National Geographic Channel Announces New Premiere Date of April 23 for World Premiere...

National Geographic Channel Announces New Premiere Date of April 23 for World
Premiere Special Inside a Cult

Unprecedented Access Provides Intimate Portrayal of Life in Strong City Cult
as Members Worship Self-Proclaimed Messiah and His Message that the World Will
End

"I took off my clothes and I lay naked on my bed and he held me and a whole
new picture opened up to me of God." -- Cult Member

Inside a Cult World Premiere -- NEW DATE -- APRIL 23 AT 9 PM ET/PT; Encore
Wednesday, May 7, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

WASHINGTON, April 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It's believed that more than
3,000 cults exist in America today. But as recent news events of a polygamist
sect in Texas have reminded us, we seldom get to see what exactly goes on
inside -- from the benign to the abusive. Who joins cults or renegade sects?
What drives their beliefs? How is sex used to ensure devotion to cult
leaders? And is it all just a pretext for more earthly desires?

On Wednesday, April 23 at 9 PM ET/PT, National Geographic Channel (NGC)
presents a special premiere of Inside a Cult, with an encore on the originally
scheduled night of May 7 at 10 PM ET/PT.

Michael Travesser claims he is the Messiah, and the members of his Strong City
cult in New Mexico believe him. For 20 years, Travesser has told his Strong
City followers to prepare for the end of the world. And now, according to his
prophecy, Judgment Day will come at midnight on October 31, 2007.

Convinced the world was going to end, Strong City's 56 members allowed NGC
cameras unprecedented access to their world for seven months prior to the
expected Judgment Day. Combining intimate discussions with current and former
cult members, detailed testimony from their leader, home movies, expert
analysis and comparison to other cults of similar extremes, the film details a
world rarely seen.

Understanding Strong City

"I am the embodiment of God. I am divinity and humanity combined."

Strong City is a religious cult that adheres to an end-time prophecy. NGC
introduces us to the man at its heart: 66-year-old Michael Travesser, who led
his acolytes to New Mexico seven years ago and declared himself the Messiah.

"One day by myself I was in my trailer just relaxing and there was nothing on
my mind in particular and then God said to me you are the Messiah," explains
Travesser in the film. He goes on to describe how two women came forward to
bear witness, and that God commanded him to have sex with them to consummate
their relationship -- despite both being married to men in the cult.
Travesser convinced their husbands he was following God's instructions and
that they should direct their misery heavenward.

With the exception of their leader, members of the cult do not engage in
sexual activity. Travesser has told his followers all emotional ties with
anyone but him must be broken.

"A cult leader wants absolute control," explains Rachel Bernstein,
psychotherapist and cult expert. "And one of the main sources of threat to
the leader is a member's family."

But not all family connections are shunned. We also meet Jeff Bent,
Travesser's son, a former San Francisco police officer and Travesser's trusted
lieutenant, who handles much of the daily operation of the cult.

Ex-Members of Strong City

There are no dissenting voices inside Strong City. Like members of many cults
before it, Strong City's followers are unswerving in their loyalty to their
Messiah and are convinced the end of the world is coming. Those who have
shown any doubt have left the group.

Those who have stayed include numerous teenagers who have little or no life
experience outside the cult. None of the Strong City children attend public
school, as Travesser believes it is a bad influence.

But some of those who have left the cult are troubled by what they left
behind. NGC cameras are there as one family of a former cult member returns
with the aid of the local sheriff to get their 14-year-old daughter (named
Healed) who had stayed behind with relatives in the cult. She eventually
leaves with her parents, but cult members are confident she'll return.

The Ceremony of Seven Virgins

Healed's parents are not the only ex-members worried about what is going on
inside Strong City. One deeply troubling rumor is of a ceremony with seven
virgins to mark the forthcoming destruction of earth -- and even more
disturbing, that Travesser has lain in bed naked with these virgins.

"I took off my clothes and I lay naked on my bed and he held me and a whole
new picture opened up to me of God," explains Danielle, a follower.

Surprisingly, Travesser is very open about the event on camera: "Well, it was
God. God came down on them and told them to do it. Nakedness is another
symbol of our relationship with God. We are naked and unashamed."

Desperate to get even closer to God, the virgins pleaded with Michael for a
full sexual experience. One of the virgins even wrote that her urging was so
strong she would kill herself if it were not fulfilled. Then, just when it
looked like Michael would do as the virgins desired, he says God told him it
was all just a test of faith. But this was little comfort to some family
members on the outside.

The End

Numerous end-day cults have had disastrous experiences. On March 26, 1997,
after a more than 20-year wait for the world's end, Marshall Applewhite and
his 38 followers ingested poison to speed their journey to the next life. On
November 18, 1978, members of Jim Jones' Peoples Temple were persuaded to
drink poisoned fruit punch. Among the 909 who died, 276 were children.

What happens inside Strong City on October 31, 2007? The cult would not allow
NGC cameras into the compound as the faithful waited for the end to come. But
we are outside the compound looking in as the cult marches down to the
entrance of their compound at the stroke of midnight. Will this be the end?
And if not, what is next?

Compelling and often disturbing, Inside a Cult is a fascinating view inside a
world many have wondered about, but don't get to experience firsthand.

Inside a Cult is produced by Produced by Firefly Film and Television
Productions in association with Channel 4 for National Geographic Channel. The
producer for Firefly is Eddie Stafford. The director and cinematographer is
Ben Anthony. For the National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Chris
Valentini, senior vice president, special programming is Michael Cascio,
executive in charge of production is Steve Burns.

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the
National Geographic Channel (NGC) is a joint venture between National
Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F) and Fox Cable Networks (FCN). Since
launching in January 2001, NGC initially earned some of the fastest
distribution growth in the history of cable and more recently the fastest
ratings growth in television. The network celebrated its fifth anniversary in
January 2006 with the launch of NGC HD, which provides the spectacular imagery
that National Geographic is known for in stunning high definition. NGC has
carriage with all of the nation's major cable and satellite television
providers, making it currently available to more than 66 million homes. For
more information, please visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel.

SOURCE National Geographic Channel

Russell Howard of National Geographic Channel, +1-202-912-6652,
RHoward@natgeochannel.com, or Chris Albert of National Geographic Channel,
+1-202-912-6526, CAlbert@natgeochannel.com, National Broadcast: Dara Klatt of
National Geographic Channel, +1-202-912-6720, Dara.Klatt@natgeochannel.com,
National & Local Radio: Johanna Ramos Boyer, +1-703-646-5137,
Johanna@jrbcomm.com, for National Geographic Channel, National Print: Christie
Parell, +1-202-496-2124, CParell@fratelli.com, for National Geographic
Channel, Local Print: Licet Ariza, +1-202-496-2122, LAriza@fratelli.com, for
National Geographic Channel, Photos: Heather Huston of National Geographic
Channel, +1-202-912-6536, Heather.Huston@natgeochannel.com