#SmallScreenScenes DISCOVERY AND BBC SIGN MAJOR GLOBAL CONTENT PARTNERSHIP AND AGREE ON FUTURE OF UKTV CHANNELS

DISCOVERY TO LAUNCH GLOBAL SVOD SERVICE POWERED BY

BBC’S WORLD FAMOUS NATURAL HISTORY EXISTING AND FUTURE LANDMARKS AND FACTUAL CATALOGUE*

HISTORIC 10-YEAR AGREEMENT INCLUDES ICONIC PLANET EARTH TITLES AND POPULAR CATEGORIES SUCH AS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, ADVENTURE & EXPLORATION, HISTORY, SPACE, ANIMALS AND MORE

Discovery, Inc. and BBC Studios today jointly announce a series of agreements, reigniting their historic relationship with a significant multi-million pound global content partnership spanning a library of premium factual series to power a new global streaming service, and a bespoke development deal for BBC Studios’ iconic genres of natural history, animals, adventure, science, travel, space, history and civilization documentaries. Additionally, the two companies have concluded the future of UKTV’s channels business in the UK with a structured split that complements the strategic focus and commercial business of both organizations.

The new 10-year content partnership, effective in all territories outside the UK, Ireland and Greater China, will make Discovery the exclusive global home of BBC landmark natural history programmes in SVOD, including the Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Life collection of titles, the recently lauded Dynasties and others, as well as future BBC-commissioned landmark series from BBC Studios, following their linear transmission. Discovery also acquires SVOD rights to hundreds of hours of BBC programming across factual genres. All of this iconic content will form one of the pillars of a new global streaming service, which will also include some of the best of Discovery’s programming library, original content created for the service, and experiences and offerings that go well beyond video. The service will launch by 2020 and will form a key part of Discovery’s unique and growing portfolio of direct-to-consumer services that will enable fans to ‘view and do.’ These services will also be made available to distribution partners for retail.

Discovery and BBC Studios have also signed a bespoke development deal to create new landmark factual content for Discovery that furthers audiences’ discovery of the world for both linear and digital distribution. This deal reunites the two media and entertainment brands that worked together on unrivalled natural history series such as Planet Earth, Walking with Dinosaurs, Life and Blue Planet. The two companies will co-fund a dedicated development team within BBC Studios.

Discovery to take full ownership of UKTV’s ‘lifestyle’ channels and BBC Studios of UKTV’s ‘entertainment’ channels

Under the terms of the UKTV deal, which is expected to complete in late Spring 2019, Discovery takes full control of lifestyle channels Good Food, Home and Really, in line with its editorial strategy and further strengthening its global leadership position in factual entertainment. Discovery has an existing portfolio of 16 channels in the UK including Discovery Channel, TLC, ID, Animal Planet, Eurosport, Quest and Quest Red and the Quest OD video-on-demand service. This new agreement strengthens Discovery’s position in the UK as a factual entertainment leader engaging passionate communities of fans on every screen with trusted, high quality brands and content. Following completion, James Gibbons, EVP, GM, UK/IRL/ANZ & Commercial Development, Discovery EMEA, will manage the lifestyle channels as part of Discovery’s UK portfolio.

BBC Studios acquires the remaining seven channels – Alibi, Dave, Drama, Eden, Gold, Yesterday and W – along with digital player UKTV Play, and the UKTV brand. These channels are the most closely aligned to its own content strategy and supply, with BBC programmes currently delivering around half the viewing for these seven channels, and accounting for around 95% of BBC Studios’ content on UKTV today. Following these changes, the entertainment channels will continue to operate under the UKTV brand out of UKTV’s offices and BBC Studios will look to grow investment into UK programming, including original content, for the channels it will own. Following completion, Marcus Arthur, President, UK, Ireland & ANZ, BBC Studios Distribution, will also assume the role of CEO, UKTV. Marcus Arthur, who joined BBC Worldwide in 1991, has previously held the roles of Managing Director, BBC Magazines and MD, Global Brands and New Ventures, and sits on the UKTV Board.

Financial Terms

As part of the UKTV agreement, BBC Studios will make payments totalling £173m to Discovery. This includes a balancing payment in relation to the channels acquisition and the assumption of £70m of debt, currently financed by Discovery. This will be financed through existing borrowing facilities. Discovery will also receive at least an additional £10m from UKTV, as the parties will share the existing cash on the company’s balance sheet, reflecting outstanding dividend, and other ancillary value transfers to Discovery through the transaction.

BBC Studios and Discovery have also agreed to a short-term Programme Licensing Agreement for the supply of BBC Studios lifestyle content to Discovery’s UKTV channels in the UK.

David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery, said: “As the two market leaders in landmark natural history and iconic factual programming, Tony and I look forward to working together again – our teams represent over 100 years of combined experience. Discovery will be taking that expertise and creating the definitive global streaming product for curious and passionate viewers of all generations who want the most trusted, family friendly storytelling in the world. 

“From the planets to the poles, and documenting every species in between, the world has always been part of Discovery’s DNA. It is who we are. Telling these stories is our mission and it is more important now than ever before. The new platform will be the first global direct-to-consumer service with the category’s most iconic IP including the Planet Earth series, future sequels and spin-offs to all existing landmark series, and new exclusive natural history and science programming coming in the future. There is tremendous value in the marketplace for these programming categories which have broad appeal and strong multi-generational engagement, and we hope to fill the void in the global marketplace for a dedicated high quality product.”

Tony Hall, Director-General of the BBC, said: “The BBC makes outstanding natural history and science programmes. They are ground-breaking and demonstrate the quality and depth of our know-how. It is vital that we keep investing and growing them for the future. This is our largest ever content sales deal. It will mean BBC Studios and Discovery will work together to take our content right across the globe through a new world-beating streaming service. Global subscribers are in for a real treat: the best content on a great new platform. 

“This is brilliant news for audiences here as it will enable the BBC to invest even more in factual programming for them. That’s also why BBC Studios taking control of the UKTV channels that best fit our programmes is good news. It means a secure future with long-term commercial returns. The UKTV team has done a fantastic job and I am delighted that will continue.” 

Ends.

Timeline of Partnerships between the BBC and Discovery Communications

1985

June

Discovery Channel launches in the U.S. featuring numerous productions from the BBC.

1996

September

BBC and Discovery Communications announce $600M global content and network partnership.

October

Animal Planet, Discovery’s third network, launches in the U.S. in cooperation with the BBC.

1997

June

Animal Planet and People+Arts launch in Latin America, as a joint venture with BBC Worldwide. Other markets follow in coming years.

December

BBC and Discovery form partnership to launch BBC America in the U.S; the partnership runs until 2006.

2000 

April

The three-hour special, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS, produced by BBC, airs on Discovery Channel setting the all-time U.S. cable ratings record and remains the most-viewed telecast in the channel’s history to date.

2002 

January

BLUE PLANET: SEAS OF LIFE, produced by BBC, premieres on Discovery Channel.

March

BBC and Discovery Communications announce “The Deal of the Decade,” a landmark ten-year extension to the global partnership originally commenced in July 1996.

2006

January

Long-term partnership agreement between Discovery Communications and BBC to distribute the BBC World News channel in the U.S. until 2011.

2007

March

BBC and Discovery Channel co-produce award-winning 11-part series, PLANET EARTH, which becomes the most-watched U.S. cable event of all time.

2010

March

BBC and Discovery Channel co-produce LIFE, a follow up to PLANET EARTH.

November

BBC and Discovery Communications extend strategic programming relationship by two years to 2014. BBC Worldwide sells to Discovery its 50 percent interest in the global TV channels joint venture Animal Planet and Liv.

2016

February

Discovery Communications and BBC sign long-term Olympic Games agreement.

2019

March

BBC and Discovery Inc sign landmark natural history partnership including co-development agreement.

About Discovery

Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, and Science Channel, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit https://corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programmes are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including seven production bases in the UK and production bases and partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which makes 2500 hours of content a year, is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector. BBC Studios has revenue of £1.4bn, and returns around £200m to the BBC Group annually, complementing the BBC’s licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.

About UKTV

UKTV is a commercial broadcaster reaching nearly 40m viewers every month.

The award-winning independent has eleven imaginative brands – UKTV Play, Dave, W, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food. These include the two most popular non-PSB channels in the UK and account for nearly 10% of the British commercial TV market.

The network delivers inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat, Amazon Fire and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories.

Now celebrating over 20 years at the forefront of digital television, UKTV – an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Studios and Discovery, Inc. – is proud to be the first British television broadcaster in The Sunday Times top 100 companies list.

*Excludes UK, Ireland and Greater China.

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DISCOVERY AND BBC SIGN MAJOR GLOBAL CONTENT PARTNERSHIP AND AGREE ON FUTURE OF UKTV CHANNELS

DISCOVERY TO LAUNCH GLOBAL SVOD SERVICE POWERED BY

BBC’S WORLD FAMOUS NATURAL HISTORY EXISTING AND FUTURE LANDMARKS AND FACTUAL CATALOGUE*

HISTORIC 10-YEAR AGREEMENT INCLUDES ICONIC PLANET EARTH TITLES AND POPULAR CATEGORIES SUCH AS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, ADVENTURE & EXPLORATION, HISTORY, SPACE, ANIMALS AND MORE

 Discovery, Inc. and BBC Studios today jointly announce a series of agreements, reigniting their historic relationship with a significant multi-million pound global content partnership spanning a library of premium factual series to power a new global streaming service, and a bespoke development deal for BBC Studios’ iconic genres of natural history, animals, adventure, science, travel, space, history and civilization documentaries. Additionally, the two companies have concluded the future of UKTV’s channels business in the UK with a structured split that complements the strategic focus and commercial business of both organizations.

The new 10-year content partnership, effective in all territories outside the UK, Ireland and Greater China, will make Discovery the exclusive global home of BBC landmark natural history programmes in SVOD, including the Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Life collection of titles, the recently lauded Dynasties and others, as well as future BBC-commissioned landmark series from BBC Studios, following their linear transmission. Discovery also acquires SVOD rights to hundreds of hours of BBC programming across factual genres. All of this iconic content will form one of the pillars of a new global streaming service, which will also include some of the best of Discovery’s programming library, original content created for the service, and experiences and offerings that go well beyond video. The service will launch by 2020 and will form a key part of Discovery’s unique and growing portfolio of direct-to-consumer services that will enable fans to ‘view and do.’ These services will also be made available to distribution partners for retail.

Discovery and BBC Studios have also signed a bespoke development deal to create new landmark factual content for Discovery that furthers audiences’ discovery of the world for both linear and digital distribution. This deal reunites the two media and entertainment brands that worked together on unrivalled natural history series such as Planet Earth, Walking with Dinosaurs, Life and Blue Planet. The two companies will co-fund a dedicated development team within BBC Studios.

Discovery to take full ownership of UKTV’s ‘lifestyle’ channels and BBC Studios of UKTV’s ‘entertainment’ channels

Under the terms of the UKTV deal, which is expected to complete in late Spring 2019, Discovery takes full control of lifestyle channels Good Food, Home and Really, in line with its editorial strategy and further strengthening its global leadership position in factual entertainment. Discovery has an existing portfolio of 16 channels in the UK including Discovery Channel, TLC, ID, Animal Planet, Eurosport, Quest and Quest Red and the Quest OD video-on-demand service. This new agreement strengthens Discovery’s position in the UK as a factual entertainment leader engaging passionate communities of fans on every screen with trusted, high quality brands and content. Following completion, James Gibbons, EVP, GM, UK/IRL/ANZ & Commercial Development, Discovery EMEA, will manage the lifestyle channels as part of Discovery’s UK portfolio.

BBC Studios acquires the remaining seven channels – Alibi, Dave, Drama, Eden, Gold, Yesterday and W – along with digital player UKTV Play, and the UKTV brand. These channels are the most closely aligned to its own content strategy and supply, with BBC programmes currently delivering around half the viewing for these seven channels, and accounting for around 95% of BBC Studios’ content on UKTV today. Following these changes, the entertainment channels will continue to operate under the UKTV brand out of UKTV’s offices and BBC Studios will look to grow investment into UK programming, including original content, for the channels it will own. Following completion, Marcus Arthur, President, UK, Ireland & ANZ, BBC Studios Distribution, will also assume the role of CEO, UKTV. Marcus Arthur, who joined BBC Worldwide in 1991, has previously held the roles of Managing Director, BBC Magazines and MD, Global Brands and New Ventures, and sits on the UKTV Board.

Financial Terms

As part of the UKTV agreement, BBC Studios will make payments totalling £173m to Discovery. This includes a balancing payment in relation to the channels acquisition and the assumption of £70m of debt, currently financed by Discovery. This will be financed through existing borrowing facilities. Discovery will also receive at least an additional £10m from UKTV, as the parties will share the existing cash on the company’s balance sheet, reflecting outstanding dividend, and other ancillary value transfers to Discovery through the transaction.

BBC Studios and Discovery have also agreed to a short-term Programme Licensing Agreement for the supply of BBC Studios lifestyle content to Discovery’s UKTV channels in the UK.

David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery, said: “As the two market leaders in landmark natural history and iconic factual programming, Tony and I look forward to working together again – our teams represent over 100 years of combined experience. Discovery will be taking that expertise and creating the definitive global streaming product for curious and passionate viewers of all generations who want the most trusted, family friendly storytelling in the world. 

“From the planets to the poles, and documenting every species in between, the world has always been part of Discovery’s DNA. It is who we are. Telling these stories is our mission and it is more important now than ever before. The new platform will be the first global direct-to-consumer service with the category’s most iconic IP including the Planet Earth series, future sequels and spin-offs to all existing landmark series, and new exclusive natural history and science programming coming in the future. There is tremendous value in the marketplace for these programming categories which have broad appeal and strong multi-generational engagement, and we hope to fill the void in the global marketplace for a dedicated high quality product.”

Tony Hall, Director-General of the BBC, said: “The BBC makes outstanding natural history and science programmes. They are ground-breaking and demonstrate the quality and depth of our know-how. It is vital that we keep investing and growing them for the future. This is our largest ever content sales deal. It will mean BBC Studios and Discovery will work together to take our content right across the globe through a new world-beating streaming service. Global subscribers are in for a real treat: the best content on a great new platform. 

“This is brilliant news for audiences here as it will enable the BBC to invest even more in factual programming for them. That’s also why BBC Studios taking control of the UKTV channels that best fit our programmes is good news. It means a secure future with long-term commercial returns. The UKTV team has done a fantastic job and I am delighted that will continue.” 

Ends.

Timeline of Partnerships between the BBC and Discovery Communications

1985

June

Discovery Channel launches in the U.S. featuring numerous productions from the BBC.

1996

September

BBC and Discovery Communications announce $600M global content and network partnership.

October

Animal Planet, Discovery’s third network, launches in the U.S. in cooperation with the BBC.

1997

June

Animal Planet and People+Arts launch in Latin America, as a joint venture with BBC Worldwide. Other markets follow in coming years.

December

BBC and Discovery form partnership to launch BBC America in the U.S; the partnership runs until 2006.

2000 

April

The three-hour special, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS, produced by BBC, airs on Discovery Channel setting the all-time U.S. cable ratings record and remains the most-viewed telecast in the channel’s history to date.

2002 

January

BLUE PLANET: SEAS OF LIFE, produced by BBC, premieres on Discovery Channel.

March

BBC and Discovery Communications announce “The Deal of the Decade,” a landmark ten-year extension to the global partnership originally commenced in July 1996.

2006

January

Long-term partnership agreement between Discovery Communications and BBC to distribute the BBC World News channel in the U.S. until 2011.

2007

March

BBC and Discovery Channel co-produce award-winning 11-part series, PLANET EARTH, which becomes the most-watched U.S. cable event of all time.

2010

March

BBC and Discovery Channel co-produce LIFE, a follow up to PLANET EARTH.

November

BBC and Discovery Communications extend strategic programming relationship by two years to 2014. BBC Worldwide sells to Discovery its 50 percent interest in the global TV channels joint venture Animal Planet and Liv.

2016

February

Discovery Communications and BBC sign long-term Olympic Games agreement.

2019

March

BBC and Discovery Inc sign landmark natural history partnership including co-development agreement.

Notes to editors:

About Discovery

Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, and Science Channel, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit https://corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios, a global content company with British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Formed in April 2018 by the merger of BBC Worldwide and BBC Studios, it spans content financing, development, production, sales, branded services and ancillaries. BBC Studios’ award-winning British programmes are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms. It has offices in 22 markets globally, including seven production bases in the UK and production bases and partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which makes 2500 hours of content a year, is a champion for British creativity around the world and a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector. BBC Studios has revenue of £1.4bn, and returns around £200m to the BBC Group annually, complementing the BBC’s licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.

About UKTV

UKTV is a commercial broadcaster reaching nearly 40m viewers every month.

The award-winning independent has eleven imaginative brands – UKTV Play, Dave, W, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food. These include the two most popular non-PSB channels in the UK and account for nearly 10% of the British commercial TV market.

The network delivers inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat, Amazon Fire and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories.

Now celebrating over 20 years at the forefront of digital television, UKTV – an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Studios and Discovery, Inc. – is proud to be the first British television broadcaster in The Sunday Times top 100 companies list.

*Excludes UK, Ireland and Greater China.

Read more...

#EnglandPeachy #SmallScreenScenes BBC Studios Takes Full Ownership of BritBox International in Historic Deal

BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial content studio and media & streaming business, today announced it is taking full ownership of BritBox International, acquiring ITV’s 50% share for a cash consideration of £255 million.

As the world’s biggest distributor of British programmes, the UK’s most awarded production house and the home of the widest-read English language news website, BBC.com, BBC Studios has a proven track record of creating and taking the best British content to audiences around the world. This historic deal brings greater scale and opportunity for both BBC Studios and BritBox International.

Launched by BBC Studios and ITV in 2017, BritBox International is the leading British specialist streaming service, delivering high quality British scripted content, including mystery drama, to passionate fans in North America and select markets. The service has grown subscribers by over 300% in the past four years, surpassing 3.75 million subscribers and has an enterprise value of around £500 million.

As part of the transaction, BBC Studios has extended its licensing agreements with ITV ensuring that programming for BritBox International will continue to represent a wide range of British content.

Tom Fussell, BBC Studios CEO said: “This is an important acquisition for us. We are taking full ownership of a successful, growing service we know well and that fits with our stated ambition to double the size of our business. BritBox International has British content at its heart and it generates and satisfies demand for British shows outside the UK. We will continue to make significant investments in the future to deliver long term value to the BBC.”

Carolyn McCall, ITV CEO said: “The sale of 50% of BritBox International means ITV is focused on its core strategic goals of continuing to build on ITVX’s success and growing ITV Studios.”

BritBox International will become part of BBC Studios’ Global Media and Streaming division, complementing its expanding portfolio of digital and direct-to-consumer services that includes BBC.com, BBC Select, the BBC’s premium ad-free documentary streaming service in North America and BBC Podcast Premium, an audio service available in more than 160 countries.

Rebecca Glashow, BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming CEO said: “I am thrilled to further our involvement in BritBox International – it’s a profitable business and a winning proposition. We see tremendous opportunity to grow this unique service and take it to even greater heights for its subscribers, with the full power of the BBC behind it.”

Following BritBox International’s move into BBC Studios’ Global Media & Streaming division, its global CEO Reemah Sakaan is stepping down. Sakaan has been an important part of the company since the start, and for the past three years in the role of CEO she has overseen the venture’s accelerated growth and creative success.

Tom Fussell BBC Studios CEO said: “I’d like to thank Reemah for her outstanding contribution to BritBox International, which under her stewardship has seen remarkable year-on-year growth. Her passion and dedication has helped create a great culture and build a business that is loved by audiences and that has real momentum.”

Carolyn McCall, ITV CEO said: “I would like to thank the BritBox International team for making the company such a success and particularly CEO Reemah Sakaan for her leadership, drive and vision.”

New leadership plans are in place to ensure a smooth transition and will be announced imminently.

BritBox International brings the best of British entertainment to international audiences, all in one place. Available in eight countries - the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, it offers a world class collection of originals, co-productions, and other popular scripted and live programming. Recent hits include Archie, Death in Paradise, Father Brown, Line of Duty, Sherwood and Shetland.

NOTES TO EDITORSBBC Studios announced in October 2022 its’ ambition to double the business from financial year 2021/2022 to financial year 2027/2028, having already doubled the business in the five years to March 2022.

BritBox International UK continues to be fully owned by ITV and operated separately to BritBox International.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with sales of £2.1 billion in 22/23 (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the global Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Global Media & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. Around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programmes are made by the business every year, with over 80% of total BBC Studios revenues coming from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, offering up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features.

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@kattykaybbc PBS and BBC Announce “Beyond 100 Days” Coming to PBS in New Late-Night Timeslot

KATTY KAY, HOST OF BEYOND 100 DAYS

Premiering Tuesday, January 2, 2018

11:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. ET on PBS

– Katty Kay and Christian Fraser to Host New Series From Washington, DC and London –

PBS and BBC announced that BEYOND 100 DAYS, the acclaimed BBC World News nightly public affairs show recorded in Washington, DC and London, will air at 11:30 p.m.-12:00 a.m. ET on PBS stations, following AMANPOUR ON PBS. Premiering on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, BEYOND 100 DAYS will air weeknights Monday-Thursday, with BBC WORLD NEWS, a half hour of the top global news stories of the day, filling the time slot on Fridays.

BEYOND 100 DAYS is hosted by Katty Kay in the United States and Christian Fraser in the UK. With President Trump making headlines each day in the White House, the UK rapidly moving towards its exit from the EU and nearly daily tensions as North Korea tests its long-range missiles, BEYOND 100 DAYS cuts to the heart of the seismic stories changing the global political landscape.

Following the day’s big stories with expert insight from the U.S. and around the world, BEYOND 100 DAYS will help audiences understand the events that are shaping our world. The half-hour show (full hour on BBC World News) showcases key news and policy makers in the U.S., alongside high-profile guests and expert BBC News reporters around the world. It closely examines the Trump Administration and its global impact, as well as other major international stories, including the Brexit talks, German elections, and relations across Russia, China and the Middle East.

Originally called “100 Days,” the series was intended to cover the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s term. Following that period, the show was re-named BEYOND 100 DAYS, after it became clear that the story had longer to run, and has since aired from Monday-Thursday on BBC World News.

Katty Kay, presenter of BEYOND 100 DAYS, said: “The past year has been a time of upheaval in the western world, unparalleled in my career. I’ve been extremely proud to cover it all on BEYOND 100 DAYS, and now I’m excited to bring the program to American viewers on PBS. This program provides a unique global take on President Trump, Brexit and U.S. leadership around the world. I anchor from Washington, and my colleague Christian Fraser has the view from London. There is just too much happening — on both sides of the Atlantic — not to dedicate a whole program to this extraordinary time we are living in.”

“We are proud to bring BEYOND 100 DAYS with its unique focus on the larger, global impact of what is happening in the U.S. and around the world to new audiences,” said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming, PBS. “Pairing BEYOND 100 DAYS with AMANPOUR ON PBS will give PBS stations a powerful hour of news and public affairs programming to offer their viewers.”

About Katty Kay

Along with co-anchoring BEYOND 100 DAYS, Kay previously served as anchor of the flagship U.S. newscast BBC World News America and the BBC’s Washington correspondent.

As a correspondent and anchor, Kay’s work has taken her around the globe for the BBC, from the Americas to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. Drawing on this global expertise, Kay is based in Washington, where she covers the major U.S and global stories, connecting the dots between the national and international.

Kay was appointed lead anchor of BBC World News America in 2011. She has interviewed a range of international figures and newsmakers, as well as anchoring the BBC’s coverage of 2012 presidential elections and State of the Union addresses. In 2014, Kay was in Rio to cover the build up to the FIFA World Cup and also travelled to Italy in 2014 to cover President Obama’s meeting with Pope Francis.

Kay is a frequent guest commentator on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” where she also frequently serves as guest co-host.

Kay is the co-author of two New York Times best-selling books: Womenomics and The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know (2014).

Audiences can follow Kay on twitter @kattykaybbc

About Christian Fraser

Fraser began his career as a trainee reporter with the Mirror Group, later becoming a staff reporter with the Daily Mirror.

He joined the BBC in 2000; his first day as an investigative reporter for Radio Five Live was 9/11.

From 2002-2004, he spent much of his time in Afghanistan and Iraq, several times embedding with British troops. In 2005, he collected Gold at the Sony Radio Awards for Five Live’s rolling coverage of the tsunami, which Fraser presented through the night.

In 2005, he was posted to Nairobi, where he reported on the wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Southern Sudan and in 2006 was nominated in the News Journalist of the Year category at the Sony Radio Awards.

Fraser was the only British correspondent inside Gaza in 2007 during the Israeli invasion, known as Operation Cast Lead. He spent a week in the Palestinian city of Rafah as the Israelis dismantled the tunnels. At the Prix Bayeux in 2007, he was recognized in the international radio category for his reports on child casualties.

In 2010, he covered the revolution in Egypt for BBC TV and was appointed that year as the BBC’s correspondent in Paris. In 2011, he reported on the war in Libya, first from the rebel held Benghazi and then from Tripoli as the war dragged on.

In 2014, he returned to London as the BBC News Channel’s Senior News Correspondent. He now presents BEYOND 100 DAYSwith Katty Kay for the BBC News Channel, BBC World News and BBC 4. He also presents on BBC Breakfast and Radio 4’s PM program.

About PBS

PBS, with nearly 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 100 million people through television and nearly 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a new 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. 

About BBC World News and BBC.com

BBC World News and BBC.com, the BBC’s commercially funded international 24-hour English news platforms, are owned and operated by BBC Global News Ltd. BBC World News television is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and over 450 million households and 3 million hotel rooms. The channel’s content is also available on 178 cruise ships, 53 airlines, including 13 distributing the channel live inflight, and 23 mobile phone networks. BBC.com offers up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features, including BBC Capital, BBC Culture, BBC Future and BBC Travel, for PCs, tablets and mobile devices to more than 95 million unique browsers each month.

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#SmallScreenScenes @BBCAMERICA #DRWHO NEW DECADE, NEW WHO

BBC AMERICA’S DOCTOR WHO RETURNS WITH A BRAND-NEW SEASON NEW YEAR’S DAY AT 8PM ET/PT

NEW SEASON CONTINUES IN REGULAR TIMESLOT ON SUNDAYS AT 8PM ET/PT BEGINNING JANUARY 5

BBC AMERICA ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER NATIONWIDE DOCTOR WHO FAN SCREENING EVENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FATHOM EVENTS FEATURING A LIVE Q&A WITH STARS JODIE WHITTAKER, TOSIN COLE AND MANDIP GILL ON JANUARY 5

NEW GLOBAL TRAILER RELEASED TODAY

 BBC AMERICA’s hit action-adventure series, Doctor Who, is back! Kicking off 2020, the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) returns with the launch of the latest season on Wednesday, January 1 at 8pm ET/PT, resuming her time-and-space travels with friends Ryan (Tosin Cole), Yasmin (Mandip Gill) and Graham (Bradley Walsh). Subsequent episodes will air Sundays at 8pm ET/PT beginning January 5 on BBC AMERICA. Starting with a blockbuster, action-packed two-part episode entitled Spyfall, the Thirteenth Doctor is well and truly back with a bang.

BBC AMERICA also released today the official global trailer for Jodie Whittaker’s second season as the Doctor, which introduces terrifying new monsters alongside the return of some familiar but not-so-friendly faces.

Following the show’s return on New Year’s Day, BBC AMERICA has partnered with BBC Studios and Fathom Events to bring Doctor Who back to the big screen on Sunday, January 5. This one-day-only special event, featuring the premiere episode and an exclusive early unveiling of the second episode of the new season, will be simulcast to over 600 cinema screens nationwide. After the screening, audiences will be treated to a LIVE Q&A with Jodie Whittaker, Tosin Cole, and Mandip Gill, transmitted from The Paley Center for Media in New York. Tickets and a list of participating locations will be available beginning Friday, December 6 at the Fathom Events website.

Said BBC AMERICA Executive Director Courtney Thomasma, “What better way to ring in a new decade than with our favorite Time Lord? BBC AMERICA is excited to kick off the New Year with New Who, including a thrilling New Year’s Day premiere followed by new episodes every Sunday this winter. Last year, thousands of Whovians packed Madison Square Garden to celebrate Jodie Whittaker’s landmark debut as the first female Doctor. This year, we’re thrilled to partner with Fathom Events to bring that unique experience to fans all across the country, as Doctor Who embodies the idea of space for all. Let the New Year’s countdown begin!”

Previously announced guest stars for the thrilling new season of Doctor Who include British institution Stephen Fry (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, A Bit of Fry and Laurie), Sir Lenny Henry CBE (Broadchurch, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Goran Višnjić (ER, Timeless) and Robert Glenister (Paranoid, Law and Order: UK).

Fans will be able to enjoy Doctor Who for a week straight leading into premiere night, with a takeover event on BBC AMERICA of full seasons and specials with all the modern Doctors – Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker – from Tuesday, December 24 through Wednesday, January 1. In addition, the network will also debut animated “lost episodes,” titled “The Macra Terror,” as a special post-holiday treat on Thursday, December 26th at 9pm ET/PT. Viewers can also catch up on the most recent season of Doctor Who exclusively on BBCAmerica.com and the app, where Jodie Whittaker’s full first season is now available, with the first episode unauthenticated: http://bit.ly/DWS11PremiereFree.

Doctor Who is executive produced by showrunner Chris Chibnall and Matt Strevens. The series is a BBC AMERICA co-production with BBC Studios.

About BBC AMERICA:

BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming including the award-winning series Killing Eve starring Golden Globe® and SAG® Award-winner Sandra Oh and Emmy® and BAFTA Award-winner Jodie Comer. A joint venture between AMC Networks and BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC), BBCA’s influential shows such as Doctor Who, Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Luther, Orphan Black, Broadchurch, Top Gear, The Graham Norton Show, among many others, have attracted critical acclaim and awards. Starting Q4 2019, BBC AMERICA transforms every Saturday into Wonderstruck, a new weekly 24-hour destination of wildlife and wonder. The network continues to be the exclusive U.S. television home to the Planet Earth collection and landmark series from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit including the upcoming Sir David Attenborough-fronted series Seven Worlds, One Planet. BBCA has garnered one of television’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many shows boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Get caught up, full episodes are available On Demand across all major digital platforms, BBC AMERICA app (Roku, Apple TV/iOS, Android/Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox and more) and bbcamerica.com. BBCA on social: YouTube – Twitter – Instagram – Facebook

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#SmallScreenScenes BBC AMERICA LAUNCHES NEW NATURE MICRO-NET, WONDERSTRUCK

EDEN (W/T), THE NETWORK’S FIRST GREENLIGHT FROM BBC STUDIOS’ NATURAL HISTORY UNIT, JOINS PLANET EARTH III, FROZEN PLANET II AND SEVEN WORLDS, ONE PLANET AS DEFINITIVE SLATE OF NATURAL HISTORY LANDMARK EVENTS OVER NEXT FIVE YEARS

SPECIAL PREVIEW OF NEXT LANDMARK SEVEN WORLDS, ONE PLANET TO BE FEATURED DURING WONDERSTRUCK LAUNCH THIS FALL

Download photos here

As part of BBC AMERICA’s unprecedented commitment to landmark natural history series, the network announced today its first original series greenlight from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit, a groundbreaking six-part series, Eden (w/t), at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour. From executive producer Mark Brownlow (Blue Planet II, Planet Earth), Eden (w/t) joins BBCA’s upcoming slate of landmark event series including the Sir David Attenborough-frontedSeven Worlds, One Planet, Frozen Planet II, Planet Earth III and more.

The network also announced that the first episode of Seven Worlds, One Planet, scheduled to premiere in the United States in early 2020, will be featured as a special sneak preview during the launch of Wonderstruck this fall. Blue Planet Now, a follow up to the award-winning Blue Planet II, will also anchor the new micro-net. Set to launch in Q4 2019, Wonderstruck will be the exclusive U.S. television home to the Planet Earth collection and other iconic series from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit. The micro-net will transform BBC AMERICA every Saturday for 24 hours, offering viewers natural history content and storytelling that inspires curiosity, awe and wonder.

“The BBC’s Natural History Unit invented the genre of natural history filmmaking – we at BBC AMERICA are delighted to expand our ongoing co-production partnership to greenlight our new original series, Eden,” said Sarah Barnett, president of the entertainment networks group at AMC Networks. “The world may seem smaller than ever before, but there is still so much to be seen, and this show will take us to some of the most magnificent, still uncorrupted, corners of our planet.”

“Eden offers the audience ultimate escapism into the most pristine and stunning habitats left on planet earth,” said executive producer Mark Brownlow. “Packed with wildlife spectacle, drama and new behaviors, we will reveal the surprising secrets to our Eden’s remarkable riches”

Today, less than 15% of the land surface of our planet remains as untouched wilderness. Eden (w/t) will travel to six different and spectacular areas around the world, exploring the wildlife, untamed beauty, and fragility of these last, untouched and irreplaceable places on Earth.

The series will spend a year in these extraordinary wildernesses, following the iconic animals that not only live there, but whose stories reveal the inner workings of each precious paradise. In each episode, we travel to a new part of the world to explore one of these hidden Edens – from tangled forest to bleached-bone desert, towering peaks to teeming reefs – each with a secret that unravels to explain its extraordinary riches.

Eden is a BBC Studios Natural History Unit production for BBC AMERICA.

About BBC AMERICA:

BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming including the Peabody Award-winning series Killing Eve starring Golden Globe® and SAG® Award-winner Sandra Oh and BAFTA Award-winner Jodie Comer. The network is the definitive home and co-producer of the most iconic natural history programming including Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Dynasties, the upcoming Sir David Attenborough-narrated series Seven Worlds, One Planet and the return of the Emmy®-winning series Frozen Planet II and Planet Earth III- all a part of the new Saturday nature television destination, Wonderstruck, launching Q4 2019. A joint venture between AMC Networks and BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC), BBCA’s influential shows such as Doctor Who, Orphan Black, Luther and Broadchurch, among many others, have attracted critical acclaim and earned Emmy® Awards, Peabody Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, TCA Awards, NAACP Image Awards, an IDA Documentary Award, a Gotham Award and Golden Globes®. Created in 1998, the irrepressible network has garnered one of cable’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Its unscripted slate includes the iconic car show Top Gear, buzzy and hilarious The Graham Norton Show and the world’s biggest darts championships. Get caught up, BBCA offers full episodes On Demand across all major digital platforms, BBC AMERICA app and bbcamerica.com. 

BBCA on social: YouTube – Twitter – Instagram – Facebook – Tumblr

About BBC Studios Natural History Unit:

From its home in Bristol, BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit produces the world’s most iconic natural history programs, such as Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II, which has been watched by more than a billion people globally. Ranging from technically challenging live shows and super-landmarks to long-running series and children’s content, the unit creates much-loved programs which set the gold standard for the industry, like Dynasties, Blue Planet Live and Springwatch, as well as the forthcoming Seven Worlds, One Planetpresented by Sir David Attenborough. The NHU is part of BBC Studios, a subsidiary of the BBC, which develops, produces and distributes bold, British content, making over 2,500 hours of content per year, operating in 22 markets globally, generating revenue of around £1.4bn and returning some £200m to the BBC each year.

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#SmallScreenScenes #SirDavidAttenborough @BBCAMERICA #WhomYouKnow SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH TO PRESENT BBC AMERICA’S ONE PLANET: SEVEN WORLDS

Next Landmark Nature Docu-Series from Emmy®-Winning BBC Studios Natural History Unit

BBC AMERICA today announced that world renowned naturalist and Emmy®-winning broadcaster Sir David Attenborough will present One Planet: Seven Worlds (w/t), a brand new ambitious seven-part landmark nature docu-series from the multi-award-winning BBC Studios Natural History Unit. Each one-hour episode will transport viewers to a single continent and tell the story of its spectacular wildlife and iconic landscapes.

BBC AMERICA is the U.S. home and co-producer of the BBC’s landmark natural history series. One Planet: Seven Worlds follows Emmy®-winning series Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II and the new groundbreaking series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Dynasties, which is currently premiering on Saturdays as an AMC Networks four-network simulcast.

Millions of years ago incredible forces ripped apart the Earth’s crust creating seven extraordinary continents. This series will reveal how each distinct continent has shaped the unique animal life found there.

We will discover why Australasia is full of peculiar and venomous wildlife; why North America is a land of opportunity where pioneers succeed; and what the consequences are for life racing to compete on the richest of all continents, South America.

The series will feature remarkable, new animal behavior from all the continents including the baking plains of Africa and the frozen waters off Antarctica.

In Asia, the biggest of all continents, we will showcase life at the extremes, while in Europe we will reveal surprising wildlife dramas hidden right alongside us.

The series will celebrate the diversity of life on each of these continents, but also the many challenges faced by animals in a modern world dominated by humanity.

Epic landscapes and intimate behavior have been filmed using the very latest techniques, allowing audiences to experience each continent like never before. By telling unknown, unseen and unexpected wildlife stories, we will uncover the fundamental truth about what makes each one of our seven worlds unique.

By telling unknown, unseen and unexpected wildlife stories, we will uncover the fundamental truth about what makes each one of our seven worlds unique.

Sarah Barnett, President of AMC Entertainment Networks, said: “Sir David Attenborough never rests! With this groundbreaking series, we will once again be able to experience life on this One Planet of ours through a lens of transporting wonder. It continues to be a great honor to have narration by this legendary storyteller, whose voice is synonymous with BBC natural history programming on BBC AMERICA and all over the world.”

One Planet: Seven Worlds (w/t), a 7×60’ series for BBC One, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced with BBC AMERICA, Tencent Penguin Pictures, ZDF and France Télévisions. The Executive Producer is Jonny Keeling. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content and Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual.

About BBC AMERICA

BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming including the critically acclaimed series “Killing Eve” starring Golden Globe® and SAG Award-winner Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer and from Phoebe Waller-Bridge; top-rated phenomenon “Doctor Who” starring Jodie Whittaker; Emmy® and IDA-winning “Planet Earth II” and the producers’ next epic story of our planet, “Dynasties;” Emmy®-winning “Blue Planet II;” acclaimed drama “Luther” starring Golden Globe®-winner Idris Elba; ground-breaking unscripted series “Top Gear;” buzzy and hilarious “The Graham Norton Show;” and the world’s biggest darts championships. A joint venture between AMC Networks and BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC), BBCA’s influential shows such as “Orphan Black” and “Broadchurch,” among many others, have attracted critical acclaim and earned Emmy® Awards, Peabody Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, TCA Awards, Gotham Award and Golden Globes®. Created in 1998, the irrepressible network has garnered one of cable’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Get caught up, BBCA offers full episodes On Demand across all major digital platforms, BBC AMERICA app and bbcamerica.com.

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#SmallScreenScenes LAUNCH OF BBC AMERICA’S SEVEN WORLDS, ONE PLANET RANKS AMONG TOP NATURE PREMIERES ON U.S. AD-SUPPORTED TV IN LAST FIVE YEARS

January 18th Simulcast On BBC AMERICA, AMC, IFC and SundanceTV Delivers 1.9 Million Viewers And Was #1 Most Talked About And Most Social Television Program On Premiere Day

The premiere of BBC AMERICA’s Seven Worlds, One Planet was a ratings success, ranking as a top 10 nature telecast on ad-supported U.S. television over the last five years and posting significant gains over last year’s tentpole nature series, Dynasties. The Australia episode of Seven Worlds, One Planet premiered with 1.9 million total viewers and 652,000 adults 25-54 across its four-network simulcast on BBC AMERICA, AMC, IFC and SundanceTV in Nielsen live+3 ratings. The premiere was up 25 percent over the Dynasties premiere (also a four-network simulcast) in total viewers and 32 percent in adults 25-54. Over the first three days since premiere, Seven Worlds, One Planet is also tracking 50 percent higher than Dynasties on digital platforms.

Seven Worlds, One Planet was the #1 show in social engagement and the most talked about show across social platforms on premiere day, sparking more conversation than Dynasties, Blue Planet II and even Planet Earth II. It now ranks as the most talked about natural history premiere in BBC AMERICA history. The series continues on Saturday, January 25, with an episode focused on the stunning and surprising story of North America.

“We’re privileged at AMC Networks to be the home for these world class annual nature series events. The shows are transcendent and as relevant as it gets,” said Sarah Barnett, president of AMC Networks Entertainment Group and AMC Studios. “This premiere sparked significant conversation, and contributions to support the catastrophic wildfires in Australia. We sincerely thank our engaged viewers and we are beyond proud to be in partnership with the BBC and their brilliant producers.”

The Australia episode was filmed before the fires began. Filming locations and species featured in the episode include Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Dingo, Wombat, Jottus Jumping Spider in New South Wales; Tasmanian Devil in Tasmania; Cassowary and Budgerigar in Queensland; Red Flying Fox, Perentie and Thorny Devil in Northern Territory and more. The full episode is available (with no login required) to watch here. In response to the widespread devastation caused by the fires in Australia, the episode includes information for viewers interested in supporting ongoing relief efforts at SevenWorldsAustralia.com

Seven Worlds, One Planet tells the story of earth’s seven continents and how they shape the extraordinary animal behavior and biodiversity we see today. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, the series reveals how each distinct continent has shaped the unique animal life found there. The series is produced by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit.

Upcoming Episode Schedule

North America – Saturday, January 25 at 9/8c

South America – Saturday, February 1 at 9/8c

Asia – Saturday, February 8 at 9/8c

Europe – Saturday, February 15 at 9/8c

Antarctica – Saturday, February 22 at 9/8c

Africa – Saturday, February 29 at 9/8c

BBC AMERICA recently announced the renewal of its partnership with the BBC to co-produce the next installments of the two most iconic natural history series ever – Planet Earth III and Frozen Planet II as part of a broader deal that cements BBC AMERICA as the U.S. home of the BBC’s biggest natural history content over the next five years. BBC AMERICA transforms every Saturday into micro-net Wonderstruck, which is exclusive U.S. television home to the Planet Earth collection and other iconic series from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit. 

About BBC AMERICA

BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming including the Peabody Award-winning series Killing Eve starring Golden Globe® and SAG® Award-winner Sandra Oh and Emmy® Award-winner Jodie Comer. The network is the definitive home and co-producer of the most iconic natural history programming including Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Dynasties, the upcoming Sir David Attenborough-narrated series Seven Worlds, One Planet and the return of the Emmy®-winning series Frozen Planet II and Planet Earth III – all a part of the new Saturday nature television destination, Wonderstruck. A joint venture between AMC Networks and BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC), BBCA’s influential shows such as Doctor Who, Orphan Black, Luther and Broadchurch, among many others, have attracted critical acclaim and earned Emmy® Awards, Peabody Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, TCA Awards, NAACP Image Awards, an IDA Documentary Award, a Gotham Award and Golden Globes®. Created in 1998, the irrepressible network has garnered one of cable’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Its unscripted slate includes the iconic car show Top Gear, buzzy and hilarious The Graham Norton Show and the world’s biggest darts championships. Get caught up, BBCA offers full episodes On Demand across all major digital platforms, BBC AMERICA app and bbcamerica.com. 

BBCA on social: YouTube – Twitter – Instagram – Facebook – Tumblr

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SEVEN WORLDS, ONE PLANET – NEXT SERIES IN THE EMMY-WINNING BBC’s PLANET FRANCHISE – TO AIR AS MULTI-NETWORK EVENT ON BBC AMERICA, AMC, IFC AND SUNDANCETV IN JANUARY

Sir David Attenborough-Fronted Series on Planet Earth’s Seven Continents to Premiere Saturday, January 18, 2020 With “North America” Episode

Filmmakers Use 8K Cameras, Drones, Low-Light Technology and More to Produce the Biggest Series Ever on Biodiversity Featuring the First Footage of a Sumatran Rhino Singing, Grave Robbing Hamsters in Vienna and Sarada Lizards Battling

Heart-wrenching Albatross Scene That Riveted UK Audiences Available to Share For The First Time

Seven unique stories, one landmark event. Announced today, BBC AMERICA’s Seven Worlds, One Planet will premiere Saturday, January 18, 2020, at 9pm/8c as a multi-network event airing on BBC AMERICA, AMC, IFC and SundanceTV.

Following Emmy®-winning series Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II, Seven Worlds, One Planet tells the story of earth’s seven spectacular continents and how they shape the extraordinary animal behavior and biodiversity we see today. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and featuring a theme co-composed by Hans Zimmer and Jacob Shea, and series score by Jacob Shea for Bleeding Fingers Music, Seven Worlds, One Planet reveals how each distinct continent has shaped the unique animal life found there.

The seven-part series features filming firsts including polar bears jumping from rocks to catch adult beluga whales and a firefly spectacle in North America captured with a motion control tracking time-lapse camera, puma successfully hunting adult guanaco in South America, spidaboo mating dance in Australia, grave robbing hamsters in Europe, the largest aggregation of great whales ever filmed in Antarctica and Sir David Attenborough with the last two northern white rhinos on Earth in Africa.

Sarah Barnett, President Entertainment Group + AMC Studios, AMC Networks said: “Every year these landmark BBC series seem more resonant and the spellbinding Seven Worlds, One Planet is no exception. BBC Studios Natural History Unit are the best in the world at making nature programming that inspires a love and fascination for nature, and a deep sense of human connectedness to the planet we all share. BBC AMERICA is proud of our long legacy of helping shine a light on the beauty and fragility of planet earth and we have ambitious plans to expand on that with our new micro-net Wonderstruck. There’s no more important time than now to discover the real magic of our planet.”

BBC AMERICA recently announced the commission of a new groundbreaking six-part series, Eden (w/t). The announcement followed the renewal earlier this year of its partnership with the BBC to co-produce the next installments of the two most iconic natural history series ever – Planet Earth III and Frozen Planet II. The deal cements BBC AMERICA as the U.S. television home of the BBC’s biggest natural history content over the next five years including the Planet Earth collection and other iconic landmark series ranging from Planet Earth I and II, The Blue Planet and Blue Planet II, Frozen Planet, Life, Africa and Dynasties. 

A special presentation of the Seven Worlds, One Planet “Antarctica” episode aired this past Saturday on BBC AMERICA as part of the launch of Wonderstruck, a new micro-network devoted to wildlife and wonder that will take over BBC AMERICA every Saturday. 

About Seven Worlds, One Planet:

Seven-part series marks the first time BBC Studio’s Natural History Unit has explored all the planet’s continents in a single series.

The filmmakers have employed new technology, including 8K cameras and boundary-defining drone techniques, to capture unique perspectives, new species, and animal behavior filming firsts.

41 Countries visited · 92 shoots ·1794 filming days · 499 days spent traveling by crew · 2260.5 hours of footage shot · More than 1500 people worked on the project worldwide

Find out more by downloading the digital press pack which includes: Interviews with producers, drone expert and composers; facts about species, locations and the series; biographies and credits, ClickHERE

Episodes

North America – Saturday, January 18 at 9/8c

A continent of change.

In winter, lynx prowl the Yukon for snowshoe hares and manatees seek hot springs to escape the freeze. In summer, Tennessee fish build spectacular underwater pyramids, fireflies light up the forest’s nights, and polar bears leap from rocks as they hunt beluga whales.

Filming First: Using low light technology and cable dollies with a motion control tracking time-lapse camera, the film crew glided cameras through the forests of Mississippi and Ohio to shoot firefly spectacles

Filming Locations and Species:

Canada – Canadian Lynx

Tennessee – River Chub

Canada – Black Bear

Mississippi and Ohio – Firefly and Orb-Weaver Spider

South Dakota – Prairie Dogs

Arizona – Road Runner

Florida – Grey Mullet & Tarpon

Florida – Manatee

Canada – Polar Bear & Beluga Whale

South America – Saturday, January 25 at 9/8c

The most species rich continent on Earth. In the Andes, pumas hunt guanaco while rarely seen bears search for mini avocados. In the Amazon, poison dart frogs care for their babies, colorful macaws eat clay and birds make death-defying flights through a gigantic waterfall.

Filming First: During the filming of South America, camera crews for the first time captured multiple Andean bears feeding in a single tree 90 feet high in the cloud forest.

Asia – Saturday, February 1 at 9/8c

The largest of all continents. In the frozen north, walrus congregate in extraordinary numbers, bears gather inside volcanoes and yeti-like monkeys fight in the remote forests of China. In the tropical south -the last few Sumatran rhino roam and the world’s most bizarre predator lurks in Iran.

Filming First: The highest mountain ranges in central China are remote, and to date, have been largely inaccessible to film crews. Yet for hundreds of years stories of the “Yeti,” a golden snub-nosed monkey, have emanated from this region. BBC captured footage for the first time of these incredible creatures with bright blue faces and golden coats who spend a lot of their time walking upright just like humans. These monkeys are the “holy grail” for Sir David Attenborough who first learned about them in the 1960s.

Australia – Saturday, February 8 at 9/8c

A land cast adrift at the time of the dinosaurs. Here, kangaroos and wombats brave snowstorms and gum tree forests are filled with never-before-seen predators.

Filming First: In the Australia episode, BBC filmed a shark aggregation which only happens every 15 years, using the magic of drone technology to film the shark’s unique tactics, which could not be captured from the sea via a boat as the viewer would only see splashing and fins.

Europe – Saturday, February 15 at 9/8c

Where wildlife survives alongside people. In Gibraltar, a baby monkey is kidnapped, while in the cemeteries of Vienna grave robbing wild hamsters fight. In this fairy tale continent wolves roam the forests; dragons lurk in caves and baby bears wander the woods.

Filming First: In the Europe episode, camera crews take audiences into the 12,000 limestone caves in Slovenia to capture a rare creature called the olm, which is a blind salamander that inhabit the area and can go without food for nearly a decade. Using drone technology, the film crew was able to get footage from underground inside the caves, which required expertise in freestyle drone flying to navigate the cave’s strong air currents when location accuracy tools didn’t work underground.

Antarctica – Saturday, February 22 at 9/8c

The coldest, windiest, most hostile continent. Penguin chicks run the gauntlet of orca and leopard seals, colorful starfish and gigantic worms carpet the seabed whilst on the surface – one of the world’s greatest feeding spectacles.

Filming First: In Antarctica, BBC narrowly captured footage of the largest great whale aggregation ever shot, searching for seven weeks to find the sequence, nearly missing the opportunity when production’s helicopter broke and drone malfunctioned.

Africa – Saturday, February 29 at 9/8c

Home to the greatest wildlife show on Earth where chimps make tools, cheetah hunt prey twice their size and, in crystal clear freshwater lakes, devious imposters trick caring fish mothers. Australia, a land cast adrift at the time of the dinosaurs. Here, kangaroos and wombats’ brave snowstorms and gum tree forests are filled with never-before-seen predators.

Filming First: In the final epic episode of Seven Worlds, One Planet, film crews capture Sir David Attenborough in Kenya with the last two northern white rhinos on earth.

Seven Worlds, One Planet is a BBC Studios Natural History Unit production, co-produced with BBC AMERICA, Tencent Penguin Pictures, ZDF, France Télévisions and China Media Group CCTV9.

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About BBC AMERICA:

BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming including the award-winning series Killing Eve starring Golden Globe® and SAG® Award-winner Sandra Oh and Emmy® and BAFTA Award-winner Jodie Comer. A joint venture between AMC Networks and BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC), BBCA’s influential shows such as Doctor Who, Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Luther, Orphan Black, Broadchurch, Top Gear, The Graham Norton Show, among many others, have attracted critical acclaim and awards. Starting Q4 2019, BBC AMERICA transforms every Saturday into Wonderstruck, a new weekly 24-hour destination of wildlife and wonder. The network continues to be the exclusive U.S. television home to the Planet Earth collection and landmark series from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit including the upcoming Sir David Attenborough-fronted series Seven Worlds, One Planet. BBCA has garnered one of television’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many shows boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Get caught up, full episodes are available On Demand across all major digital platforms, BBC AMERICA app (Roku, Apple TV/iOS, Android/Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox and more) and bbcamerica.com. BBCA on social: YouTube – Twitter – Instagram – Facebook

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