Former National Geographic executive Geoff Daniels is set to join the natural history and conservation media organization Jackson Wild. Daniels will serve as its new executive director.
Daniels’ 20-year-long stint in the film and TV industry will continue on with Jackson Wild, which was formerly known as the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. The company creates and elevates storytelling centered on nature, science and climate through partnerships and initiatives.
In his role, Daniel will be responsible for leading Jackson Wild’s yearly programming and will help facilitate the organization’s vision and overall strategy. He’s also set to take charge of the planning process and execution of its annual Jackson Wild Summit.
“It’s such an incredible honor to have this opportunity to build on the inspiration that Lisa’s vision and Jackson Wild have provided to our filmmakers and wider conservation community,” Daniels said in a statement shared with TheWrap.
Daniels’ 20-year-long stint in the film and TV industry will continue on with Jackson Wild, which was formerly known as the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. The company creates and elevates storytelling centered on nature, science and climate through partnerships and initiatives.
In his role, Daniel will be responsible for leading Jackson Wild’s yearly programming and will help facilitate the organization’s vision and overall strategy. He’s also set to take charge of the planning process and execution of its annual Jackson Wild Summit.
“It’s such an incredible honor to have this opportunity to build on the inspiration that Lisa’s vision and Jackson Wild have provided to our filmmakers and wider conservation community,” Daniels said in a statement shared with TheWrap.
- 9/22/2023
- by Raquel 'Rocky' Harris
- The Wrap
Exclusive: The World According to Jeff Goldblum producer Nutopia is bolstering its executive team in the U.S. with the hire of former Nat Geo executive Geoff Daniels.
Daniels, who was previously EVP, Global Unscripted Entertainment at the Disney-owned factual broadcaster, will become EVP, Unscripted Entertainment at Jane Root’s Nutopia.
He will work across all series in production, manage program marketing and help to liaise with Nutopia’s production partners and talent. Based in the U.S., he will report to founder and CEO Root.
Daniels, who left Nat Geo as part of a broader restructure across Disney in December, previously oversaw all development and production for unscripted programming for National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo on Disney+. He commissioned Nutopia series The World According to Jeff Goldblum and Chris Hemsworth’s Limitless. Before that, launched Nat Geo Wild and helped grow the network with series...
Daniels, who was previously EVP, Global Unscripted Entertainment at the Disney-owned factual broadcaster, will become EVP, Unscripted Entertainment at Jane Root’s Nutopia.
He will work across all series in production, manage program marketing and help to liaise with Nutopia’s production partners and talent. Based in the U.S., he will report to founder and CEO Root.
Daniels, who left Nat Geo as part of a broader restructure across Disney in December, previously oversaw all development and production for unscripted programming for National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo on Disney+. He commissioned Nutopia series The World According to Jeff Goldblum and Chris Hemsworth’s Limitless. Before that, launched Nat Geo Wild and helped grow the network with series...
- 9/1/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning actress Sigourney Weaver has been tapped to narrate Secrets of the Whales, a four-part event series for Nat Geo, with Oscar-winning filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-At-Large James Cameron to serve as executive producer. The series, which chronicles the whale way way of life, is set to premiere globally on Nat Geo on Earth Day, April 22, 2021 in 172 countries and 43 languages. The project was announced Monday as part of Nat Geo’s virtual summer TCA press tour presentation.
From National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry, Secrets of the Whales chronicles the whale way of life and their challenges and triumphs in an ever-changing ocean. Filmed across three years in 24 locations, the series is a personal saga, venturing deep into the world of whales to reveal life and love from their perspective.
Per Nat Geo, Weaver guides viewers on a journey to...
From National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry, Secrets of the Whales chronicles the whale way of life and their challenges and triumphs in an ever-changing ocean. Filmed across three years in 24 locations, the series is a personal saga, venturing deep into the world of whales to reveal life and love from their perspective.
Per Nat Geo, Weaver guides viewers on a journey to...
- 8/3/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Chris Hemsworth will headline summer 2021’s SharkFest on Nat Geo with “Shark Beach.”
The “Avengers” star will embark on a “once-in-a-lifetime” mission to investigate the measures put in place to safeguard humankind’s co-existence with sharks and to uncover the complicated truth behind the alarming increase in shark attacks in Australia. “Shark Beach” will be produced by Nutopia.
Joined by the world’s preeminent shark experts — including surfers, conservationists, shark advocates and marine biologists — Hemsworth begins his journey in his own backyard, Byron Bay, Australia. Here, he uncovers the reasons for increased shark attacks so close to home in recent years. Hemsworth joins local biologists to explore how existing preventative measures work to stave off shark-human encounters and dives with different species of sharks to understand their behaviors and power. He also uncovers the latest breakthroughs in shark science technology designed to protect both sharks and humans.
Also Read: Nat...
The “Avengers” star will embark on a “once-in-a-lifetime” mission to investigate the measures put in place to safeguard humankind’s co-existence with sharks and to uncover the complicated truth behind the alarming increase in shark attacks in Australia. “Shark Beach” will be produced by Nutopia.
Joined by the world’s preeminent shark experts — including surfers, conservationists, shark advocates and marine biologists — Hemsworth begins his journey in his own backyard, Byron Bay, Australia. Here, he uncovers the reasons for increased shark attacks so close to home in recent years. Hemsworth joins local biologists to explore how existing preventative measures work to stave off shark-human encounters and dives with different species of sharks to understand their behaviors and power. He also uncovers the latest breakthroughs in shark science technology designed to protect both sharks and humans.
Also Read: Nat...
- 8/3/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
SharkFest 2020 hasn’t even ended at Nat Geo yet, but next year’s lineup is already sticking a fin out of the water. The network on Monday ordered Shark Beach, an unscripted special hosted by Avengers star Chris Hemsworth.
During the one-hour special, Hemsworth will be joined by the world’s top shark experts — including surfers, conservationists, shark advocates and marine biologists — to investigate how the co-existence of humans and sharks is kept safe, and to uncover the complicated truth behind the alarming increase in shark attacks in Australia.
More from TVLineGenius Season 3: See Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin...
During the one-hour special, Hemsworth will be joined by the world’s top shark experts — including surfers, conservationists, shark advocates and marine biologists — to investigate how the co-existence of humans and sharks is kept safe, and to uncover the complicated truth behind the alarming increase in shark attacks in Australia.
More from TVLineGenius Season 3: See Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin...
- 8/3/2020
- by Rebecca Iannucci
- TVLine.com
Three weeks into Sharkfest 2020, National Geographic is already looking ahead to Sharkfest 2021. The network has given a green light to Shark Beach (working title) a Sharkfest 2021 premiere special, with Thor and The Avengers star Chris Hemsworth to star and executive produce. The announcement was made Monday during Nat Geo’s virtual summer TCA press tour presentation.
In Shark Beach (wt), from Nutopia, Hemsworth investigates the measures put in place to safeguard our co-existence and to uncover the complicated truth behind the alarming increase in shark attacks in Australia.
In the special, Hemsworth, surfer and renowned environmentalist, joins local biologists to explore how existing preventative measures work to stave off shark-human encounters and dives with different species of sharks to understand their behaviors and power. He also uncovers the latest breakthroughs in shark science technology designed to protect both sharks and humans.
In Shark Beach (wt), from Nutopia, Hemsworth investigates the measures put in place to safeguard our co-existence and to uncover the complicated truth behind the alarming increase in shark attacks in Australia.
In the special, Hemsworth, surfer and renowned environmentalist, joins local biologists to explore how existing preventative measures work to stave off shark-human encounters and dives with different species of sharks to understand their behaviors and power. He also uncovers the latest breakthroughs in shark science technology designed to protect both sharks and humans.
- 8/3/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Nat Geo has set its slate for the fall season, Variety has learned exclusively.
Six natural history global series and specials will debut this fall. Those include the digital premiere of the documentary film “Akashinga: The Brave Ones” from three-time Academy Award winner James Cameron and director Maria Wilhelm. The film will debut on World Elephant Day on Aug. 12. The one-hour special “Jade Eyed Leopard” will debut Sept. 7 on Nat Geo Wild, with that special narrated by Jeremy Irons. Nat Geo Wild Fridays on National Geographic Channel will launch on Aug. 14 with the Season 4 premiere of “Savage Kingdom.”
The full slate can be viewed below.
“Visually spectacular cinematography that will take your breath away. Awe-inspiring narratives told from the animal’s perspective,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president of unscripted global entertainment for National Geographic Channels. “Exploring the hidden phenomena of our planet. These are all hallmarks of National Geographic natural history programming.
Six natural history global series and specials will debut this fall. Those include the digital premiere of the documentary film “Akashinga: The Brave Ones” from three-time Academy Award winner James Cameron and director Maria Wilhelm. The film will debut on World Elephant Day on Aug. 12. The one-hour special “Jade Eyed Leopard” will debut Sept. 7 on Nat Geo Wild, with that special narrated by Jeremy Irons. Nat Geo Wild Fridays on National Geographic Channel will launch on Aug. 14 with the Season 4 premiere of “Savage Kingdom.”
The full slate can be viewed below.
“Visually spectacular cinematography that will take your breath away. Awe-inspiring narratives told from the animal’s perspective,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president of unscripted global entertainment for National Geographic Channels. “Exploring the hidden phenomena of our planet. These are all hallmarks of National Geographic natural history programming.
- 7/30/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
ABC News hopes to follow as Elon Musk boldly goes, perhaps, where no space-travel entrepreneur has gone before.
The Walt Disney-owned news unit intends to cover the coming joint mission between Nasa and Elon Musk’s SpaceX that is expected to send two astronauts, Bob Behnken and Douglas G. Hurley, to the International Space Station on a spacecraft designed by Musk’s company. A two-hour special report, “Launch America: Mission to Space Live,” will air at 3 p.m. eastern on May 27 on the National Geographic cable network while streaming on ABC News Live, the ABC News streaming-video operation. ABC News will air a special report on the ABC broadcast network moments before launch that will no doubt call attention to the longer-form program.
“This is the perfect moment to remind viewers everywhere about the power of the human spirit and how science is leading the way forward,” said Geoff Daniels,...
The Walt Disney-owned news unit intends to cover the coming joint mission between Nasa and Elon Musk’s SpaceX that is expected to send two astronauts, Bob Behnken and Douglas G. Hurley, to the International Space Station on a spacecraft designed by Musk’s company. A two-hour special report, “Launch America: Mission to Space Live,” will air at 3 p.m. eastern on May 27 on the National Geographic cable network while streaming on ABC News Live, the ABC News streaming-video operation. ABC News will air a special report on the ABC broadcast network moments before launch that will no doubt call attention to the longer-form program.
“This is the perfect moment to remind viewers everywhere about the power of the human spirit and how science is leading the way forward,” said Geoff Daniels,...
- 5/21/2020
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Thor star Chris Hemsworth is to front a science series for Nat Geo from the producers behind One Strange Rock.
The actor will host Limitless from Jane Root’s Nutopia and Darren Aronofsky’s Protozoa Pictures. The series will ask questions such as what if aging is not inevitable or what if it’s a disease that can be cured.
The commission was announced by Hemsworth via video at the Winter TCA press tour.
The series will capture Hemsworth’s mission to discover how to live healthier, smarter and longer lives. Hemsworth aims to transform himself by training for six extraordinary challenges, showing how to fight aging at every stage of life.
Each episode will tackle a different way we can live better for longer: regenerating damage, maximizing strength, building resilience, shocking the body, supercharging memory and confronting mortality. Hemsworth will meet leading longevity scientists who believe that the key...
The actor will host Limitless from Jane Root’s Nutopia and Darren Aronofsky’s Protozoa Pictures. The series will ask questions such as what if aging is not inevitable or what if it’s a disease that can be cured.
The commission was announced by Hemsworth via video at the Winter TCA press tour.
The series will capture Hemsworth’s mission to discover how to live healthier, smarter and longer lives. Hemsworth aims to transform himself by training for six extraordinary challenges, showing how to fight aging at every stage of life.
Each episode will tackle a different way we can live better for longer: regenerating damage, maximizing strength, building resilience, shocking the body, supercharging memory and confronting mortality. Hemsworth will meet leading longevity scientists who believe that the key...
- 1/18/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Chris Hemsworth is donating his body to science — er, National Geographic, for new fitness docuseries “Limitless,” which explores whether aging is inevitable or curable, the “Thor” star revealed via a video announcement during the Television Critics Association press tour Friday.
The show is produced by Darren Aronofsky and Jane Root — the team behind Nat Geo’s “One Strange Rock” — who will use “their signature high-end cinematic style” to “capture Hemsworth’s epic mission to discover how we all can live healthier, smarter and longer lives,” per the cable channel. “No stranger to the pursuit of fitness and health (including the recent launch of his popular app Centr), Hemsworth aims to transform himself by training for six extraordinary challenges, showing how to fight aging at every stage of life.”
Here’s a more detailed description of what exactly Nat Geo will be putting Hemsworth through on “Limitless”:
Also Read: Nat...
The show is produced by Darren Aronofsky and Jane Root — the team behind Nat Geo’s “One Strange Rock” — who will use “their signature high-end cinematic style” to “capture Hemsworth’s epic mission to discover how we all can live healthier, smarter and longer lives,” per the cable channel. “No stranger to the pursuit of fitness and health (including the recent launch of his popular app Centr), Hemsworth aims to transform himself by training for six extraordinary challenges, showing how to fight aging at every stage of life.”
Here’s a more detailed description of what exactly Nat Geo will be putting Hemsworth through on “Limitless”:
Also Read: Nat...
- 1/18/2020
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Nat Geo is braving the Alaskan wildnerness again with a new Life Below Zero spinoff as well as a multiple season renewal for the original show.
The factual broadcaster has handed BBC Studios a three-season deal that includes two additional seasons of Life Below Zero and an additional season of Life Below Zero: Port Protection.
The deal also includes a new eight-part spinoff series, Life Below Zero: Next Generation, which will premiere in 2021. The spin-off will follow new individuals who, in a brave move, recently left their traditional lifestyle behind to face a challenging new world off the grid in the wilds of Alaska. It will be produced by BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production unit — the original creative and production team behind Life Below Zero.
Nat Geo @ TCA: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
Life Below Zero and Life Below Zero: Port Protection both follow a cast of people who have left traditional society behind.
The factual broadcaster has handed BBC Studios a three-season deal that includes two additional seasons of Life Below Zero and an additional season of Life Below Zero: Port Protection.
The deal also includes a new eight-part spinoff series, Life Below Zero: Next Generation, which will premiere in 2021. The spin-off will follow new individuals who, in a brave move, recently left their traditional lifestyle behind to face a challenging new world off the grid in the wilds of Alaska. It will be produced by BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production unit — the original creative and production team behind Life Below Zero.
Nat Geo @ TCA: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
Life Below Zero and Life Below Zero: Port Protection both follow a cast of people who have left traditional society behind.
- 1/17/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
National Geographic has renewed a trio of its franchise series.
The network has announced that “Brain Games” hosted by Keegan-Michael Key will be returning for another season, as well as “Running Wild With Bear Grylls” and “Life Below Zero.”
The renewals were announced by National Geographic Global Television Networks president Courteney Monroe during the network’s winter Television Critics’ Association press tour day. In addition, Monroe revealed the premiere date for season 2 of “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted,” a “Live Below Zero” spinoff series “Life Below Zero: The Next Generation,” and a new docuseries with “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot on board as an executive producer.
“’Brain Games,’ ‘Running Wild’ with Bear Grylls,’ ‘Life Below Zero’ and ‘Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted’ are all emblematic of our unscripted programming strategy – highly entertaining, personality driven premium programming that lives up to the National Geographic brand,” said Monroe. “We are thrilled to greenlight the continuation...
The network has announced that “Brain Games” hosted by Keegan-Michael Key will be returning for another season, as well as “Running Wild With Bear Grylls” and “Life Below Zero.”
The renewals were announced by National Geographic Global Television Networks president Courteney Monroe during the network’s winter Television Critics’ Association press tour day. In addition, Monroe revealed the premiere date for season 2 of “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted,” a “Live Below Zero” spinoff series “Life Below Zero: The Next Generation,” and a new docuseries with “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot on board as an executive producer.
“’Brain Games,’ ‘Running Wild’ with Bear Grylls,’ ‘Life Below Zero’ and ‘Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted’ are all emblematic of our unscripted programming strategy – highly entertaining, personality driven premium programming that lives up to the National Geographic brand,” said Monroe. “We are thrilled to greenlight the continuation...
- 1/17/2020
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Nat Geo Wild has renewed “Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet,” “Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER,” “The Incredible Dr. Pol,” “Secrets of the Zoo,” “Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa” and “Savage Kingdom,” TheWrap has learned exclusively.
A third “Secrets of the Zoo” installment, the “Down Under” version, has been ordered to series. Aussie actress Naomi Watts will narrate that version.
Additionally, Nat Geo Wild has ordered three new vet shows and two new zoo ones, among other series, including “The Real Black Panther.”
Also Read: 'Genius': Nat Geo Shares First Look at Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin (Photo)
TheWrap’s got your first look at “The Real Black Panther” in the video above. This cat runs into a Killmonger of his own — in the form of a leopard named Scarface.
Geoff Daniels, executive vice president of global unscripted entertainment for National Geographic Global Networks, has a lot to say about how...
A third “Secrets of the Zoo” installment, the “Down Under” version, has been ordered to series. Aussie actress Naomi Watts will narrate that version.
Additionally, Nat Geo Wild has ordered three new vet shows and two new zoo ones, among other series, including “The Real Black Panther.”
Also Read: 'Genius': Nat Geo Shares First Look at Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin (Photo)
TheWrap’s got your first look at “The Real Black Panther” in the video above. This cat runs into a Killmonger of his own — in the form of a leopard named Scarface.
Geoff Daniels, executive vice president of global unscripted entertainment for National Geographic Global Networks, has a lot to say about how...
- 1/17/2020
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
National Geographic and deep-sea explorer Dr. Robert Ballard has announced an expedition to solve the mystery of famed aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. The project, which will result in a two-hour special to air on Nat Geo this fall, was announced today during TCA.
In a scientific expedition jointly funded by National Geographic Partners and National Geographic Society, Ballard, best known for his 1985 discovery of the Titanic shipwreck, is setting out in August to solve the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance and end decades of speculation about what actually happened to her. National Geographic Society’s archeologist-in-residence, Fredrik Hiebert, joins Ballard and will lead a team to search for signs of Earhart on land following clues that may lead to the location of her bones.
The ocean search will be conducted aboard Ev Nautilus, owned by the Ocean Exploration Trust under the direction of Chief Operating Officer and Expedition Leader Allison Fundis.
In a scientific expedition jointly funded by National Geographic Partners and National Geographic Society, Ballard, best known for his 1985 discovery of the Titanic shipwreck, is setting out in August to solve the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance and end decades of speculation about what actually happened to her. National Geographic Society’s archeologist-in-residence, Fredrik Hiebert, joins Ballard and will lead a team to search for signs of Earhart on land following clues that may lead to the location of her bones.
The ocean search will be conducted aboard Ev Nautilus, owned by the Ocean Exploration Trust under the direction of Chief Operating Officer and Expedition Leader Allison Fundis.
- 7/24/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Robert Ballard, the deep-sea explorer who discovered the Titanic shipwreck in 1985, will star in a new National Geographic special attempting to locate Amelia Earhart’s missing plane, the cable channel announced on Tuesday.
Ballard’s expedition is set to begin next month and will be documented in a two-hour special titled “Expedition Amelia.” The documentary will debut on Nat Geo on Sunday, Oct. 20.
“I have always been intrigued by the story of Amelia Earhart because she shocked the world doing what everyone thought was impossible, much like what I have attempted to do my entire career as a deep-sea explorer. Also, like Amelia, I was born in Kansas, so it is only appropriate that a Kansan solves this riddle,” Ballard said in a statement. “We have an incredible team in place of experts, scientists and explorers who are working diligently to map out this ambitious expedition. Using state-of-the-art technology and...
Ballard’s expedition is set to begin next month and will be documented in a two-hour special titled “Expedition Amelia.” The documentary will debut on Nat Geo on Sunday, Oct. 20.
“I have always been intrigued by the story of Amelia Earhart because she shocked the world doing what everyone thought was impossible, much like what I have attempted to do my entire career as a deep-sea explorer. Also, like Amelia, I was born in Kansas, so it is only appropriate that a Kansan solves this riddle,” Ballard said in a statement. “We have an incredible team in place of experts, scientists and explorers who are working diligently to map out this ambitious expedition. Using state-of-the-art technology and...
- 7/24/2019
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
National Geographic has optioned Mark Bowden’s best-selling Iran hostage crisis novel, “Guests of the Ayatollah,” to be adapted into a limited series by “Genius” showrunner Ken Biller, the cable channel said Tuesday during the Television Critic’s Association press tour.
Here’s the description of the 2006 nonfiction novel, courtesy of Nat Geo:
“Guests of the Ayatollah” takes a global, 360-degree view of the events that unfolded on and after Nov. 4, 1979, when a group of radical Islamist students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Motivated by the revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini, the radicals held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days, releasing them at the exact moment President Ronald Reagan was sworn in. “Guests of the Ayatollah” reexamines this gut-wrenching saga from the point of view of the hostages, the special forces units sent to free them, the diplomats working to end the crisis and the radical captors. Time magazine said of the book,...
Here’s the description of the 2006 nonfiction novel, courtesy of Nat Geo:
“Guests of the Ayatollah” takes a global, 360-degree view of the events that unfolded on and after Nov. 4, 1979, when a group of radical Islamist students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Motivated by the revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini, the radicals held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days, releasing them at the exact moment President Ronald Reagan was sworn in. “Guests of the Ayatollah” reexamines this gut-wrenching saga from the point of view of the hostages, the special forces units sent to free them, the diplomats working to end the crisis and the radical captors. Time magazine said of the book,...
- 7/23/2019
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
James Cameron is teaming with Nat Go for an ocean exploration-themed docuseries that will follow the maiden voyage of Alucia2.
The “Avatar” and “The Abyss” director will the film the series for Nat Geo, which is titled “Mission OceanX.” The Alucia2 is owned by OceanX, an underwater exploration organization. The six-episode series will air globally in 171 countries and in 43 languages, with the first season focusing on the Indian Ocean.
Nat Geo hopes to turn this into an ongoing series, with each season exploring a different ocean.
Also Read: 'Dog: Impossible': Watch Animal Behaviorist Matt Beisner Take on Some Very Bad Dogs (Exclusive Video)
According to Nat Geo’s description, “Mission OceanX” will tell the stories of young explorers, scientists and filmmakers as they embark on their mission, dealing with challenges that arise from seeking to solve some of the ocean’s greatest outstanding mysteries… Among Alucia2’s crew will be...
The “Avatar” and “The Abyss” director will the film the series for Nat Geo, which is titled “Mission OceanX.” The Alucia2 is owned by OceanX, an underwater exploration organization. The six-episode series will air globally in 171 countries and in 43 languages, with the first season focusing on the Indian Ocean.
Nat Geo hopes to turn this into an ongoing series, with each season exploring a different ocean.
Also Read: 'Dog: Impossible': Watch Animal Behaviorist Matt Beisner Take on Some Very Bad Dogs (Exclusive Video)
According to Nat Geo’s description, “Mission OceanX” will tell the stories of young explorers, scientists and filmmakers as they embark on their mission, dealing with challenges that arise from seeking to solve some of the ocean’s greatest outstanding mysteries… Among Alucia2’s crew will be...
- 7/23/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
James Cameron is heading back underwater in “Mission OceanX,” a series for National Geographic that will follow a groundbreaking ocean exploration mission. The “Titanic” and “The Abyss” director is no stranger to the deep, having dived down to the Mariana Trench in a submarine in 2012, among other aquatic missions.
“Mission OceanX” will follow the maiden voyage of the Alucia2, a next-generation exploration ship belonging to underwater exploration organization OceanX. BBC Studios’ vaunted Natural History Unit is producing for Nat Geo, but Cameron said in an exclusive interview with Variety that he is pushing the team to take a different approach from regular blue-chip natural history series by getting under the skin of the people and the mission.
“We want it to be character-driven,” Cameron said during a break from shooting the new “Avatar” movies. “One of the things I have pushed everybody towards, maybe even a little bit to the...
“Mission OceanX” will follow the maiden voyage of the Alucia2, a next-generation exploration ship belonging to underwater exploration organization OceanX. BBC Studios’ vaunted Natural History Unit is producing for Nat Geo, but Cameron said in an exclusive interview with Variety that he is pushing the team to take a different approach from regular blue-chip natural history series by getting under the skin of the people and the mission.
“We want it to be character-driven,” Cameron said during a break from shooting the new “Avatar” movies. “One of the things I have pushed everybody towards, maybe even a little bit to the...
- 7/23/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Toyo hunches over his street food stove, cooking tuna with a blow torch, stopping to light his cigarette with it and produce a cheeky grin.
The Japanese chef, who owns a roadside stand in the city of Osaka, is one of many highlighted in the Netflix series “Street Food.” Over the course of 30 minutes, Toyo talks about his difficult upbringing and his tooth and nail fight to open the restaurant and keep it that way.
Being able to see stories like Toyo’s on screen is one of the beauties of food TV in the era in which we currently find ourselves. Shows are now travelling all around the world and, in the spirit of the late, great Anthony Bourdain, delving into local cultures and cuisines through the eyes and personal stories of those sweating behind the wok, forming the focaccia and hacking through dense forest to find that special ingredient.
The Japanese chef, who owns a roadside stand in the city of Osaka, is one of many highlighted in the Netflix series “Street Food.” Over the course of 30 minutes, Toyo talks about his difficult upbringing and his tooth and nail fight to open the restaurant and keep it that way.
Being able to see stories like Toyo’s on screen is one of the beauties of food TV in the era in which we currently find ourselves. Shows are now travelling all around the world and, in the spirit of the late, great Anthony Bourdain, delving into local cultures and cuisines through the eyes and personal stories of those sweating behind the wok, forming the focaccia and hacking through dense forest to find that special ingredient.
- 7/21/2019
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
National Geographic is gonna need a bigger boat. Nat Geo is expanding “SharkFest” to three weeks, TheWrap has learned exclusively, with the first week taking over the main National Geographic Channel and the next two occupying Nat Geo Wild.
Suddenly, rival Discovery’s “Shark Week” is looking a bit more like a minnow, no?
The seventh annual “SharkFest” will launch on Nat Geo on Sunday, July 14. Nat Geo Wild’s shark-centric programming doesn’t end until Aug. 2. TheWrap’s got slate highlights lower down — and your first look at the shark-on-shark crime in “Cannibal Sharks” via the video above.
Also Read: 'The Hot Zone' Is Now Nat Geo's Most-Watched Scripted Series Yet
Additionally, on July 21, “World’s Biggest Great White?” documents the re-emergence of what is thought to be the largest great white shark ever filmed — and a girl that has not been captured on camera in nearly five years.
Suddenly, rival Discovery’s “Shark Week” is looking a bit more like a minnow, no?
The seventh annual “SharkFest” will launch on Nat Geo on Sunday, July 14. Nat Geo Wild’s shark-centric programming doesn’t end until Aug. 2. TheWrap’s got slate highlights lower down — and your first look at the shark-on-shark crime in “Cannibal Sharks” via the video above.
Also Read: 'The Hot Zone' Is Now Nat Geo's Most-Watched Scripted Series Yet
Additionally, on July 21, “World’s Biggest Great White?” documents the re-emergence of what is thought to be the largest great white shark ever filmed — and a girl that has not been captured on camera in nearly five years.
- 6/21/2019
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
National Geographic TV has ordered a globe-trotting competition series from “Amazing Race” producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.
“Race to the Center of the Earth” will set four teams of “adventurers” on a quest to sprint around the world on a challenging course designated by producers in the hopes of beating the others to a buoy in the middle of the ocean on which is stashed a $1 million prize. There will be no eliminations but the first team to reach the buoy gets to split the purse.
“Our goal is to create a gripping, completely real experience that pushes the edges of adventure and embeds viewers in extreme action, breathtaking drama and stunning locations as we follow four highly skilled teams on the race of a lifetime,” said Geoff Daniels, executive VP of unscripted entertainment for National Geographic Networks. “Unlike other competition formats, ‘Race to the Center’ of the...
“Race to the Center of the Earth” will set four teams of “adventurers” on a quest to sprint around the world on a challenging course designated by producers in the hopes of beating the others to a buoy in the middle of the ocean on which is stashed a $1 million prize. There will be no eliminations but the first team to reach the buoy gets to split the purse.
“Our goal is to create a gripping, completely real experience that pushes the edges of adventure and embeds viewers in extreme action, breathtaking drama and stunning locations as we follow four highly skilled teams on the race of a lifetime,” said Geoff Daniels, executive VP of unscripted entertainment for National Geographic Networks. “Unlike other competition formats, ‘Race to the Center’ of the...
- 5/14/2019
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
National Geographic has given a green light to Race to the Center of the Earth, the network’s first-ever global adventure competition series, from producers behind hit show The Amazing Race. Production is set to begin later this year.
Race to the Center of the Earth pits four teams against one another in a nonstop sprint across the globe for a $1 million prize. The eight-part series is an extreme nonelimination competition that follows four groups of adventurers, each starting from different corners of the earth as the race to a buoy in the middle of the ocean that holds a $1,000,000 prize.
Each team is challenged with navigating their designated route, featuring unpredictable terrains, harsh climates and unique cultures as they make their way to the finish. Along the way, they will face untamed jungles, frozen arctic, arid deserts, bustling cities, treacherous mountains and vast oceans to reach the location where...
Race to the Center of the Earth pits four teams against one another in a nonstop sprint across the globe for a $1 million prize. The eight-part series is an extreme nonelimination competition that follows four groups of adventurers, each starting from different corners of the earth as the race to a buoy in the middle of the ocean that holds a $1,000,000 prize.
Each team is challenged with navigating their designated route, featuring unpredictable terrains, harsh climates and unique cultures as they make their way to the finish. Along the way, they will face untamed jungles, frozen arctic, arid deserts, bustling cities, treacherous mountains and vast oceans to reach the location where...
- 5/14/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Nat Geo will unveil its 2019-20 programming slate on Tuesday, presenting as part of new parent company Disney’s upfront event. For those who can’t wait that long to walk on the “Wild” side, TheWrap can exclusively reveal Nat Geo Wild’s news now.
For starters, “The Incredible Dr. Pol,” “Dr. Oakley: Yukon Vet,” “Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER” and “Snake City” have all been renewed. For “Dr. Pol,” Nat Geo Wild’s longest-running and highest-rated series, the next run will mark its 16th season.
You’ll notice a lot more Pol programming in the slate, including two events, “12 Days of Pol” and “4th of Pol-y.” What a treat. That’s a little vet humor.
Also Read: Mark Steines to Host Nat Geo's 'Animal ER Live' in First TV Job Since Hallmark Channel Ouster
Additionally, Nat Geo Wild has ordered six new series, including “Critter Fixers,” which premieres...
For starters, “The Incredible Dr. Pol,” “Dr. Oakley: Yukon Vet,” “Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER” and “Snake City” have all been renewed. For “Dr. Pol,” Nat Geo Wild’s longest-running and highest-rated series, the next run will mark its 16th season.
You’ll notice a lot more Pol programming in the slate, including two events, “12 Days of Pol” and “4th of Pol-y.” What a treat. That’s a little vet humor.
Also Read: Mark Steines to Host Nat Geo's 'Animal ER Live' in First TV Job Since Hallmark Channel Ouster
Additionally, Nat Geo Wild has ordered six new series, including “Critter Fixers,” which premieres...
- 5/9/2019
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
New tech for producers, fresh platforms weighing in and a generation of environmentally conscious viewers have made natural history programming hot. With Oscar-winning filmmakers finding new ways to tell stories, and wildlife TV-friendly 4K TV sets shipping in greater numbers, insiders say we are headed into a golden age of natural history.
“The natural history genre is just booming, when you think about the number of projects announced that are out in the field, and coming to fruition,” says Geoff Daniels, executive vice president, global unscripted entertainment, at National Geographic Channels, and a former general manager of the Nat Geo Wild cable net. “Where the technology is leading us is allowing us to set the bar even higher in terms of cinematic craft and storytelling.”
Discovery and the BBC agree that we’re entering a golden age of natural history: Discovery will launch a global streaming service given over to...
“The natural history genre is just booming, when you think about the number of projects announced that are out in the field, and coming to fruition,” says Geoff Daniels, executive vice president, global unscripted entertainment, at National Geographic Channels, and a former general manager of the Nat Geo Wild cable net. “Where the technology is leading us is allowing us to set the bar even higher in terms of cinematic craft and storytelling.”
Discovery and the BBC agree that we’re entering a golden age of natural history: Discovery will launch a global streaming service given over to...
- 4/8/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
National Geographic revealed more natural history global series and specials at Sunday’s TCA gathering in Pasadena. Headlining was the announced return of last summer’s highly successful Yellowstone Live, which is now set for a June 2019 premiere.
The other projects in the works: America, in which a new generation of gyro-stabilized gimbals allow capture of developing shots of animal behavior with never-before-seen levels of dynamism and intimacy; Planet of the Whales, which immerses viewers in the whales’ world through the next generation of visual technology; and Photo Ark, a two-hour event special following National Geographic Photographer Joel Sartore’s uncanny mix of humor and an earnest, indefatigable commitment to save everything he can through photography.
“National Geographic has been the gold standard of storytelling about the natural world since its inception 131 years ago, consistently evolving the genre over the years to tell these important stories across our media portfolio...
The other projects in the works: America, in which a new generation of gyro-stabilized gimbals allow capture of developing shots of animal behavior with never-before-seen levels of dynamism and intimacy; Planet of the Whales, which immerses viewers in the whales’ world through the next generation of visual technology; and Photo Ark, a two-hour event special following National Geographic Photographer Joel Sartore’s uncanny mix of humor and an earnest, indefatigable commitment to save everything he can through photography.
“National Geographic has been the gold standard of storytelling about the natural world since its inception 131 years ago, consistently evolving the genre over the years to tell these important stories across our media portfolio...
- 2/10/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
National Geographic has set Howie Mandel’s Animals Doing Things for a return, leading off with coverage of Nat Geo Wild’s fifth annual BarkFest weekend in April. The announcement was part of Nat Geo’s Wild’s returning and new program reveals at the TCA winter press tour in Pasadena.
The fifth annual BarkFest weekend is a celebration of dogs and the people who own them. Mandel, who has combined his comedy with funny animal videos for the show, will present more of the same from BarkFest. Also planned are episodes titled “Unlikely Animal Friends,” “Born This Way,” “Alpha Dogs” and “Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet.”
The Nat Geo Wild slate includes a new, live event series from the creators of Live Pd called Animal ER Live. The show follows real and dramatic behind-the-scenes stories of urgent animal cases at six of the top animal hospitals across the country in real time,...
The fifth annual BarkFest weekend is a celebration of dogs and the people who own them. Mandel, who has combined his comedy with funny animal videos for the show, will present more of the same from BarkFest. Also planned are episodes titled “Unlikely Animal Friends,” “Born This Way,” “Alpha Dogs” and “Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet.”
The Nat Geo Wild slate includes a new, live event series from the creators of Live Pd called Animal ER Live. The show follows real and dramatic behind-the-scenes stories of urgent animal cases at six of the top animal hospitals across the country in real time,...
- 2/10/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Running Wild with Bear Grylls will move to Nat Geo for its forthcoming season. The show, which ran for four seasons on NBC, sees a group of celebrity adventurers transported across remote locations in the U.S. and around the world, including the jagged cliffs of Sardinia; a massive glacier in Iceland; the deep jungles and remote islands of Panama; and the deserts and canyons of Utah.
It is Grylls’ latest series for the factual broadcaster and comes ahead of the launch of his forthcoming natural history series Hostile Planet, which arrives in April.
Nat Geo has also previously aired reruns of the show, which was developed by the British former Sas serviceman and Delbert Shoopman, and is produced by Propagate-owned Electus and Bear Grylls Ventures.
Grylls serves as executive producer along with Chris Grant, Drew Buckley, Ben Silverman, Howard Owens, Rob Buchta and Shoopman. For National Geographic, Bengt Anderson is executive producer.
It is Grylls’ latest series for the factual broadcaster and comes ahead of the launch of his forthcoming natural history series Hostile Planet, which arrives in April.
Nat Geo has also previously aired reruns of the show, which was developed by the British former Sas serviceman and Delbert Shoopman, and is produced by Propagate-owned Electus and Bear Grylls Ventures.
Grylls serves as executive producer along with Chris Grant, Drew Buckley, Ben Silverman, Howard Owens, Rob Buchta and Shoopman. For National Geographic, Bengt Anderson is executive producer.
- 2/10/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Nat Geo isn’t hibernating — er, sleeping — on Bear Grylls. In addition to having the wilderness-survival expert host and narrate its upcoming “Hostile Planet,” the cable channel is also taking over his now-former NBC show, “Running Wild With Bear Grylls.”
The new season of “Running Wild” is currently in production, Nat Geo executives said Sunday at the Television Critics Association press tour. It will premiere in December on National Geographic Channel.
Grylls’ “Hostile Planet” debuts on Nat Geo in April. Throughout 2018, National Geographic aired reruns of the NBC “Running Wild” episodes.
The new season, which includes a new celebrity lineup of adventurers, will transport viewers across remote locations in the Us and around the world, including the jagged cliffs of Sardinia; a massive glacier in Iceland; the deep jungles and remote islands of Panama; and the deserts and canyons of Utah. These celebrities will push beyond their limits to see...
The new season of “Running Wild” is currently in production, Nat Geo executives said Sunday at the Television Critics Association press tour. It will premiere in December on National Geographic Channel.
Grylls’ “Hostile Planet” debuts on Nat Geo in April. Throughout 2018, National Geographic aired reruns of the NBC “Running Wild” episodes.
The new season, which includes a new celebrity lineup of adventurers, will transport viewers across remote locations in the Us and around the world, including the jagged cliffs of Sardinia; a massive glacier in Iceland; the deep jungles and remote islands of Panama; and the deserts and canyons of Utah. These celebrities will push beyond their limits to see...
- 2/10/2019
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Nat Geo Wild has set its programming lineup for the spring and summer, and TheWrap exclusively has the slate.
Among the network’s new offerings are “Animal ER Live,” a real-time look at animal hospitals across the country from the creators of A&E’s hit “Live Pd”; “Out There With Jack Randall,” starring Steve Irwin’s former apprentice; and “Red Zone Dogs” (working title), about dog behavior specialist Matt Beisner and his work with dangerous and misunderstood animals.
“Animal ER Live” will be the first to debut, on Saturday, March 30 at 9 p.m.
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild's 'Red Zone Dogs': Wanna See Some 'Very, Very Dangerous' Pooches? (Exclusive Video)
“Nat Geo Wild has always been committed to encouraging audiences to let the wild in, and this exciting and bold programming slate shows how we strive to find fresh, inventive new ways to give animal lovers content that will entertain,...
Among the network’s new offerings are “Animal ER Live,” a real-time look at animal hospitals across the country from the creators of A&E’s hit “Live Pd”; “Out There With Jack Randall,” starring Steve Irwin’s former apprentice; and “Red Zone Dogs” (working title), about dog behavior specialist Matt Beisner and his work with dangerous and misunderstood animals.
“Animal ER Live” will be the first to debut, on Saturday, March 30 at 9 p.m.
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild's 'Red Zone Dogs': Wanna See Some 'Very, Very Dangerous' Pooches? (Exclusive Video)
“Nat Geo Wild has always been committed to encouraging audiences to let the wild in, and this exciting and bold programming slate shows how we strive to find fresh, inventive new ways to give animal lovers content that will entertain,...
- 2/9/2019
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
National Geographic is launching a slate of new series that will showcase the natural world, exotic wildlife, and a veteran Nat Geo photographer in action in the field. The channel will launch “America,” a new series using high-end camera tech to offer a new portrait of the U.S.; “Planet of the Whales,” a landmark series on the planet’s largest mammals; and “Photo Ark,” which looks at National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore’s ongoing effort to document and save rare species.
The cameras will also head back into Yellowstone after last year’s live broadcast from the national park garnered 13 million viewers. “Yellowstone Live” will run for four days this June. British shingle Plimsoll Productions and U.S. producer Berman Productions are making the show. There is also the previously announced Bear Grylls-fronted, Plimsoll-produced “Hostile Planet.”
Nat Geo recently solidified its leadership ahead of ownership shifting to...
The cameras will also head back into Yellowstone after last year’s live broadcast from the national park garnered 13 million viewers. “Yellowstone Live” will run for four days this June. British shingle Plimsoll Productions and U.S. producer Berman Productions are making the show. There is also the previously announced Bear Grylls-fronted, Plimsoll-produced “Hostile Planet.”
Nat Geo recently solidified its leadership ahead of ownership shifting to...
- 2/8/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Nat Geo is heading into space to find new stories about the bible in a big-budget documentary fronted by Lost Treasures of the Maya Snake Kings host Albert Lin.
The factual giant has ordered two-part series The Bible From Space (w/t) from All3Media-backed Caravan.
The documentary will reveal the truth behind the biggest stories from the Old Testament with Lin taking a journey through the Holy Lands and looking at the historical events that might lie behind biblical stories such as the Exodus and the parting of the Red Seas as well as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Lin, who also previously hosted China’s Megatomb Revealed, will travel with a mobile laboratory through the deserts of the Middle East and work with top archaeologists to carry out scientific research, using satellite imagery, multi-spectral analysis, magnetometry, aerial photogrammetry and old-fashioned detective work to find hidden answers.
The...
The factual giant has ordered two-part series The Bible From Space (w/t) from All3Media-backed Caravan.
The documentary will reveal the truth behind the biggest stories from the Old Testament with Lin taking a journey through the Holy Lands and looking at the historical events that might lie behind biblical stories such as the Exodus and the parting of the Red Seas as well as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Lin, who also previously hosted China’s Megatomb Revealed, will travel with a mobile laboratory through the deserts of the Middle East and work with top archaeologists to carry out scientific research, using satellite imagery, multi-spectral analysis, magnetometry, aerial photogrammetry and old-fashioned detective work to find hidden answers.
The...
- 11/29/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
As a fourth generation Botswanan, filmmaker Brad Bestelink spent his entire life watching the waters of the Okavango Delta rise every winter, bringing with them elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, hyenas and other awe-inspiring animals. Now he is sharing that experience with a wide audience through his new two-part documentary, “The Flood,” for National Geographic.
“It’s so bizarre to see that change,” Bestelink tells Variety. “You really have to see a cycle to really understand it — to really metabolize what it’s about. Eight thousand square kilometers of Savannah becomes water, basically. It’s not just a tidal shift. It’s naturally a complete change of environment.”
“The Flood,” which is narrated by Angela Bassett, focuses on the biodiversity in the Okavango Delta, showing just how many animals come together in one area. During the winter, when the Okavango waters rise, the animals descend on the area. And as the waters recede,...
“It’s so bizarre to see that change,” Bestelink tells Variety. “You really have to see a cycle to really understand it — to really metabolize what it’s about. Eight thousand square kilometers of Savannah becomes water, basically. It’s not just a tidal shift. It’s naturally a complete change of environment.”
“The Flood,” which is narrated by Angela Bassett, focuses on the biodiversity in the Okavango Delta, showing just how many animals come together in one area. During the winter, when the Okavango waters rise, the animals descend on the area. And as the waters recede,...
- 11/23/2018
- by Jean Bentley
- Variety Film + TV
National Geographic has released the first five minutes of its upcoming docuseries, “Inside North Korea’s Dynasty,” exclusively to TheWrap. The four-part series aims to penetrate the secretive communist regime by taking a look at its ruling family.
From 72 Films, the series will examine the Kim family, the communist dynasty which has ruled North Korea for the last three three generations, by using expert insight, first-hand testimony and archival footage. Kim Jong Un’s unlikely pal Dennis Rodman will also make an appearance.
The series will span multiple decades, beginning with the rise and rule of the country’s founder, Kim Il Sun, through his son, Kim Jong Il, and his grandson and the current leader, Kim Jong Un.
Also Read: Courteney Monroe Extends as Nat Geo President, Geoff Daniels to Head Unscripted Shows
According to the network, the series “provides a look at the Kim dynasty more complex and comprehensive than ever attempted before,...
From 72 Films, the series will examine the Kim family, the communist dynasty which has ruled North Korea for the last three three generations, by using expert insight, first-hand testimony and archival footage. Kim Jong Un’s unlikely pal Dennis Rodman will also make an appearance.
The series will span multiple decades, beginning with the rise and rule of the country’s founder, Kim Il Sun, through his son, Kim Jong Il, and his grandson and the current leader, Kim Jong Un.
Also Read: Courteney Monroe Extends as Nat Geo President, Geoff Daniels to Head Unscripted Shows
According to the network, the series “provides a look at the Kim dynasty more complex and comprehensive than ever attempted before,...
- 11/8/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Ahead of its move from Fox to Disney, National Geographic has renewed Courteney Monroe’s contract as president of global networks.
Monroe will continue to report to Gary Knell, chairman of National Geographic Partners, and work closely with Peter Rice, currently president of 21st Century Fox and chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group.
Rice is also moving over to Disney after the company closes its $71.3 acquisition of Fox’s film and TV assets in the early part of next year.
Also Read: Peter Rice, Dana Walden to Lead Disney-ABC's TV Networks and Studio After Fox Deal Closes
Additionally, two executives under Monroe will get expanded roles. Geoff Daniels will get the “interim” tag taken off his title as executive VP of global unscripted entertainment. Daniels oversees all of Nat Geo and NatGeo Wild’s unscripted slate. Carolyn Bernstein, who heads up Nat Geo’s scripted content, will...
Monroe will continue to report to Gary Knell, chairman of National Geographic Partners, and work closely with Peter Rice, currently president of 21st Century Fox and chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group.
Rice is also moving over to Disney after the company closes its $71.3 acquisition of Fox’s film and TV assets in the early part of next year.
Also Read: Peter Rice, Dana Walden to Lead Disney-ABC's TV Networks and Studio After Fox Deal Closes
Additionally, two executives under Monroe will get expanded roles. Geoff Daniels will get the “interim” tag taken off his title as executive VP of global unscripted entertainment. Daniels oversees all of Nat Geo and NatGeo Wild’s unscripted slate. Carolyn Bernstein, who heads up Nat Geo’s scripted content, will...
- 11/2/2018
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Another Fox division headed to Disney, the National Geographic networks, has solidified its leadership ahead of the pending merger. Courteney Monroe has re-upped as President, National Geographic Global Networks and handed expanded roles to Geoff Daniels and Carolyn Bernstein. Daniels has been named Evp, Global Unscripted Entertainment for National Geographic Channels, assuming the role he had been serving in on an interim basis since May. Bernstein becomes Evp, Global Scripted Content & Documentary Films, adding oversight of feature documentaries released under the National Geographic Documentary Films banner.
Monroe will continue to report to Gary Knell, Chairman of National Geographic Partners, and work closely with Peter Rice, currently President of 21st Century Fox and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Networks Group. Knell and Rice are among the top 21st Century Fox executives who were announced earlier this month as transitioning to the combined Disney-Fox TV operation post-merger. The announcement...
Monroe will continue to report to Gary Knell, Chairman of National Geographic Partners, and work closely with Peter Rice, currently President of 21st Century Fox and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Networks Group. Knell and Rice are among the top 21st Century Fox executives who were announced earlier this month as transitioning to the combined Disney-Fox TV operation post-merger. The announcement...
- 11/2/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva and Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
National Geographic has solidified the leadership team of its TV wing with new deals for top executives in advance of the company’s move to Disney as part of its acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets.
Courteney Monroe has renewed her contract to remain president and CEO of National Geographic Global Networks. Carolyn Bernstein will add oversight of Nat Geo’s feature documentaries in addition to scripted programs in her new role as exec VP of global scripted content and documentary films . Geoff Daniels, formerly head of the Nat Geo Wild channel, has been promoted to exec VP of global unscripted entertainment. Monroe and Daniels are based in D.C. while Bernstein works in Los Angeles.
The Nat Geo group is expected to operate with autonomy after the Disney transaction is complete, just as it has within the Fox fold for the past two decades. Nor is there expected to...
Courteney Monroe has renewed her contract to remain president and CEO of National Geographic Global Networks. Carolyn Bernstein will add oversight of Nat Geo’s feature documentaries in addition to scripted programs in her new role as exec VP of global scripted content and documentary films . Geoff Daniels, formerly head of the Nat Geo Wild channel, has been promoted to exec VP of global unscripted entertainment. Monroe and Daniels are based in D.C. while Bernstein works in Los Angeles.
The Nat Geo group is expected to operate with autonomy after the Disney transaction is complete, just as it has within the Fox fold for the past two decades. Nor is there expected to...
- 11/2/2018
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Courteney Monroe is staying put at National Geographic after turning down an offer to run the Fox broadcast network.
Monroe has re-upped as president of National Geographic Global Networks ahead of the merger of it and other 21st Century Fox entertainment assets with Disney. She will continue reporting to Gary Knell, chairman of National Geographic Partners, and working with Peter Rice, who is poised to become chairman of Walt Disney Television and co-chair of Disney Media Networks.
Two key Nat Geo execs, Geoff Daniels and Carolyn Bernstein, are getting expanded roles under Monroe. Daniels will permanently take the role of ...
Monroe has re-upped as president of National Geographic Global Networks ahead of the merger of it and other 21st Century Fox entertainment assets with Disney. She will continue reporting to Gary Knell, chairman of National Geographic Partners, and working with Peter Rice, who is poised to become chairman of Walt Disney Television and co-chair of Disney Media Networks.
Two key Nat Geo execs, Geoff Daniels and Carolyn Bernstein, are getting expanded roles under Monroe. Daniels will permanently take the role of ...
- 11/2/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Angela Bassett is set to narrate “The Flood,” the upcoming National Geographic documentary special about animals living in the heart of Africa’s Okavango Delta.
Surrounded by the Kalahari Desert, the delta is one of the world’s last great wildernesses, and welcomes leopards, elephants, lions and hippos each year as the great flood returns water to the habitat. As the waters recede, the battle for survival begins.
Bassett scored an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It” and also starred as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther.” On TV she stars in Fox cop procedural “9-1-1.”
“I found the stories of these resilient, beautiful animals so fascinating and relatable,” Bassett said. “I hope that viewers are drawn into this rarely seen kingdom in a way that inspires them to help protect it for years to come.”
Geoff Daniels, Evp...
Surrounded by the Kalahari Desert, the delta is one of the world’s last great wildernesses, and welcomes leopards, elephants, lions and hippos each year as the great flood returns water to the habitat. As the waters recede, the battle for survival begins.
Bassett scored an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It” and also starred as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther.” On TV she stars in Fox cop procedural “9-1-1.”
“I found the stories of these resilient, beautiful animals so fascinating and relatable,” Bassett said. “I hope that viewers are drawn into this rarely seen kingdom in a way that inspires them to help protect it for years to come.”
Geoff Daniels, Evp...
- 10/18/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
National Geographic has brought Emmy award-winning composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein on board to score its upcoming docudrama “Valley of the Boom,” Variety has learned exclusively.
Dixon and Stein are best known for their work on the soundtrack of “Stranger Things,” for which they received two Grammy nominations as well as an Emmy for outstanding main title theme music.
“We have long been inspired by the rich history and bright music from the 1990s, so when we learned of National Geographic’s ‘Valley of the Boom,’ we were thrilled to be collaborating,” said Dixon and Stein. “Sound shapes story, and we want this soundtrack to reflect the unconventional yet exhilarating era Matthew Carnahan exposes in the series.”
These are the latest celebrated composers to work with Nat Geo. The network previously collaborated with Hans Zimmer for “Genius,” Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for “Mars,” Philip Glass for “Janes,” and...
Dixon and Stein are best known for their work on the soundtrack of “Stranger Things,” for which they received two Grammy nominations as well as an Emmy for outstanding main title theme music.
“We have long been inspired by the rich history and bright music from the 1990s, so when we learned of National Geographic’s ‘Valley of the Boom,’ we were thrilled to be collaborating,” said Dixon and Stein. “Sound shapes story, and we want this soundtrack to reflect the unconventional yet exhilarating era Matthew Carnahan exposes in the series.”
These are the latest celebrated composers to work with Nat Geo. The network previously collaborated with Hans Zimmer for “Genius,” Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for “Mars,” Philip Glass for “Janes,” and...
- 7/25/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Bear Grylls (Running Wild With Bear Grylls) has been tapped as host of National Geographic Channel’s upcoming docuseries Hostile Planet (working title), from Oscar-winning cinematographer and director Guillermo Navarro (Pan’s Labyrinth), Emmy-nominated producer Martha Holmes (The Blue Planet) and Emmy winner Tom Hugh-Jones (Planet Earth II).
Produced by Plimsoll Productions, Hostile Planet (wt) draws attention to the most extraordinary – almost supernatural – accounts of animals that have conformed to the cruelest evolutionary curveballs. Each episode characterizes one the planet’s roughest environments – including jungles, mountains, deserts, oceans, the Poles and grasslands – and how each of its inhabitants acclimate to its turn of events. Grylls will act as guide through these extreme locations where animals have adapted to survive against all odds.
Per Nat Geo: Set against the backdrop of a more violent and volatile climate, the epic battles for survival take on a new urgency as animals face intensified wildfires,...
Produced by Plimsoll Productions, Hostile Planet (wt) draws attention to the most extraordinary – almost supernatural – accounts of animals that have conformed to the cruelest evolutionary curveballs. Each episode characterizes one the planet’s roughest environments – including jungles, mountains, deserts, oceans, the Poles and grasslands – and how each of its inhabitants acclimate to its turn of events. Grylls will act as guide through these extreme locations where animals have adapted to survive against all odds.
Per Nat Geo: Set against the backdrop of a more violent and volatile climate, the epic battles for survival take on a new urgency as animals face intensified wildfires,...
- 7/25/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Nat Geo Wild’s slate has been tamed, as TheWrap can exclusively reveal all of fall’s premiere dates. The upcoming TV season will include new series “Fish My City With Mike Iaconelli,” we’re told, as well as just-ordered special “Mexico Untamed.”
The cable channel’s first-ever feature-length documentary “Into the Okavango,” which follows a team of explorers on an epic four-month expedition to save the river that feeds the Okavango Delta, is set to debut on Dec. 14.
Plus, of course “Big Cat Week” is back for its ninth year starting on Nov. 30, and we’ve got your exclusive first look posted above — ever seen a prettier puma?
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild Just Made 'SharkFest' Twice as Long as Discovery's 'Shark Week' (Exclusive)
“Nat Geo Wild’s upcoming programming slate represents everything that the network stands for; it’s packed with heartwarming and awe-inspiring stories...
The cable channel’s first-ever feature-length documentary “Into the Okavango,” which follows a team of explorers on an epic four-month expedition to save the river that feeds the Okavango Delta, is set to debut on Dec. 14.
Plus, of course “Big Cat Week” is back for its ninth year starting on Nov. 30, and we’ve got your exclusive first look posted above — ever seen a prettier puma?
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild Just Made 'SharkFest' Twice as Long as Discovery's 'Shark Week' (Exclusive)
“Nat Geo Wild’s upcoming programming slate represents everything that the network stands for; it’s packed with heartwarming and awe-inspiring stories...
- 7/24/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Nat Geo Wild’s “SharkFest” is megalodon-sizing to two weeks, doubling in length as a counter-programming move against rival Discovery Channel’s popular “Shark Week,” TheWrap has learned exclusively. Additionally, the sixth annual “Shark Fest” has also shifted up on the calendar to beat “Shark Week” to cable airwaves by a week, as opposed to going (hammer) head-to-head again.
“What’s better than one week of shark TV? Two Weeks Of ‘Sharkfest,'” Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo Wild, told us in a statement. “We are literally jumping the shark this year by serving a supersized feeding frenzy of jaw-some shark specials, and by taking the first bite, we’re giving Nat Geo Wild viewers a bonus week of the shark shows they love. Why wait, when we need to inspire everyone to save our sharks now, more than ever? With so much ‘SharkFest,...
“What’s better than one week of shark TV? Two Weeks Of ‘Sharkfest,'” Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo Wild, told us in a statement. “We are literally jumping the shark this year by serving a supersized feeding frenzy of jaw-some shark specials, and by taking the first bite, we’re giving Nat Geo Wild viewers a bonus week of the shark shows they love. Why wait, when we need to inspire everyone to save our sharks now, more than ever? With so much ‘SharkFest,...
- 6/12/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Tim Pastore is departing his role as original programming president at cable channel National Geographic.
Pastore joined National Geographic in 2014 from the National Geographic Society, where he had been executive vice president of production and development for production unit National Geographic Studios.
National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe announced Pastore’s departure in a memo to staff Wednesday. “It goes without saying that Tim was an instrumental part of our transformation, and I will be forever grateful to Tim and his team for dedicating themselves to our new programming vision,” Monroe wrote. “I want to wish Tim all the best in his new pursuits, and I take him at his word that our paths will cross again, hopefully in the very near future!”
Monroe added that executive Geoff Daniels will step in for Pastore as head of unscripted programming for National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild as a search...
Pastore joined National Geographic in 2014 from the National Geographic Society, where he had been executive vice president of production and development for production unit National Geographic Studios.
National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe announced Pastore’s departure in a memo to staff Wednesday. “It goes without saying that Tim was an instrumental part of our transformation, and I will be forever grateful to Tim and his team for dedicating themselves to our new programming vision,” Monroe wrote. “I want to wish Tim all the best in his new pursuits, and I take him at his word that our paths will cross again, hopefully in the very near future!”
Monroe added that executive Geoff Daniels will step in for Pastore as head of unscripted programming for National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild as a search...
- 5/30/2018
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Tim Pastore is stepping down from his post after four years as president of original programming and production at National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe announced in a note to staff Wednesday.
Pastore also sent a message to Nat Geo employees, saying he’s exiting the company to “pursue new opportunities,” with this Friday, June 1, set as his final day at the digital cable and satellite TV network.
Following Pastore’s departure, Monroe said Evp and general manager of Nat Geo Wild Geoff Daniels will oversee unscripted content for both National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild until she has found a permanent replacement. Monroe noted that Carolyn Bernstein will continue to oversee Nat Geo’s scripted content.
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild Renews 'The Incredible Dr. Pol,' 3 Other Shows (Exclusive)
“It goes without saying that Tim was an instrumental part of our transformation, and...
Pastore also sent a message to Nat Geo employees, saying he’s exiting the company to “pursue new opportunities,” with this Friday, June 1, set as his final day at the digital cable and satellite TV network.
Following Pastore’s departure, Monroe said Evp and general manager of Nat Geo Wild Geoff Daniels will oversee unscripted content for both National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild until she has found a permanent replacement. Monroe noted that Carolyn Bernstein will continue to oversee Nat Geo’s scripted content.
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild Renews 'The Incredible Dr. Pol,' 3 Other Shows (Exclusive)
“It goes without saying that Tim was an instrumental part of our transformation, and...
- 5/30/2018
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Tim Pastore is stepping down as President of Original Programming and Production, National Geographic Channel, after four years. His last day will be Friday, June 1. National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe just announced Pastore’s pending departure in an internal memo.
Nat Geo veteran Geoff Daniels, Evp and general manager of Nat Geo Wild, will step into Pastore’s role, overseeing unscripted content for both National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild, until a permanent replacement is named.
Veteran producer Pastore moved to National Geographic Channel in summer 2014, less than a year after joining National Geographic Studios, the production arm of the National Geographic Society. He was the first top programming executive hire for then-newly promoted to CEO Monroe. it was followed by the 2015 appointment of Carolyn Bernstein as head of scripted. She will continue in that capacity, continuing to report to Monroe.
“It goes without saying that Tim...
Nat Geo veteran Geoff Daniels, Evp and general manager of Nat Geo Wild, will step into Pastore’s role, overseeing unscripted content for both National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild, until a permanent replacement is named.
Veteran producer Pastore moved to National Geographic Channel in summer 2014, less than a year after joining National Geographic Studios, the production arm of the National Geographic Society. He was the first top programming executive hire for then-newly promoted to CEO Monroe. it was followed by the 2015 appointment of Carolyn Bernstein as head of scripted. She will continue in that capacity, continuing to report to Monroe.
“It goes without saying that Tim...
- 5/30/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
National Geographic Channels programming president Tim Pastore is stepping down after four years. The executive announced the news Wednesday in a company-wide email.
Pastore, whose last day will be Friday, will be replaced on an interim basis by unscripted exec Geoff Daniels while National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe pursues a permanent replacement. (Carolyn Bernstein will continue to oversee Nat Geo's growing scripted output.)
"I know change is hard, especially at a time when we face uncertainty as a company," Monroe wrote in an email of her own, "but rest assured that Geoff and I ...
Pastore, whose last day will be Friday, will be replaced on an interim basis by unscripted exec Geoff Daniels while National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe pursues a permanent replacement. (Carolyn Bernstein will continue to oversee Nat Geo's growing scripted output.)
"I know change is hard, especially at a time when we face uncertainty as a company," Monroe wrote in an email of her own, "but rest assured that Geoff and I ...
- 5/30/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Nat Geo Wild is out with its animal-focused 2018-19 slate, which includes three new unscripted series, new seasons of some channel favorites, specials and stunt programming on sharks, dogs and big cats.
Two of the new Nat Geo Wild series — Prairie Dog Home Companion and Babies Diary — are set to premiere in January, with the new six-episode Savage Kingdom III: After the Fall targeted for spring 2019. Among the returning shows are Season 14 of Nat Geo Wild’s No. 1 series, The Incredible Dr. Pol, and the sixth season of Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER.
“Nat Geo Wild has always been 100 percent dedicated to animals and the people who love them, and our relentless commitment to creating premium content that entertains, inspires and educates viewers of all ages continues to make us the leading destination for wildlife programming,” said Geoff Daniels, Evp and general manager of Nat Geo Wild. “This new...
Two of the new Nat Geo Wild series — Prairie Dog Home Companion and Babies Diary — are set to premiere in January, with the new six-episode Savage Kingdom III: After the Fall targeted for spring 2019. Among the returning shows are Season 14 of Nat Geo Wild’s No. 1 series, The Incredible Dr. Pol, and the sixth season of Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER.
“Nat Geo Wild has always been 100 percent dedicated to animals and the people who love them, and our relentless commitment to creating premium content that entertains, inspires and educates viewers of all ages continues to make us the leading destination for wildlife programming,” said Geoff Daniels, Evp and general manager of Nat Geo Wild. “This new...
- 4/18/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Nat Geo Wild has renewed its No. 1 show “The Incredible Dr. Pol” and three other series — “Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER,” “Snake City” and “Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet” — TheWrap has learned exclusively.
We’ve also got your first look at the fluffy cable channel’s upcoming “Pupparazzi,” one of four new specials and three new series for 2018-19. Next season, “Big Cat Week” returns for a ninth hunt, “BarkFest” chases its tail a fifth time and “SharkFest” swims for a seventh lap.
We’ll also get a third installment of “Savage Kingdom” next season.
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild Will Not Punish Cesar Millan, Network Says (Exclusive)
“Nat Geo Wild has always been 100 percent dedicated to animals and the people who love them, and our relentless commitment to creating premium content that entertains, inspires and educates viewers of all ages continues to make us the leading destination for wildlife programming,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo Wild. “This new programming slate highlights how Nat Geo Wild continues to find innovative ways to push the boundaries of storytelling, and we are confident that these new programs will strike a chord with our viewers.”
Below is Nat Geo Wild’s full 2018-19 slate, with all descriptions in the network’s own words.
Watch our exclusive “Pupparazzi” sneak peek video above. Yes, that one follows a pair of skilled pet photographers capturing some amazing dog and cat portraits.
Also Read: Watch a Baby Duck Try His First Flight on New Nat Geo Wild Show (Exclusive Video)
Events
9th Annual “Big Cat Week” – Premieres November 2018
The fiercest week on television returns this fall with “Big Cat Week.” In its ninth-year, this annual event delivers an all-new roaring lineup puts the spotlight on heartwarming, surprising and inspiring stories of big cats around the world. In this year’s “Big Cat Week,’ discover the moving story of a young lion learning what it takes to become the king of the jungle in Beverly and Dereck Joubert’s latest special “Lion Prince,” follow the extraordinary tale of a strong-willed mother tiger who risks it all to rear her young cubs in “Tiger Mom,” and head to South America with big cat expert Boone Smith to witness the rare behaviors of pumas preying on penguins in Argentina in ‘Man Among Pumas.” More than a television event, “Big Cat Week” is an extension of the Big Cats Initiative, a long-term commitment by the National Geographic Society to halt the decline of big cats in the wild. This global initiative actively supports on-the-ground research and conservation projects to protect the planet’s top felines. For more information on the Big Cats Initiative and how you can get involved, visit NatGeoBigCats.org.
5th Annual “BarkFest” – Premieres Spring 2019
Woof woof! Your dog’s favorite week of television returns with more floofs and floppy ears than ever before. Who can say no to a marathon of adorable and silly mutts? Curl up on the couch with your pup and tune in for some tail-wagging good TV with the return of Nat Geo Wild’s pawsome “BarkFest” event.
7th Annual “SharkFest” – Premieres Summer 2019
Television’s second-best week of sharks returns next summer with incredible stories from the world’s leading scientists, along with wall-to-wall sharks. Nat Geo Wild is your go-to channel for the most sharks per square inch of television.
Also Read: 'Zoo Life': Move Over Matt Damon - Jack Hanna Actually Lives in a Zoo (Exclusive Video)
Specials
“Pupparazzi” – Two-Hour Special Event Premieres Fall 2018
(Produced by High Noon Entertainment)
Call the “Pupparazzi!” Renowned pet photographer Kaylee Greer and her fiancé Sam have become some of the most sought after “dogtographers” in the world. Their ability to capture unique, adorable portraits of dogs, cats and other four-legged animals has earned them a successful pet photography business and an impressive portfolio. Forget the clean white studio and pristinely combed coat, this creative duo would rather photograph “dogs being dogs” in all of their silly, unpredictable, playful glory. From shooting global ad campaigns for major dog food brands, to arranging photo shoots for shelter dogs to help them find their forever homes, to staging whacky themed portraits for private clients, “Pupparazzi” delves into the heartwarming, exciting and often comical world of pet photography. Expect a lot of laughs, “aww’s,” floppy ears and muddy paws as we look at what goes into photographing man’s best friend.
“The Flood” – Two-Hour Special Event Premieres November 2018 Following “Big Cat Week”
(Produced by Natural History Film Unit Botswana and Icon Films)
The famous Okavango Delta is one of the most diverse habitats on earth – a lush, wild kingdom like no other. Here, life depends on the arrival and disappearance of water. Produced and filmed by award-winning Botswanan filmmaker Brad Bestelink and the team behind Nat Geo Wild’s miniseries “Savage Kingdom,” “The Flood” follows the lives of the animals fighting to survive in a dramatic and unpredictable wilderness. Using breathtaking cinematography and innovative storytelling methods, “The Flood” is an unparalleled natural history television event that follows the incredible stories of animals surviving during an infrequent natural phenomenon. When the lands are flooded, this landscape is both a sanctuary and a trap, giving and taking life in equal measure. Above and below the water, never ending battles of wits and survival play out. The fate of these tens of thousands of animals that live in this place of spectacular natural drama are at stake.
“Zeb Hogan’s Monster Fish: Philippines” – One-Hour Special Event Premieres November 2018
(Produced by Ifa Media)
Fish biologist and National Geographic Fellow Dr. Zeb Hogan is diving back into the water in search of the world’s biggest fish: the Whale Shark. In this new special, Hogan heads to the Sea of Cortez, where these gigantic prehistoric-like creatures congregate in hopes to uncover the hidden secrets of this aquatic paradise. On his journey, Hogan encounters giant tuna, rays and Hammerheads before coming face-to-face with a giant. What brings these elusive Whale Sharks to these waters? To find out, Hogan investigates other dangerous predators lurking beneath the water’s surface.
“Tree Lions” – One-Hour Special Event Premieres Fall 2018
(Filmed by Alex Braczkowski and produced by National Geographic Global Production Services)
It’s incredibly rare for lions to climb but there’s a little-known spot in Uganda where these big cats climb massive trees to hang out high above the plain. Cat biologist and cameraman Alex Braczkowski observed this behavior when he was counting the lions and leopards left in Queen Elizabeth’s National Park in Uganda. Now he’s on a mission to show these lions to the world like never before. He will get the first-ever shots of lions and their cubs 60-feet high in the trees using drones and special camera traps. The world’s lion population is disappearing rapidly but these climbing lions might have an edge over the others.
New Series
“Prairie Dog Home Companion” – New Series Premieres January 2019
(Produced by Radley Studios)
Think Meerkats are the most dramatic critters in the animal kingdom? Think again. Just outside of the quiet village of Jemez Springs near the New Mexico/Colorado border lives a vibrant prairie dog colony packed with secrets. What these animals lack in size, they make up for in drama. Prairie dogs are highly intelligent, social animals that live in communities made up of a dozen or more tight-knit family clans, and just like any small town, the Jemez prairie dog colony has it’s fair share of drama. On the outside, you’ll see a group of prairie dogs pleasantly playing, and nursing newborns … but take a closer look and you’ll see adultery, murder and the occasional case of cannibalism. Join Biologist John Hoogland, who has studied the lives of these prairie dogs for 43 years, as he brings us into their incredible world.
“Babies Diary” – New Series Premieres January 2019
(Produced by One Planet Productions)
Baby Animals! Need we say more? Using innovative camera techniques, “Babies Diary” immerses us into the center of five animal families – lions, jackals, cheetahs, hyenas and meerkats – as they raise their young in the wilderness. By following these animals’ stories from the moment their babies are born, “Babies Diary” provides a heartwarming and intimate look at the different parenting techniques each of these species employ to give their newborns the best chance at survival in the unforgiving wilds of Africa. Discover the tender, emotional, and often stressful moments of new life in the animal kingdom as we follow these fur balls through the different stages of maturity.
“Savage Kingdom III: After the Fall” – Six-Episode Series Premieres Spring 2019
(Produced by Natural History Film Unit Botswana and Icon Films)
Following the success of Nat Geo Wild’s global miniseries events “Savage Kingdom” and “Savage Kingdom: Uprising,” comes our third installment of this breakout global hit, “Savage Kingdom III: After the Fall.” Using innovative techniques that continue to push the boundaries of wildlife storytelling, “Savage Kingdom III” follows a new clan of characters in Africa’s richest and most dynamic habitats: the Okavango Delta. From the familiar blood-curdling battles between leopards, lions, hyenas and wild dogs, we meet new characters like cheetahs, jackals and baboons. They may once have been reviled, pitied, hated or seen as the cruelest of enemies, but in each new episode everything can change. The only law is the law of survival.
Returning Series
“Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER” – Season 6 Premieres Fall 2018
(Produced by Spectrum Productions)
Nat Geo Wild’s star of Sunday nights returns for an all new season! Dr. K’s exotic cases and cures are as wild and unexpected as the animals that come through the door. Along with Dr. T and a dedicated staff, Dr. Susan Kelleher treats a dynamic array of patients ranging from kangaroos, to monkeys, birds, rabbits, pigs, fish and every imaginable animal in between.
“Snake City” – Season 5 Premieres Fall 2018
(Produced by Earth Touch)
An all new sssss-season of “Snake City” is slithering its way back to your TVs! Join extreme snake wrangler Simon Keys and his herpetologist girlfriend Siouxsie Gillett as they respond to terrified calls from people who have problem snakes in their houses and yards in the coastal city of Durban, South Africa. Unfortunately for their clients, business is booming for Keys and Gillett as the summer heat brings the native snakes — like spitting cobras, green mambas, black mambas, pythons and more — out of hiding. Watch as the brave duo capture these venomous snakes by hand and then release them back to safety in the wild.
“Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet” – Season 6 Premieres Fall 2018
(Produced by Lucky Dog Films)
Dr. Michelle Oakley returns with an all-new season of “Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet.” Follow her as she makes house calls across thousands of square miles in the Yukon Territory in northern Canada, and throughout Alaska, where she’s responding to some of the most unique and challenging cases of her career. From moving bears with tractors and horses with helicopters, to castrating angry boars and capturing wild bison, she’ll have to use every trick she knows to save these animals. Accompanied by her daughters and armed with a sense of humor as sharp as a scalpel, Dr. Oakley deftly juggles being a full-time veterinarian, wife and mom while taking us into the isolated regions of the Yukon.
“The Incredible Dr. Pol” – Season 14 Premieres Winter 2019
(Produced by National Geographic Studios)
Nat Geo Wild’s #1 series returns for its 14th season featuring even more prolapses, pregnancy exams and problematic cases than ever before. There isn’t much that 76-year-old veterinarian Dr. Jan Pol, who La Times called “the no-nonsense, Dutch American doctor who can fashion a goat’s leg splint out of parts from an old apple barrel,” hasn’t seen or done in a half-century of practicing animal medicine, but every day presents new surprises as he and his staff at Pol Veterinary Services wrangle animals and tackle tricky cases at their clinic in rural Michigan. With some surprising and tricky cases, heart-warming moments, and dramatic situations, the fourteenth season of “The Incredible Dr. Pol” is sure to be a wild ride.
Digital Series
“Untamed” – Season Two Launches Online Fall 2018
(Produced by Comfort Theory)
Join charismatic wildlife filmmaker Filipe DeAndrade and his two best friends as they venture to the biodiverse ecosystems of Costa Rica — a land of breathtaking landscapes, exotic species and pristine coastlines — to tell the stories of the local wildlife that are almost too beautiful to believe. In its second season, “Untamed” gives audiences an immersive experience into the most unique and unimaginable wildlife stories that Costa Rica has to offer, through 10 episodes that will be driven by exclusive content across National Geographic’s digital and social platforms. The focus on social media content this season will allow audiences to dive even deeper into the Untamed world. DeAndrade and friends will explore world-renowned phenomena, intricate details and extraordinary behaviors of some of Costa Rica’s most iconic species, like jaguars, howler monkeys and fer-de-lance vipers.
Read original story Nat Geo Wild Renews ‘The Incredible Dr. Pol,’ 3 Other Shows (Exclusive) At TheWrap...
We’ve also got your first look at the fluffy cable channel’s upcoming “Pupparazzi,” one of four new specials and three new series for 2018-19. Next season, “Big Cat Week” returns for a ninth hunt, “BarkFest” chases its tail a fifth time and “SharkFest” swims for a seventh lap.
We’ll also get a third installment of “Savage Kingdom” next season.
Also Read: Nat Geo Wild Will Not Punish Cesar Millan, Network Says (Exclusive)
“Nat Geo Wild has always been 100 percent dedicated to animals and the people who love them, and our relentless commitment to creating premium content that entertains, inspires and educates viewers of all ages continues to make us the leading destination for wildlife programming,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo Wild. “This new programming slate highlights how Nat Geo Wild continues to find innovative ways to push the boundaries of storytelling, and we are confident that these new programs will strike a chord with our viewers.”
Below is Nat Geo Wild’s full 2018-19 slate, with all descriptions in the network’s own words.
Watch our exclusive “Pupparazzi” sneak peek video above. Yes, that one follows a pair of skilled pet photographers capturing some amazing dog and cat portraits.
Also Read: Watch a Baby Duck Try His First Flight on New Nat Geo Wild Show (Exclusive Video)
Events
9th Annual “Big Cat Week” – Premieres November 2018
The fiercest week on television returns this fall with “Big Cat Week.” In its ninth-year, this annual event delivers an all-new roaring lineup puts the spotlight on heartwarming, surprising and inspiring stories of big cats around the world. In this year’s “Big Cat Week,’ discover the moving story of a young lion learning what it takes to become the king of the jungle in Beverly and Dereck Joubert’s latest special “Lion Prince,” follow the extraordinary tale of a strong-willed mother tiger who risks it all to rear her young cubs in “Tiger Mom,” and head to South America with big cat expert Boone Smith to witness the rare behaviors of pumas preying on penguins in Argentina in ‘Man Among Pumas.” More than a television event, “Big Cat Week” is an extension of the Big Cats Initiative, a long-term commitment by the National Geographic Society to halt the decline of big cats in the wild. This global initiative actively supports on-the-ground research and conservation projects to protect the planet’s top felines. For more information on the Big Cats Initiative and how you can get involved, visit NatGeoBigCats.org.
5th Annual “BarkFest” – Premieres Spring 2019
Woof woof! Your dog’s favorite week of television returns with more floofs and floppy ears than ever before. Who can say no to a marathon of adorable and silly mutts? Curl up on the couch with your pup and tune in for some tail-wagging good TV with the return of Nat Geo Wild’s pawsome “BarkFest” event.
7th Annual “SharkFest” – Premieres Summer 2019
Television’s second-best week of sharks returns next summer with incredible stories from the world’s leading scientists, along with wall-to-wall sharks. Nat Geo Wild is your go-to channel for the most sharks per square inch of television.
Also Read: 'Zoo Life': Move Over Matt Damon - Jack Hanna Actually Lives in a Zoo (Exclusive Video)
Specials
“Pupparazzi” – Two-Hour Special Event Premieres Fall 2018
(Produced by High Noon Entertainment)
Call the “Pupparazzi!” Renowned pet photographer Kaylee Greer and her fiancé Sam have become some of the most sought after “dogtographers” in the world. Their ability to capture unique, adorable portraits of dogs, cats and other four-legged animals has earned them a successful pet photography business and an impressive portfolio. Forget the clean white studio and pristinely combed coat, this creative duo would rather photograph “dogs being dogs” in all of their silly, unpredictable, playful glory. From shooting global ad campaigns for major dog food brands, to arranging photo shoots for shelter dogs to help them find their forever homes, to staging whacky themed portraits for private clients, “Pupparazzi” delves into the heartwarming, exciting and often comical world of pet photography. Expect a lot of laughs, “aww’s,” floppy ears and muddy paws as we look at what goes into photographing man’s best friend.
“The Flood” – Two-Hour Special Event Premieres November 2018 Following “Big Cat Week”
(Produced by Natural History Film Unit Botswana and Icon Films)
The famous Okavango Delta is one of the most diverse habitats on earth – a lush, wild kingdom like no other. Here, life depends on the arrival and disappearance of water. Produced and filmed by award-winning Botswanan filmmaker Brad Bestelink and the team behind Nat Geo Wild’s miniseries “Savage Kingdom,” “The Flood” follows the lives of the animals fighting to survive in a dramatic and unpredictable wilderness. Using breathtaking cinematography and innovative storytelling methods, “The Flood” is an unparalleled natural history television event that follows the incredible stories of animals surviving during an infrequent natural phenomenon. When the lands are flooded, this landscape is both a sanctuary and a trap, giving and taking life in equal measure. Above and below the water, never ending battles of wits and survival play out. The fate of these tens of thousands of animals that live in this place of spectacular natural drama are at stake.
“Zeb Hogan’s Monster Fish: Philippines” – One-Hour Special Event Premieres November 2018
(Produced by Ifa Media)
Fish biologist and National Geographic Fellow Dr. Zeb Hogan is diving back into the water in search of the world’s biggest fish: the Whale Shark. In this new special, Hogan heads to the Sea of Cortez, where these gigantic prehistoric-like creatures congregate in hopes to uncover the hidden secrets of this aquatic paradise. On his journey, Hogan encounters giant tuna, rays and Hammerheads before coming face-to-face with a giant. What brings these elusive Whale Sharks to these waters? To find out, Hogan investigates other dangerous predators lurking beneath the water’s surface.
“Tree Lions” – One-Hour Special Event Premieres Fall 2018
(Filmed by Alex Braczkowski and produced by National Geographic Global Production Services)
It’s incredibly rare for lions to climb but there’s a little-known spot in Uganda where these big cats climb massive trees to hang out high above the plain. Cat biologist and cameraman Alex Braczkowski observed this behavior when he was counting the lions and leopards left in Queen Elizabeth’s National Park in Uganda. Now he’s on a mission to show these lions to the world like never before. He will get the first-ever shots of lions and their cubs 60-feet high in the trees using drones and special camera traps. The world’s lion population is disappearing rapidly but these climbing lions might have an edge over the others.
New Series
“Prairie Dog Home Companion” – New Series Premieres January 2019
(Produced by Radley Studios)
Think Meerkats are the most dramatic critters in the animal kingdom? Think again. Just outside of the quiet village of Jemez Springs near the New Mexico/Colorado border lives a vibrant prairie dog colony packed with secrets. What these animals lack in size, they make up for in drama. Prairie dogs are highly intelligent, social animals that live in communities made up of a dozen or more tight-knit family clans, and just like any small town, the Jemez prairie dog colony has it’s fair share of drama. On the outside, you’ll see a group of prairie dogs pleasantly playing, and nursing newborns … but take a closer look and you’ll see adultery, murder and the occasional case of cannibalism. Join Biologist John Hoogland, who has studied the lives of these prairie dogs for 43 years, as he brings us into their incredible world.
“Babies Diary” – New Series Premieres January 2019
(Produced by One Planet Productions)
Baby Animals! Need we say more? Using innovative camera techniques, “Babies Diary” immerses us into the center of five animal families – lions, jackals, cheetahs, hyenas and meerkats – as they raise their young in the wilderness. By following these animals’ stories from the moment their babies are born, “Babies Diary” provides a heartwarming and intimate look at the different parenting techniques each of these species employ to give their newborns the best chance at survival in the unforgiving wilds of Africa. Discover the tender, emotional, and often stressful moments of new life in the animal kingdom as we follow these fur balls through the different stages of maturity.
“Savage Kingdom III: After the Fall” – Six-Episode Series Premieres Spring 2019
(Produced by Natural History Film Unit Botswana and Icon Films)
Following the success of Nat Geo Wild’s global miniseries events “Savage Kingdom” and “Savage Kingdom: Uprising,” comes our third installment of this breakout global hit, “Savage Kingdom III: After the Fall.” Using innovative techniques that continue to push the boundaries of wildlife storytelling, “Savage Kingdom III” follows a new clan of characters in Africa’s richest and most dynamic habitats: the Okavango Delta. From the familiar blood-curdling battles between leopards, lions, hyenas and wild dogs, we meet new characters like cheetahs, jackals and baboons. They may once have been reviled, pitied, hated or seen as the cruelest of enemies, but in each new episode everything can change. The only law is the law of survival.
Returning Series
“Dr. K’s Exotic Animal ER” – Season 6 Premieres Fall 2018
(Produced by Spectrum Productions)
Nat Geo Wild’s star of Sunday nights returns for an all new season! Dr. K’s exotic cases and cures are as wild and unexpected as the animals that come through the door. Along with Dr. T and a dedicated staff, Dr. Susan Kelleher treats a dynamic array of patients ranging from kangaroos, to monkeys, birds, rabbits, pigs, fish and every imaginable animal in between.
“Snake City” – Season 5 Premieres Fall 2018
(Produced by Earth Touch)
An all new sssss-season of “Snake City” is slithering its way back to your TVs! Join extreme snake wrangler Simon Keys and his herpetologist girlfriend Siouxsie Gillett as they respond to terrified calls from people who have problem snakes in their houses and yards in the coastal city of Durban, South Africa. Unfortunately for their clients, business is booming for Keys and Gillett as the summer heat brings the native snakes — like spitting cobras, green mambas, black mambas, pythons and more — out of hiding. Watch as the brave duo capture these venomous snakes by hand and then release them back to safety in the wild.
“Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet” – Season 6 Premieres Fall 2018
(Produced by Lucky Dog Films)
Dr. Michelle Oakley returns with an all-new season of “Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet.” Follow her as she makes house calls across thousands of square miles in the Yukon Territory in northern Canada, and throughout Alaska, where she’s responding to some of the most unique and challenging cases of her career. From moving bears with tractors and horses with helicopters, to castrating angry boars and capturing wild bison, she’ll have to use every trick she knows to save these animals. Accompanied by her daughters and armed with a sense of humor as sharp as a scalpel, Dr. Oakley deftly juggles being a full-time veterinarian, wife and mom while taking us into the isolated regions of the Yukon.
“The Incredible Dr. Pol” – Season 14 Premieres Winter 2019
(Produced by National Geographic Studios)
Nat Geo Wild’s #1 series returns for its 14th season featuring even more prolapses, pregnancy exams and problematic cases than ever before. There isn’t much that 76-year-old veterinarian Dr. Jan Pol, who La Times called “the no-nonsense, Dutch American doctor who can fashion a goat’s leg splint out of parts from an old apple barrel,” hasn’t seen or done in a half-century of practicing animal medicine, but every day presents new surprises as he and his staff at Pol Veterinary Services wrangle animals and tackle tricky cases at their clinic in rural Michigan. With some surprising and tricky cases, heart-warming moments, and dramatic situations, the fourteenth season of “The Incredible Dr. Pol” is sure to be a wild ride.
Digital Series
“Untamed” – Season Two Launches Online Fall 2018
(Produced by Comfort Theory)
Join charismatic wildlife filmmaker Filipe DeAndrade and his two best friends as they venture to the biodiverse ecosystems of Costa Rica — a land of breathtaking landscapes, exotic species and pristine coastlines — to tell the stories of the local wildlife that are almost too beautiful to believe. In its second season, “Untamed” gives audiences an immersive experience into the most unique and unimaginable wildlife stories that Costa Rica has to offer, through 10 episodes that will be driven by exclusive content across National Geographic’s digital and social platforms. The focus on social media content this season will allow audiences to dive even deeper into the Untamed world. DeAndrade and friends will explore world-renowned phenomena, intricate details and extraordinary behaviors of some of Costa Rica’s most iconic species, like jaguars, howler monkeys and fer-de-lance vipers.
Read original story Nat Geo Wild Renews ‘The Incredible Dr. Pol,’ 3 Other Shows (Exclusive) At TheWrap...
- 4/17/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Nat Geo Wild unveiled three new natural history limited series and two specials at TCA today. "As the only network that is 100% dedicated to celebrating animals and wild places, we take great pride in consistently bringing our viewers powerful and awe-inspiring wildlife specials and series," said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo Wild. "Nat Geo Wild captivates audiences by showcasing jaw-dropping landscapes and animals, and this wildly…...
- 1/13/2018
- Deadline TV
Wanna watch a duckling attempt his first flight? Of course you do — it’s Friday. TheWrap‘s got exactly that for readers in our exclusive “America’s Wild Frontier” sneak peek video above. We’ve also learned host-network Nat Geo Wild’s full upcoming natural history slate, which is posted below. “We’ve been the only network to consistently deliver the most awe-inspiring specials and series from the most passionate and creative wildlife storytellers in the world,” Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo Wild, told us. “Our commitment to the genre and the slate we’re announcing today is what makes us the...
- 1/12/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
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