NGTI INCREASES BOTH TOTAL HOURS AND SHOWS FROM INDIE PRODUCERS FOR MIPTV 2007

Published: 23 March 2007

NGTI (National Geographic Television International) has an impressive new slate for MipTV 2007, featuring a raft of factual programming from in-house production company NGT, as well as from a growing number of independent producers. In total NGTI has more than 60 new hours being showcased at the market this year.

New from National Geographic Television
National Geographic Television has successfully doubled its production output in the past year with a range of new titles that are already gaining early interest from buyers. Natural history programming remains a mainstay of the NGTI slate, with GABON: TRIUMPH OF THE WILD (1 x 52) the lead show. A co-production with the BBC and NHK, ‘Gabon’ is a remarkable film with extraordinary footage of rarely filmed animals such as forest elephants and colourful mandrills. It tells the unique story of the creation of national parks in this small African country and how the efforts of scientists and political leaders have saved its wildlife and developed an eco-tourism industry. HYENA QUEEN (1 x 52) is a beautiful film that gets up close and personal with these much-maligned predators, while PLANET CARNIVORE (4 x 52) looks at some of the planet’s greatest apex predators, exploring how small changes to their worlds can alter their behaviour, often in dramatic ways.

New science titles for this year include HUMAN VOLTAGE: STRUCK BY LIGHTNING (1 x 52), a second series of MIGHTY MOVERS (4 x 52) - featuring episodes on the Panama Canal and the Hawaii Superferry - and ULTIMATE FACTORIES (3 x 52), uncovering the production secrets of some of the world’s most sophisticated cars, helicopters and tanks.

A second series of popular prison show LOCKDOWN (3 x 52), leads NGTI’s more edgy, current affairs-type slate, along with PRISON GIRLS (1 x 52), looking a the relationships between mothers behind bars and their daughters, and SLAVE GIRLS OF INDIA (1 x 52). These last two shows have been made by NGT for Oprah Winfrey’s Oxygen Channel in the US.

INSIDE JERUSALEM’S HOLIEST PLACES (1 x 52 or 1 x 75) is a new programme about the Dome of the Mount – possibly the most controversial piece of real estate in the world! History, religion and politics collide here at this most sensitive of places. For this reason, few cameras have ever been allowed inside – until now. National Geographic was granted exclusive access to take cameras inside the 35-acre walled sanctuary and the Dome of the Rock, and has worked with scholars and consultants to produce an objective and sensitive milestone programme that promotes an understanding of this highly contested place.

New from Independent Producers
NGTI continues to represent some excellent programming from factual independent producers from around the world. New this market is THE TOUGHEST ANIMAL IN AFRICA (1 x 52) from South Africa’s Peartree Films. This show, about the rarely filmed honey badger, follows NGTI’s success with last year’s Dangerous Companions, from the same producer. Another returning producer is Australia’s Abyss Productions. Its new programme, TRACKING WHITE SHARKS (1 x 52), follows the movements of sharks off the coast of Australia. Also from Australia comes THUNDERHEADS (1 X 52) from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, a dramatic show about catching the perfect storm and SECRETS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF (1 x 52) from YNR Marketing/Ocean Images Production.

OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (6 x 52) provides is an unprecedented exploration of the world’s most baffling outbreaks of diseases such as Smallpox, E. Coli, Machupo, Nipah, Legionnaires and SARS. The series was produced by Lion Television for National Geographic Channels International. Finally, NGTI is representing two programmes from Canadian producer Summerhill Entertainment – ESCAPE TECH (1 x 52), which explores the fascinating new science and technology of escaping death, and RIDDLE OF THE POLAR SKY (1 x 52) a spectacular look at the Aurora Borealis.

Ian Jones, president of NGTI comments: “Our MipTV slate is probably the most diverse we have ever offered. Our in-house production company NGT continues to produce incredible wildlife, fascinating science shows and iconic history stories – alongside a newer raft of edgy, current-affairs/society programmes – ensuring strong National Geographic programming for public service and commercial broadcasters alike.

“We have had some great successes recently with programming from independent producers, so we are particularly delighted to be representing even more of their shows this year, especially when they are from returning partners such as Peartree Films. Quality rather than quantity continues to be key to our third party strategy; we are keen to develop enduring relationships with a small number of companies that produce programming that both fits within our catalogue and under the National Geographic brand.”