Discovery Networks long ago realized that natural drama in inherent in the Alaskan wilderness, which explains why such a large number of the Alaska-based reality shows have appeared on their networks over the years. Many have come and gone, but these shows filmed in the great 49th state were all airing new episodes as recently as 2018.
- Deadliest Catch, 2005-present, Discovery—This long-running reality series, returning this spring, focuses on several rival crab fishing crews who work in the perilous Bering Sea.
- Gold Rush, 2010-present, Discovery—While this series started out documenting a group of men who moved to Alaska to become gold miners, it has since expanded to Canadian locales.
- Alaska: The Last Frontier, 2011-present, Discovery—The Kilcher Family settled in an isolated area of Alaska 80-some years ago, and their descendants continue to live off the grid much as their pioneer forebears did.
- Building Alaska, 2012-present, DIY—This home-improvement series highlights challenges particular to building homes and cabins in rugged and remote areas with nary a Home Depot in sight.
- Bering Sea Gold, 2012-present, Discovery—Instead of mining gold the traditional way, these modern-day prospectors dredge the bottom of the Bering Sea searching for glittery riches.
- Life Below Zero, 2013-present, Nat Geo—From traveling with sled dogs to hunting for food, this series shows how Alaskans living far from civilization do whatever is necessary to survive the brutal sub-zero winters.
- Alaskan Bush People, 2014-present, Discovery—This reality show follows the tight-knit Brown family that lives in an area so isolated from society that they seldom encounter other humans. Except for the production crew, of course.
- Alaska Mega Machines, 2016-present, Science—This series showcases some of the more unusual and powerful machinery built to withstand the state’s extreme conditions.
- Gold Rush: White Water, 2018-present, Discovery—The Dakota Boys and their team of experts search for gold deposits by diving far below whitewater rapids of McKinley Creek, Alaska.
- Living Alaska, 2013-2014 HGTV; 2016-2018 Great American Country—Sort of like House Hunters in the Final Frontier, each episode of this series tracked a person or family relocating from the Lower 48 to Alaska.
- Into Alaska, 2018, Animal Planet—This 10-part series tracks U.S. Fish and Wildlife officers as they work to preserve and protect both humans and animals in some of Alaska’s most beautiful national wildlife refuges.
