Byron Allen, the media mogul who owns The Weather Channel and an array of regional networks in the US, has made a $10bn offer to buy ABC, FX and National Geographic from Disney. The deal via his Allen Media Group would include flagship ABC, as well as eight local stations belonging to the Mouse House, […]
Disney-owned National Geographic has ordered Defending Europe, a docuseries exploring how stories and sites played a crucial role in shaping the borders and countries of Europe as we know them today. The 6 x 60-minute series is the first commission for Atomic Television, the UK factual launched at the start of the year with backing […]
National Geographic is looking for investigative documentaries, while Discovery is on the hunt for celebrity scandal and “news-adjacent” topics, with the two factual giants sharing their content demands at MIPTV. Speaking on a panel in Cannes this afternoon, Ben Noot, director of global acquisitions for National Geographic Channels, said that his department is on the […]
Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden is reshuffling the TV division, with expanded roles for FX chief John Landgraf and ABC Entertainment exec Simran Sethi. The changes were revealed in a memo to staff from Walden yesterday and come just a few weeks since she was promoted into her current position alongside Alan Bergman, who oversees […]
Nat Geo boards Mayan doc National Geographic, ZDFinfo and TV5 Quebec have boarded Pernel Media’s documentary series Rise and Fall of the Mayas. They will broadcast the 4 x 60-minute series worldwide apart from in the US, German-speaking Europe and French Canada respectively. Originally commissioned by RMC Decouverte and pre-bought by Histoire TV for the French market, the series features access to […]
National Geographic has greenlit Underdogs, a 10-part natural history series co-produced by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort, with the Hollywood star attached to narrate. Wildstar Films will also produce the series, which will celebrate and champion the unique and unpredictable behaviours of a little known and surprising cast of animal characters. Underdogs will examine the hidden […]
ITV Studios-owned Plimsoll Productions has hired Nat Geo exec Alan Eyres to lead its US-based operations. Eyres becomes head of Plimsoll USA, reporting to founder & CEO Grant Mansfield, with a remit to expand the company’s Stateside footprint. The exec has a long history with Plimsoll, having served as network programming executive across National Geographic’s […]
National Geographic and affiliated streamer Disney+ have ordered a two-part series that follows four species as they embark on the journey of motherhood. In The Womb: Animal Babies (2 x 60 minutes) is from UK-based Pioneer Productions and has been filmed over two and a half years across Africa and the US. The show tracks […]
Banijay links with Stallone & preps Escobar doc Endemol Shine North America and Bear Grylls’ The Natural Studios, a joint venture with Banijay, have created a new production partnership with Rocky and Rambo star Sylvester Stallone’s production company Balboa Productions. The three creative houses are coming together to develop “high-adrenaline, cinematic and genre-bending adventure series.” Bear […]
National Geographic has commissioned a spin-off to culinary series Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted. The new three-part show, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted Showdown, will see Ramsay compete against fellow famous UK chefs Paul Ainsworth and Matt Waldron, both of whom began their careers in Ramsay kitchens before opening their own restaurants. Ainsworth and Waldron will be cooking on […]
