working construction crews creating this masterpiece. It’s a spellbinding story about innovative engineering technology that leaps forward into the new millennium. To accompany the Built for Champions special, Discovery will air exclusive interviews with many of the most famous World Cup soccer stars who will share their personal memories about the first time they stepped out onto the field of a World Cup stadium before a big match. Soccer superstars Leonel Messi (Argentina), Ronaldinho (Brazil), Carlos Valderrama (Colombia) Francisco Fonseca (Mexico), Rafael Marquez (Mexico), Teófilo Cubillas (Peru) and Enzo Francescoli (Uraguay) are among the players being featured in the vignettes.

SERIES PREMIERES:

The World’s Strangest UFO Stories – Fri., May 26 at 8 PM (ET/PT) From tales of captured aliens caught on camera to top-secret alien-human breeding programs, this series will go in search of the “witnesses,” “victims” and “inter-galactic travelers” themselves – as well as experts, skeptics and others whose lives have become entwined with some of the most outrageous alien visitations of all.

Factor Desconocido – Mon., May 30 at 10 PM (ET/PT)
The world is rife with supernatural sightings, events and legends, many of which until now have defied explanation by modern scientific methods. Paranormal investigators and a skeptical scientist lead viewers on a mission to filter fact from fantasy, as they attempt to prove and disprove the existence of the paranormal. This is the real X-Files, a series that will attempt to explain the unexplained, spooky and downright weird sightings and events all over Latin America.

DISCOVERY KIDS EN ESPAÑOL – MAY 2006

SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY PROGRAMMING:

Growing Up… – Sun. May 14, marathon
To celebrate mothers, Discovery Kids en Español will present two marathon specials of “Growing Up…” on Sunday, May 14, 4PM to 7 PM (ET/PT) and 7PM to 11 PM (ET/PT). Episodes include: Growing up…Cheetah, Clouded Leopard and Orangutan. Growing Up… is a one-hour series of individual stories featuring an intimate exploration of the extraordinary first year in the life of a wild animal. Growing Up… is a celebration of the deep affection and special connection that develops between human “parents” and some of the most lovable wild babies on the planet.

KIDS SHORTS:

Deportips – Throughout May
Deportips features famous Hispanic athletes encouraging young viewers to lead active lifestyles and participate in a variety of sports through a series of exclusive interviews. Colombian World Cup soccer superstar Carlos Valderrama, world-champion skateboarder Paul Rodriguez, Jr., Florida Marlins right fielder Miguel Cabrera, BMXer Francisco “Coco” Zurita, in-line skating champion Richie Velasquez and San Antonio Spurs basketball player Fabricio Oberto, originally from Argentina, share their insights on how to play better and safer.

Make Over-Peludo – Throughout May
And for pet lovers, Discovery Kids offers “Make Over-Peludo.” These shorts expose the cutest dogs to radical make-overs. Viewers can be part of these animals’ absolute transformation from mutts to stylish, sophisticated family pets, and experience the shocking before-and-afters. There are many great personal stories behind these makeovers.

DISCOVERY TRAVEL & LIVING EN ESPAÑOL – MAY 2006

SERIES PREMIERES:

Mientras no estabas – Fri., May 5 at 8 PM (ET/PT)
Everyone has a dream project for his or her home. Clearly, most of these projects never get done. Whether they are inside the house in the basement, bedroom, kitchen, or den, or outside in the front or back yard, Mientras no estabas is the show that will make those dreams happen. This is the program that will complete dream home-design projects and surprise at least one of the family members who lives there. Viewers watch the projects from planning to completion. There is a time limit, and some real tension develops about finishing the work on schedule. The characters are real. A homeowner and MNE’s staff of designers and handy-people really do the work. These original Spanish-language episodes were filmed in Bogota, Colombia and Mexico, DF.

Casas Season 2 – Thurs., May 18 at 8:30 PM (ET/PT)
Season 2 of Casas visits the exceptional homes, haciendas and estates of Latin America. Many casas have important architectural and historical value; others are merely magnificent cultural expressions, but they all have fascinating and colorful stories to tell. Season 2 was filmed in Santiago de Chile (Chile), Buenos Aires, Cordoba, (Argentina), Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo (Brazil).

T&L SHORTS:

“El Café: Una pasión” – Throughout May
This original series on the art of coffee making focuses on Fredonia, Colombia, the hometown of “Juan Valdez,” known for producing the best Arabica coffee in the world. The beautiful atmospheric photography sets the scene for the four segments: “Growing and Collection,” “Drying,” “Colombian Coffee” and “How to Make a Good Cup of Coffee.” Additional segments shot in Miami cover the use of coffee as a gourmet ingredient in entrées and desserts.