NGTI CONCLUDES MAJOR DEAL WITH NEW GREEK CHANNEL

Published: 15 March 2006

Skai TV, the new terrestrial TV channel launching in Greece on 1st April has just concluded its first deal with National Geographic Television International.

The three-year contract for factual programming sees 500 hours already selected for 2006, the majority of which is anticipated to air in an evening documentary slot.

Programming already chosen includes many new NGT&F titles such as RIDDLES OF THE BIBLE (5 x 52), THE NEW MAFIA (1 X 52), SKY MONSTERS (1 x52), REIGN OF TERROR (3 x 52), SEARCH FOR THE SUPERSNAKE (1x52) and RACE AGAINST THE KILLER FLU (1 x 52).

In addition there are a number of award-winning and flagship programmes from the NGT&F catalogue, including GUNS, GERMS AND STEEL (3x52), KING TUT’S CURSE (1 x 52), TINY HUMANS: FINDING HOBBITS ON FLORES (1x 52) and PREDATORS AT WAR (2x52). Skai has also selected a number of titles from NGTI’s independent producers’ catalogue, for example Nature Conservation Films’ MONKEY HUNTERS and ELEPHANTS OF THE KILIMANJARO, Peartree Films’ DANGEROUS COMPANIONS and Darlow Smithson’s LOCH NESS MONSTER: THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT.

Dora Pakas, Skai’s managing director comments: ”NGTI has some of the best factual programming available, covering a wide range of genres, and I am confident that it will prove extremely popular with our viewers when we launch. The National Geographic brand is exactly the sort of positioning we are looking for with our factual slots – good quality, strong stories and a mix of both traditional and contemporary subjects.”

Roz Parker, sales manager at NGTI who concluded the deal comments: “We are naturally pleased to have been able to meet so many of Skai’s factual programming needs with this deal and to include so many of our new shows for 2006. We wish Skai every success with its launch and look forward to developing a long-term, mutually productive relationship with Dora and her team.”