Discovery Channel has launched its September-to-December season, announcing six new series, two of which are Canadian, and 13 returning series including nine Canadian programs.

New Canadian productions this season are Life Space (Almadon Productions, Ottawa), which explores humanity’s future in the final frontier. The 13 half-hour weekly series covers topics such as sleep research, shower repairs, microgravity and conflict resolution.

Grand Illusions: The Story of Magic (Paragon Productions, Toronto), a 16 half-hour program filmed throughout North America, will profile the great magicians in history and cover topics such as children in magic, the builders and designers, the assistants, magic clubs and societies.

Canadian productions returning this season are 220 one-hours of @discovery.ca (Discovery), airing five days per week; 13 one-hours of Forbidden Places (Television Renaissance, Toronto); 13 half-hours of Exhibit ‘a’ (Exhibit A Productions, Toronto); 40 half-hours of Discovery Connection (Discovery); 13 half-hours of Kids@discovery (Exploration Productions, Toronto/Discovery); 13 half-hours of Champions of the Wild (Omni Film Productions, Vancouver); six one-hours of Profiles of Nature (Keg Productions, Toronto); eight one-hours of Oceans of Mystery (Eco-Nova Multi-Media Productions, Halifax); and new episodes of Cotter’s Wilderness Trails (Nature Trails Films, Toronto).

Discovery also announced new theme scheduling – Genius Week, Stunts Week, Africa Week, Air & Space Week, America at Arms Week – and the returning Shark Week. ‘As we grow and develop inventory, we can assemble themes,’ says Discovery publicist Mike Cosentino.

‘We generally do them in the summer when conventional tv is running repeats.’ He adds that audience numbers are ‘dramatically increased’ during theme weeks.

Discovery will release the sked later in June. The season kicks off on Monday, Aug. 31.