Travel Channel said it has ordered a third season of Josh Gates-hosted Expedition Unknown, to air on the Scripps Networks outlet later this year. The channel reported that ratings for the current season (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT) are 143% ahead of its time slot's average a year ago among persons ages 25 to 54 and also has more than doubled results in other key demographics including 183% for women ages 25 to 54.  

Gates, who also is an executive producer on the show, journeys around the world in search of answers to some of the world’s most fascinating and iconic legends and stories. 

“As one of the network’s highest-rated programs, Expedition Unknown has shaped a strong and successful Wednesday night for Travel Channel,”  Courtney White, senior vice president, programming and production, at Travel Channel said in a release. “Like Andrew Zimmern and Jack Maxwell, Josh Gates resonates with our fans – with over 5.4 million people tuning in each week to join him on his worldwide adventures. This season, we’re upping the ante with bold, ambitious adventures and mission-driven storytelling – you can’t help but get hooked.”

Travel Channel is set to premiere an explorer's discovery of legends including, Amelia Earhart with a two-hour premiere of Expedition Unknown on Jan. 8 at 9 p.m., the network announced today.

The series follows Josh Gates, as the avid explorer sets out to discover the latest developments of iconic legends, from possibly uncovering Earhart's remains in Fiji to locating Captain Morgan's pirate ship in Panama and more.

“I’ve traveled to nearly 100 countries, but still feel like I haven’t scratched the surface of what’s out there to explore,” Gates said in a release. “There is such a deep well of fascinating and mystifying stories in the world, and each one connects so uniquely to different cultures. I’m driven by curiosity – and I’m on a mission to find answers.”

Produced by Ping Pong Productions for Travel Channel, the executive producers are Brad Kuhlman, Casey Brumels and Josh Gates for Ping Pong. Daniel A. Schwartz serves as the executive producer for Travel Channel.