National Geographic Channel (UK)
Encyclopedia
The National Geographic Channel is a television channel that features documentaries produced by the National Geographic Society
. It features some programming similar to that on the Discovery Channel
such as nature
and science
documentaries. The channel was launched in Europe
in September 1997 and time shared initially with the failing NBC Europe
until NBC Europe's demise in 1998. It was later launched worldwide including in Asia
and the United States
. Today, the channel is available in over 143 countries, seen in more than 160 million homes and in 25 languages.
It is owned by a company called the "NGC-UK Partnership", which initially was jointly owned by the National Geographic Society
and British Sky Broadcasting
(BSkyB), but in 2006, Sky's parent company News Corporation
purchased 25 percent of the stake in the partnership, followed by the acquisition of BSkyB's remaining 50 percent stake by its sister company, the Fox Entertainment Group
.
This includes an English language version for the UK
, Iceland
and Ireland
. It also includes Dutch, Italian, Norwegian and Turkish speaking channels among others. The channel's musical signature is the Elmer Bernstein
composed theme that has also appeared on the National Geographic broadcast-TV specials.
subsidiary.
's cable TV lineup on channel 232 on 30 July 2009. On 5 August 2009, it is also available on UPC Ireland
's cable TV service on channel 221. The HD version available in the UK and Ireland was not originally a simulcast of the standard definition version of the National Geographic Channel, with some of the content coming from Rush HD
, however from 1 December 2010 National Geographic Channel HD became a simulcast.
, who is well known as Eddie in Hustle (TV series)
is one of the two main male promo voices for this channel, along with Adam Longworth from XFM radio station.
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
. It features some programming similar to that on the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
such as nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
and science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
documentaries. The channel was launched in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in September 1997 and time shared initially with the failing NBC Europe
NBC Europe
NBC Europe was a satellite television channel based in the United Kingdom that broadcast across Europe...
until NBC Europe's demise in 1998. It was later launched worldwide including in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Today, the channel is available in over 143 countries, seen in more than 160 million homes and in 25 languages.
It is owned by a company called the "NGC-UK Partnership", which initially was jointly owned by the National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
and British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
(BSkyB), but in 2006, Sky's parent company News Corporation
News Corporation
News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
purchased 25 percent of the stake in the partnership, followed by the acquisition of BSkyB's remaining 50 percent stake by its sister company, the Fox Entertainment Group
Fox Entertainment Group
The Fox Entertainment Group is an American entertainment industry company that owns film studios and terrestrial, cable, and direct broadcast satellite television properties...
.
This includes an English language version for the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It also includes Dutch, Italian, Norwegian and Turkish speaking channels among others. The channel's musical signature is the Elmer Bernstein
Elmer Bernstein
Elmer Bernstein was an American composer and conductor best known for his many film scores. In a career which spanned fifty years, he composed music for hundreds of film and television productions...
composed theme that has also appeared on the National Geographic broadcast-TV specials.
Company
The channel is owned by the NGC-UK Partnership, which was formed in 1997 as a joint venture between National Geographic Television & Film, a division of the National Geographic Society and British Sky Broadcasting through its Sky Ventures division. The NGS provides programming expertise, while BSkyB provides its expertise on distribution, marketing, commercial and advertising sales. The partnership builds and operates National Geographic channels and services across Europe. It is headquartered in London. In December 2006, News Corporation purchased 25 percent of the Society's stake in the company. This meant that BSkyB owned half company, while the National Geographic Society and News Corp held 25 percent share each. In December 2007, BSkyB sold its stake in the partnership to the Fox Entertainment Group, through its Fox International ChannelsFox International Channels
Fox International Channels is a subsidiary of the Fox Entertainment Group, which is a part of Rupert Murdoch's global media conglomerate News Corporation...
subsidiary.
National Geographic Channel HD
National Geographic Channel HD is available in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. It launched on 22 May 2006 on Sky channel 543. The channel joined Virgin MediaVirgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
's cable TV lineup on channel 232 on 30 July 2009. On 5 August 2009, it is also available on UPC Ireland
UPC Ireland
UPC Ireland is Liberty Global Europe's telecommunications operation in Ireland. UPC Ireland is the largest digital cable television provider within the Republic of Ireland. As of September 2010 the company offers broadband internet, digital television and digital telephony to over 531,000 customers...
's cable TV service on channel 221. The HD version available in the UK and Ireland was not originally a simulcast of the standard definition version of the National Geographic Channel, with some of the content coming from Rush HD
Rush HD
Rush HD was an adventure sport-oriented television channel that broadcasted exclusively in high definition television in Central Europe, Scandinavia and Latin America. Programming features coverage of Extreme Action Sports such as BASE jumping, snowboarding, windsurfing, bungee jumping, and cliff...
, however from 1 December 2010 National Geographic Channel HD became a simulcast.
Programmes
- Air Crash InvestigationMayday (TV series)Mayday, also known as Air Crash Investigation in the United Kingdom, Australia and Asia and Air Emergency and Air Disasters in the United States, is a Canadian documentary television programme produced by Cineflix investigating air crashes, near-crashes and other disasters...
- Be The CreatureBe the CreatureBe the Creature is a creation of the Kratt Brothers . A wildlife series designed to immerse both the brothers and the viewers in the world of animals, Be the Creature features 13 episodes. Unlike other Kratt Brothers programs, Kratts' Creatures and Zoboomafoo, Be the Creature is oriented towards a...
- Big Bang
- Built for the KillBuilt For The Kill-Description:Built for the Kill is a nature series made by Granada Wild for the National Geographic Channel. It was made from 2001–2004, with a total of 31 episodes. Each episode runs for approximately 48 minutes including the credits and opening titles. Episodes of Built For The Kill cover a topic...
- End DayEnd DayEnd Day is a 2005 docu-drama produced by the BBC and aired on the National Geographic Channel, on the TV series, National Geographic Channel Presents, that depicts various doomsday scenarios. The documentary follows the fictional scientist Dr...
- Escape Tech
- Explorations Powered by Duracell
- Explorer
- Gospel of JudasGospel of JudasThe Gospel of Judas is a Gnostic gospel that purportedly documents conversations between the Disciple Judas Iscariot and Jesus Christ.It is believed to have been written by Gnostic followers of Jesus, rather than by Judas himself, and probably dates from no earlier than the 2nd century, since it...
- Hollywood ScienceHollywood ScienceHollywood Science is a general term given to the phenomenon of scientific principles being misinterpreted, ignored or abused by the Hollywood film industry....
- Hunter Hunted
- Interpol InvestigatesInterpol InvestigatesInterpol Investigates is an American docudrama television series that premiered on the National Geographic Channel. The program follows Interpol as its members search for clues left behind by culprits.-The Serpent:...
- Is It Real?Is It Real?Is It Real? is an American documentary television series that originally aired from April 25, 2005 to August 14, 2007 on the National Geographic Channel. The program examines popular or persistent mysteries to determine whether the featured cryptozoological creature or supernatural phenomenon is...
- Living Wild
- Megacities
- Megafactories
- MegaStructuresMegaStructuresMegaStructures is a documentary television series appearing on the National Geographic Channel and Five in the United Kingdom, on France 5 in France and on 7mate in Australia....
- Mysteries of the Deep
- Naked ScienceNaked ScienceNaked Science is an American documentary television series that premiered in 2004 on the National Geographic Channel. The program features various subjects related to science and technology.-External links: ***...
- No Borders
- Planet Football
- Planet MechanicsPlanet MechanicsPlanet Mechanics is a British TV program shown on the National Geographic Channel. The programme was broadcast on Sunday at 7:00 pm. The show has ended after the first series.-Background:...
- Predators at War
- Rough Trades
- Science of the Bible
- Seconds From DisasterSeconds From Disaster-By original broadcast date:National Geographic Channel has broadcast many episodes under multiple titles. The title currently or most recently listed on the NGC Calendar is shown first...
- Situation CriticalSituation CriticalCritical Situation is an American documentary television series. Produced in conjunction with the National Geographic Channel, the series examines various disasters or violent incidents. It replaced Seconds From Disaster, a similar program with a more forensic approach...
- Storm StoriesStorm StoriesStorm Stories is a non-fiction television series aired on The Weather Channel and Zone Reality hosted and narrated by meteorologist and Storm-Tracker Jim Cantore. Storm Stories showcases various types of severe weather, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards. Each episode features a famous...
- Strange Days on Planet EarthStrange Days on Planet EarthStrange Days on Planet Earth is a four part television program on PBS concerning human impact on the environment. It is narrated by Edward Norton. The show was produced by Sea Studios Foundation...
- TabooTaboo (TV series)Taboo is a documentary television series that premiered in 2002 on the National Geographic Channel. The program is an educational look into "taboo" rituals and traditions practiced in some societies, yet forbidden and illegal in others....
- The Dog Whisperer
- The Living EdensThe Living EdensThe Living Edens was a Public Broadcasting Service series that began in 1997. Narrators included Peter Coyote and Linda Hunt. Its most recent episode was broadcast in 2001. It was partially funded by Reader's Digest in exchange for various marketing rights....
- Thrill Zone
- Thunder Beasts
- Totally WildTotally WildTotally Wild is an Australian children's television series. It has been in production since 1992, airing on Network Ten since day one. It has the format of a news program, and does stories on topics such as Australia's native flora and fauna, action sports, the environment, science, and technology...
- Trading Faces
- What Would Happen If...?
- World of Wildlife
Continuity / Voiceovers
Rob JarvisRob Jarvis
Rob Jarvis is an English television and film actor. He is most known for his regular role as Eddie on Hustle, the long running BBC television programme; from Liverpool, he is frequently cast as a scouser.-Filmography:-Other Work :...
, who is well known as Eddie in Hustle (TV series)
Hustle (TV series)
Hustle is a British television drama series made by Kudos Film and Television for BBC One in the United Kingdom. Created by Tony Jordan and first broadcast in 2004, the series follows a group of con artists who specialise in "long cons" – extended deceptions which require greater commitment, but...
is one of the two main male promo voices for this channel, along with Adam Longworth from XFM radio station.
See also
- National Geographic ChannelNational Geographic ChannelNational Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
- National Geographic Channel Australia & New Zealand
- List of National Geographic Channel programs
- National Geographic SocietyNational Geographic SocietyThe National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
External links
- Official site
- Official site Ireland (previously active)
- National Geographic Channels International