ASIAN BROADCASTERS PICK UP OVER 120 HOURS FROM NGTI

Published: 28 April 2009

National Geographic Television International (NGTI) is pleased to announce that it has wrapped up a number of new deals in Asia, following discussions at MipTV.

Leland International in China has acquired just under 30 hours of programming for various regional channels in the territory. The package includes National Geographic-produced shows such as Herod’s Lost Tomb (1 x 52) and History’s Secrets 3 (3 x 52) – launched at MipTV - as well as Moment of Death (1 x 52), plus season three (4 x 52) and the upcoming season four (6 x 52) of the popular Brady Barr series Dangerous Encounters. Also included are a number of new independently produced shows, recently acquired by NGTI: Animals are Amazing – a three-parter from BBC Motion Gallery; Cassowaries from BK Films (1 x 52); Honeybadgers: Raising Hell from Peartree Films (1 x 52) and Chameleon Beach (1 x 52) from Loke Film.

PBS in Thailand has acquired 70 hours from NGTI, with the main focus on new titles produced by National Geographic Television. Selections include fascinating history shows such as Perfect Child Mummies (1 x 52), Secrets of Shangri-La: Quest for Sacred Caves (1 x 52), which follows a group of explorers into uncharted territory in Upper Mustang, where they make stunning discoveries and Underneath Easter Island (1 x 52). Science titles include Reconstructing T.Rex (1 x 52) series one and two of Eco-Engineering (6 x 52) and World’s Toughest Fixes (10 x 52) – an adrenalin-fuelled series which sees host Sean Riley deal with some of the biggest mechanical problems on the planet. Wildlife acquisitions include Mystery Fish of the Congo and Darwin’s Lost Voyage – both hour-long specials. From NGTI’s indie catalogue, selections include two recent shows from 360 Degree Films – Tibet: Murder in the Snow and Eye for Architecture - both 1 x 52 - and the spectacular, CGI-rich Death of the Megabeasts from Prospero Productions (1 x 52/1 x 85).

In Malaysia, RTM has signed a new deal for a programming package that includes wildlife titles Superpride (1 x 52), Croc Chronicles (13 x 26), Crittercam Chronicles (13 x 26), Sea Stories (13 x 26) and Totally Wild (26 x 24), adventure titles Mission Rescue (13 x 26) and Into the Volcano, plus nature and environment series Tales from Belize (5 x 26).

Finally, Metro TV in Indonesia has acquired the new science series Master of Disaster (4 x 52), History’s Secrets: The Hunt for Hitler (1 x 52) and Illicit: The Dark Trade (1 x 52), which explores the worldwide implications of trade in illicit goods.

Joanna Rowley, NGTI’s sales manager for Asia comments: “NGTI’s catalogue continues to resonate with buyers of premium factual content in Asia and all of our recent HD programme launches - from history titles such as Herod’s Lost Tomb to science series World’s Toughest Fixes - have been particularly well received in the region. I have every confidence that the strength of the National Geographic brand and the quality and range of programming that we represent, will continue to make us a key distribution partner for Asian broadcasters, despite the general economic downturn.”