Discovery Channel will premiere THE MAKING OF MANDELA, an all-new documentary celebrating the remarkable life of the legendary South African leader Nelson Mandela, a symbol of hope and peace not only to his own country but to the world, on Sunday Dec. 8 at 12PM ET/PT. Narrated by actor David Harewood (Homeland), THE MAKING OF MANDELA provides a true representation of Mandela's personal story and the crucial key decisions he made throughout his incredible journey to freedom. The film is also supplemented by Mandela’s own recordings for his book “A Long Walk to Freedom,” in which Mandela’s legacy is told through intimate and revealing interviews with those who knew Mandela best. "I have cherished the ideal of a free society in which all persons live together in harmony...It's an ideal which I hope to live for...but if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." - Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013.

The True Story looks at the real lives and true stories behind Hollywood blockbusters and this episode examines Oliver Stone’s Oscar-winning war movie, Platoon. Platoon hit the silver screen in 1986 on a small budget with a cast of then unknown actors but gained worldwide acclaim for its gritty portrayal of the horrors of the Vietnam War. Oliver Stone wanted Platoon to be the most realistic war movie of all time and it was based on his own experiences as a solider in the conflict. But how much of it was real and how much was adapted for Hollywood fiction? Platoon tells the story of idealistic new recruit Chris Taylor (played by Charlie Sheen) as he embarks on his first tour of duty in the deadly, booby-trapped jungles of Vietnam. The movie sees Taylor’s patriotism crumble within days of joining a platoon of demoralized and battle weary soldiers as they fight a losing battle in one of the most controversial conflicts of the 20th Century.

The rising demand in the United States for illicit drugs has created a fearless group of smugglers who are driven by greed to get their drugs to market by land, sea or air. This episode reveals the mind-boggling smuggling schemes employed by drug dealers, who will go as far as building real submarines and smuggling drugs inside bars of soap in order to push their products. Interviews with field agents directly involved in the cases will provide the inside stories of these risky drug busts, while footage shot by a producer brings viewers an unprecedented glimpse at the lives, inner workings and even homes of the smugglers themselves.

In this episode, learn how cartels utilize inventive trafficking tricks to get their drugs into the U.S. and employ extreme techniques to transport the mountains of money they make. Exclusive video footage takes viewers on high-speed pursuits of drug runners at sea and into a cartel's sophisticated tunnel network. Witness helicopter drug drops near the Canadian border and get inside access to a Peruvian cocaine smuggling ring. Compelling interviews with law enforcement and undercover video provides an inside look at what it takes to catch these criminals.

In this episode, enter the cruel and clandestine world of illegal wildlife trafficking, where millions of people pay big bucks for rare and exotic animals. Six out of every ten households in the United States owns a pet, but there is a dark side to the exotic pet trade: endangerment and extinction of species, irresponsible ownership and the spread of animal-borne diseases. The trafficking and smuggling of exotic and endangered wildlife is a booming black market business estimated to reel in an excess of ten billion dollars annually. Traffickers go to extremes from carrying live animals under their clothes to concealing millions of dollar's worth of ivory in hidden panels inside shipping containers. Watch undercover surveillance of the largest seizure of animals in American history, a restaurant raid in Cambodia and footage of shocking airport confiscations.

Dixie Mafia is a one-hour special that tells the true story of Mississippi's battles with organized crime. Responsible for dozens of murders and countless other crimes, the Dixie Mafia rose to power in Biloxi during the 1960’s, and their reign of terror lasted decades. Now their torch has been taken up by a new gang, equally corrupt and equally dangerous. DIXIE MAFIA shows the rise and fall of real American gangsters, taking viewers into the lives of the crime bosses, organization members and law enforcement officers that still battle in America's deep south.

Pulling back the curtain of the illegal gun trade, this episode gives an insider look at how criminals access and distribute weapons on the black market through corrupt gun dealers, straw buys and lack of regulation at gun shows. Watch actual surveillance footage of illegal gun deals going down with interviews from the agents of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Explosives who put their lives on the line to stop violent crimes and get illegal guns off America's streets.

The True Story looks at the real lives and true stories behind Hollywood blockbusters and this episode looks at Ron Howard’s controversial box office hit The Da Vinci Code. The film adaptation of the best-selling novel by Dan Brown sees Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) caught up in a two thousand year old battle between a mysterious secret society and the orthodox church to suppress the greatest secret in history: The true nature and final resting place of the Holy Grail. The Da Vinci Code follows Langdon’s attempt to solve a series of puzzles and codes left behind by great renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci. Hidden in one of his greatest masterpieces are clues to the true nature of the Holy Grail – clues Langdon must decipher to lead him to the shocking truth. The film enthralled and enraged audiences in equal measure due its assertion that Jesus had a sexual relationship with Mary Magdalene, leading Catholics to call for a boycott on the film altogether. The film’s creator however, stood by his research and claims that 99% of the film was true.

In ARGO: Inside Story, Discovery Channel gains access to the top players involved to hear their side of the story, including the CIA’s “chief of disguise,” Tony Mendez, who was called upon to devise the rescue plan. The one-hour special gives an inside look at the dramatic escape and how Mendez forged identity documents and elaborate disguises to get past the security agents at the Tehran airport.

The incredible life cycle of cash money is set to be examined by the Discovery Channel. SPOILERS: It doesn't come anywhere close to my wallet!

Take a rare look into the lives of modern day Klu Klux Klan (KKK) members with KKK: Beneath the Hood. The special includes in-depth interviews from KKK leaders, including associates of the largest surviving organizations who reveal their true identities and open up about their lives and beliefs as Klan members. With the help of photojournalist Anthony Karen, who has chronicled the KKK for numerous years, Discovery Channel gains access to current members and no topic is off limits, including the Klan’s cross burning ceremonies. Filmmakers also go inside the home of KKK members Rev. Thomas Robb, his daughter Rachel and her children to give viewers an inside look at a klan family. Additional interview subjects include Frank Ancona, the Imperial Wizard of the Traditionalist American Knights of the KKK, one of the largest groups in the country; his deputy, Imperial Klaliff Michael Stagner; and the Grand Dragon of the Realm of South Dakota. Traditionalist American Knights member Richard Bondira grants his first televised interview during which he opens his archives of KKK artifacts for the first time with non-Klan members.

Looks back at Watergate, the original game changer of America politics. How has Watergate changed the Presidency? What effect has the scandal had on our political leaders? And has hope and optimism forever been replaced in our national dialogue by doubt and cynicism? 2013 marks 40 years since 1973 - Watergate's most pivotal year. Reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein doggedly investigated the scandal exposing the long, twisted trail of cover-ups and lies.

Discover new secrets behind “D-Day” - the day that changed the course of the 20th Century. On June 6, 1944, the Allies’ invasion of Nazi-occupied France transformed the outcome of World War II; however, did you know “3D” photography was the key to “D-Day’s” success? This futuristic technology mapped every inch of the Nazi defenses, allowing the Allies to execute the greatest invasion in history. The U.S., along with its British and Canadian allies, faced a major challenge - the Nazis heavily fortified the entire Northern European coastline with numerous trenches, bunkers and high-powered weapons. The Allies had to find a weakness. They came up with a creative solution — 3D aerial photography. Spy planes carried two synchronized cameras, taking side-by-side photographs, which were then combined to create a three-dimensional map of the Nazi defenses. After two years of collecting data, these 3D photos showed the Allies that Normandy was the best place to take down the Nazis. The 3D photos helped the Allies create daring missions and overcome the “devil’s garden” – full of landmines, blockades and steel fences – on the beaches of Normandy.

Mile Wide Tornado: Storm Chasers Tribute centers on the severe tornado that hit near Moore, Okla., On May 20 and left 24 dead, including three storm chasers. Also included are highlights and special scenes of storm chasers Tim & Paul Samaras and Carl Young from the Discovery series, which ran from 2007 to 2011.

In one of the most daring and captivating live events in television history, Nik Wallenda will tightrope walk, unharnessed, across the majestic Grand Canyon in Arizona. Standing 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River, the tightrope walking legend will balance a distance of 1,500 feet on a wire only two-inches in diameter. The tightrope walk will challenge Wallenda to walk higher than he ever has before, as well as honoring his Great-Grandfather, the legendary Karl Wallenda, who died after falling from his tightrope in Puerto Rico in 1978.

Huntsmen and survivalists Jason Lesmiester, Cory Valdes, Roudy Roudebush and Rob Hardy guard those living on the edge of society from the dangers of the wilderness - especially deadly predators. In this special, Jason travels to Haines, Alaska to help a mining camp drive away a problematic bear invading the mining camp, eventually leading Jason to face-to-face confrontation with a Grizzly bear. Meanwhile in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, a logging camp hires Cory to carefully study the dense, rainforest terrain to determine if the workers reside in a jaguar's hunting ground. Despite his pitfall traps, a dangerous encounter at night prompts Cory to use every survival skill he knows. Finally, Roudy and Rob journey to Telluride, Colorado to map out every Black bear den for a logging company; however, the risks of being separated and altitude sickness transform this job into a treacherous adventure.

Marvin Watson; Rahm Emanuel. Topics discussed include 9/11 and going to war.

This is the dramatic and inspirational story of FDNY's "Ten House" heroes.

In this 1-hour special, Discovery will show how the engineers prepped for the job, which included building colossal barges complete with a hospital, gym and living quarters for the hundreds of divers and specialists. It will also reveal the step-by-step process involved with pulling the ship upright – a process known as parbuckling – and how they plan to refloat it before finally being towed away to be scrapped. Tune in to see the incredible story of Costa Concordia as the salvage team prepares for the largest refloat in history. The special will also include insiders’ accounts of what really went down in one of the cruise line industry’s biggest disasters.

In MAN, CHEETAH, WILD, we follow the true story of one extraordinary cheetah family, and the remarkable man who walked among them for a year and a half. The breathtaking footage will bring viewers closer into the covert world of the cheetah than anyone thought possible. Living in the heart of Southern Africa, Kim comes from a family that has lived and tangled with ruthless predators for nearly a hundred years. In the Malilangwe Game Reserve in Southern Zimbabwe, Kim relocates a female cheetah that he had previously worked with. When he is able to locate her, he is surprised to find that she is mothering five new cubs. Mother cheetahs are notoriously protective of their young, but amazingly, she senses no threat from Kim and thus gives him the unparalleled opportunity to document the upbringing of one of the rarest wild cats on the planet. http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/man-cheetah-wild/about-the-show.htm

Spain's Worst Rail Disaster presents a second-by-second analysis of Spain's worst train disaster, and delves into the important questions that surround the fatal incident: what caused the train to derail? Was there a catastrophic technological malfunction or driver error? Or was it a combination of the two? Was the train going too fast? And what did the driver do in the moments before the crash? This one-off programme also looks ahead to the future of train travel in the wake of this terrible event, featuring contributions from leading researchers and train engineers about the world's most advanced train safety technology. As Europe and other parts of the world move towards creating a high speed rail network across continents, the programme explores whether we are at risk of creating a network more susceptible to serious train disasters. Exclusive footage filmed by cameras at the scene of Spain's Worst Rail Disaster explores the implications of this rail disaster for the future of high-speed train travel.

Packing a great deal of story into a one-hour package, “Pure Evel: American Legend” tells us as much about where we are now as it does daredevil motorcyclist and ‘70s icon Evel Knievel. Huckster, showman and — in the words of a biographer — in the “Hall of Fame for hedonists,” Knievel pioneered a wedding of TV and extreme sports that has become common currency, as well as a flag-waving streak that played perfectly as a counterpoint to Vietnam-era unrest. Both history and a fascinating profile, “Pure Evel” — timed to what would have been Knievel’s 75th birthday — is purely entertaining.

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy left the country to mourn the loss of its Commander-in-chief, set off one of the greatest manhunts in American history, and left our government to answer the impossible question, what happens now? Newly released audio recordings from Air Force One, combined with digitally re-mastered audio from the Dallas Police Force, and the testimonies and radio recordings of on-site reporters, reveal the riveting, behind-the-scenes story of the Kennedy assassination in Discovery's JFK: THE LOST TAPES.

An analysis of the worst cyclone in history, which struck the Philippines in November 2013. Featuring human stories, exclusive footage and the science behind the disaster.

With forest fires destroying the landscape and a super volcano just waiting to explode, researchers at Yellowstone National Park use technology to understand triggers of a catastrophic event.