The U.S. Discovery TV Channel is to make a program about the Merengue Festival, which will be held in Santo Domingo during the last week of July. The production crew will be in the country from 22 to 30 July. The hour-long program, “Travelers”, looks at the world’s greatest festivals and celebrations. It seeks to show its viewers the city of Santo Domingo, when it is at play, taking in its culture, its people, tasting its food, and experiencing its tradition.
The program will reach over 97 million homes worldwide, including an estimated 65 million in the United States. The Discovery Channel is ranked among the top five largest cable networks. It is rated as having an “upscale” adult audience, aged between 25 and 54. The Discovery Channel describes itself as “real-world entertainment”, featuring technology, history, human adventure, nature, and the environment.
The filming coincides with efforts of the Association of Hotels of Santo Domingo and the Ministry of Tourism to bring the Merengue Festival into a world class celebration. A totally new configuration of the event is scheduled for 1997, but several of the planned innovations will be included this year.
The television program will show visits to the principal tourist attractions in Santo Domingo, including merengue celebrations at the Agua Luz theater, Guacara Taina, Malecón, Bachata Rosa, and the Columbus Lighthouse.