How (and where) to watch the 35th Annual Shark Week
Shark fans jump for joy because Shark Week is here on the Discovery channel!
The shark-themed programming began on Sunday, July 23 at 8 p.m. ET and will end on Saturday, July 29 at 9 p.m. ET, according to Discovery’s Shark Week schedule.
This year’s Shark Week showcases cutting edge technology used to study the wild apex predator including the work of the world’s most respected marine biologists, shark experts and science institutions.
Here's how and where to watch.
When is Shark Week?
Discovery’s 35th annual Shark Week programming started on July 23 and will end on July 29, according to Discovery’s Shark Week schedule.
Shark aficionados are in for a special treat this year since Jason Momoa is host.
Momoa will accompany viewers through 20 hours of shark related content like "Belly of the Beast: Feeding Frenzy” which will give viewers a closer look at the great white shark and “Cocaine Sharks” that shows what happens to sharks after they feed on cocaine or other illegal drugs dumped in South Florida waters.
More: Do sharks have bones? Understanding the body composition of the ocean's apex predator
Are sharks feeding on drugs in Florida? 'Cocaine Sharks' on Discovery investigates
What channel is Shark Week on?
All Shark Week programming will premiere on Discovery, but can be streamed on Max.
Here is the full lineup:
Belly of the Beast: Feeding Frenzy (July 23 at 8 p.m. ET)
Ocean researchers give us an inside look at what a great white shark feeding frenzy looks like from the inside of a fake life-size whale. This is their chance to potentially finding the biggest great white sharks in South African history.
Jaws vs the Meg (July 23 at 9 p.m. ET)
MEG used to be a pretty notorious predator. The 50 foot and 60-ton shark could devour a killer whale easily. However, new research suggests that its cousin, the great white shark may have caused its extinction.
Serial Killer: Red Sea Feeding Frenzy (July 23 at 10 p.m. ET)
In an attempt to figure out the cause behind three deadly shark attacks near some of the Red Sea’s most famous resorts, Shark attack investigator Brandon McMillan and cinematographer Fo Zayed travel to Egypt.
Shark Week: Off the Hook (July 23 at 11 p.m. ET)
Discovery gives viewers the chance to go behind the scenes and watch never before seen footage of some of the biggest thrills and most terrifying Shark Week moments.
Great White Fight Club (July 24 at 8 p.m. ET)
In order to prove that female white sharks unequivocally rule the ocean, a team of experts set out to explore the treacherous New Zealand waters.
Monsters of the Bermuda Triangle (July 24 at 9 p.m. ET)
Scientists find that the porbeagle shark, which was tagged off the coast of New England, has vanished in the Bermuda Triangle. They decide to dive to the depths of the ocean to uncover what become of it.
Alien Sharks: Strange New Worlds (July 24 at 10 p.m. ET)
Unusual sharks with alien appearances and behavior to match are known to frequent the waters surrounding the tip of South Africa. Wildlife Forrest Galante guides us through stunning kelp forests and legendary ocean depths to get a closer look at these extraordinary creatures.
Mako Mania: Battle for California (July 25 at 8 p.m. ET)
The mako shark population is ready to challenge the great white sharks for hunting territories. Dr. Craig O'Connell, Fo Zayed, and Kendyl Bernet use state of the art technology to reveal their dominance off the coast of Los Angeles.
Raiders of the Lost Shark (July 25 at 9 p.m. ET)
Shark expert Matt Dicken and Shark Week legend Dickie Chivell are on a mission to find mysterious colossal shark dutchess that vanished from Gansbaai, South Africa without a trace.
Monster Hammerheads: Killer Instinct (July 25 at 10 p.m. ET)
The only way to prove Dr. Tristan Guttridge’s theory about hammerhead sharks reaching monster sizes by hunting other sharks, is to collect tissue samples from some of the largest sharks on the planet.
Air Jaws: Final Frontier (July 26 at 8 p.m. ET)
Shark filmmakers Andy Casagrande and Jeff Kurr look for the "Air Jaws" in New Zealand.
Florida Shark: Blood in the Water (July 26 at 9 p.m. ET)
In an attempt to decrease the risk of shark attacks and get the truth about the shark attack capital of the world, Paul de Gelder is running experiments underwater.
Cocaine Sharks (July 26 at 10 p.m. ET)
Fishing communities have heard rumors about cocaine-fueled sharks for decades, but shark expert Tom Hird travels to the Florida Keys to find out what really happens to sharks on cocaine.
Jaws in the Shallows (July 27 at 8 p.m. ET)
As great white sharks have gone on to terrorize New Zealand beaches, Dr. Riley Elliott and his wife Amber Jones set out to find some answers on how to keep their loved ones safe before it's too late.
Monster Mako: Fresh Blood (July 27 at 9 p.m. ET)
As the 12 foot mako shark continues to compete with the great white for food off the coast of California, a team of scientists head into a shark dome to observe both sharks and to track makos breaking through eight feet of ocean water.
Shark vs Snake: Battle of the Bites (July 27 at 10 p.m. ET)
A number of tiger sharks have washed up dead on the shores of Western Australia without rhyme or reason. Forrest Galante has a theory that deadly sea snakes might have something to do with it.
Tropic Jaws (July 28 at 8 p.m. ET)
Bali Indonesia’s unusually warm waters have attracted the presence of a 16-foot great white shark. Locals are a little worried that they could adapt to looking for prey on tropical beaches, so Dr. Craig O'Connell and Madison Stewart are called in to figure out how true this may be.
Deadly Sharks of Paradise (July 28 at 9 p.m. ET)
South American scientists are studying a shark species thought to be responsible for an increase in attacks over the past 33 years. Marine biologist Danni Washington and shark conservationist Paul de Gelder accompany a team tracking tiger sharks off a pristine tropical archipelago in Brazil.
The Haunting of Shark Tower (July 28 at 10 p.m. ET)
Underwater cinematographer Andy Casagrande and shark expert Koi Burkhardt head to North Carolina after a harrowing shark encounter at Frying Pan Tower.
Dawn of the Monster Mako (July 29 at 8 p.m. ET)
Underwater cinematographer Joe Romeiro and marine biologist Lauren Romeiro head to Portugal's Azores region to film a 14-foot giant mako shark that was spotted in the area.
Megasharks of Dangerous Reef (July 29 at 9 p.m. ET)
Some of the biggest white sharks on the planet are said to live in remote islands off the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, but they’re rarely seen.
Where else to stream Shark Week-inspired content
If you've moved away from watching live television, you can still catch Shark Week programming on fuboTV or Philo. Both streaming services offer a free trial.
TBS, TNT, truTV, TLC, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, Science Channel, ID, and TCM will also air Shark Week shows, or shark inspired content, News-Press reported.
ICYMI: What is the biggest shark? Meet the ocean's largest fish and the top 10 biggest sharks
How did Shark Week come to be?
While no one at Discovery knows exactly how Shark Week came to be, but rumor has it there was a cocktail napkin involved, Digiday first reported in 2014.
Three executives had gathered together to discuss the ratings from all of Discovery’s natural history programs, at least that's what former VP of Development and Production Michael Sorensen said at the time.
Discovery execs noticed that the previous summer, shark shows had double the ratings of any other show.
“As I heard it, a napkin was passed across a conference table, and there it was, 'Shark Week,’” Sorensen said.
Shark Week has gone on to become a household name 35 years after its debut.
It may have been a long road involving collaborations with several companies and a number of hosts, but shark fans have looked forward to Discovery’s programming every year since then.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shark Week 2023 lineup: How and where to watch
