Plot Synopsis

PIG ROYALTY is a one-hour reality series that showcases prized swine and the people who raise them, revealing the rivalry between two unforgettable families: the Baleros, who have reigned supreme for years; and the Rihns, who want to take them down and become the next great pig dynasty. The two families criss-cross Texas, competing for the ultimate prizes: money; scholarships; big, shiny belt buckles that "crown" the winner; and all the bragging rights that go with them. From daily walks and scrubbing the sties, to betrayal and ruthless competition, expect no shortage of pigs and no shortage of drama in PIG ROYALTY. Throughout the season, each family practices with their prized pigs day and night in order to win the coveted 'buckles,' either for showmanship or breed champion, along with scholarships and hefty cash prizes. Audiences are introduced to a whole new universe of fierce pig show coaches and 'pig parents,' who live and breathe pig shows and watch over the next generation of competitors. We'll meet matriarch Michelle Balero and her champion daughters McKayla, McKenzie, and McCall who train their cousin Taytain "The Nugget" Diaz (11) and have a reputation for drama and the buckles to back it up; The Rihn's, headed up by matriarch Jody who, along with her daughters Kammi and Keylie, is looking to make her son Kannen (12) a winner and has some scores to settle with The Baleros; and Jody Rihn's friends the Tyks', headed by mothers Mandy and Kristen, who are underdogs looking to get their son Brandon (16) back in the game. PIG ROYALTY dropped on discovery+ on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 3:01am ET/12:01am PT, as the streaming service released the first two episodes. That same night, Discovery Channel aired the linear television debut of the first episode at 9pm.
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The sophomore season of PIG ROYALTY debuted on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, as discovery+ released the first two episodes of the new season. The Rihn and the Balero family rivalry continues to boil while Balero protegee, Nugget, and Rihn-coach, Tyler, question their allegiances. A mud-bath storm is headed towards these two families with reputations and thousands of dollars on the line, but as always, the drama behind the scenes is as Texas-sized as the competition in the ring. In Season 2, the notorious family rivalries of team Balero and team Rihn make a squealing return and each team has something to prove as these 'pig' time personalities go head-to-head. After the intensity of last year's show season, Team Rihn is ready to get back in the ring with Jody and Josh Rihn's son, Kannen, at the forefront. While trying to bulk up on buckles and redemption, the Rihns are also birthing baby pigs in hopes of revamping their business and increasing their breeding operations to form the ultimate champions. Just as the breeding operation is getting off the ground, the Rihn's house gets destroyed by a tornado, forcing them to move into a trailer while they rebuild. Luckily no pigs are harmed, but feelings get hurt as family friend and fellow coach, Tyler Parrish, starts to question his future on the Rihn team. On the other side of the arena, Team Balero, led by the fearless matriarch of a pig-winning dynasty, Michelle Bolero, isn't going home without a fight... and some buckles. This season, the competition takes an unexpected turn as team Balero experiences a shocking betrayal when the star of their team, Nugget, begins entertaining offers from other teams. With Michelle only having one team member left, she's determined to restore her show team back to its former glory and bring home the bacon.