National Geographic Global Networks (formerly National Geographic Channels Worldwide and National Geographic Channels International) is a business unit within
National Geographic Partners (a joint venture between
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
and the
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...
) and
Disney General Entertainment Content
Disney General Entertainment Content, Trade name, doing business as Walt Disney Television, is an American entertainment company that oversees television content and assets owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Forming the company's Gen ...
(who handles distribution and advertising sales for National Geographic Global Networks) that oversees the National Geographic-branded television channels:
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
, Nat Geo Kids,
Nat Geo Music
Nat Geo Music is a television music channel operated as a part of National Geographic Global Networks, which is a business unit of National Geographic Partners (a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society) ...
,
Nat Geo People
Nat Geo People was an international pay television channel owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). Targeted at female audiences, with programming fo ...
and
Nat Geo Wild
National Geographic Wild (shortened as Nat Geo Wild and abbreviated NGW) is a global pay television network owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). T ...
and National Geographic Studios (formerly known as National Geographic Television). The unit itself was a joint operation between
21st Century Fox
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., doing business as 21st Century Fox (21CF), was an American multinational mass media corporation that was based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was one of the two companies formed on June 28, 2013, f ...
(21CF) and the Society, but it was later integrated into the new joint venture National Geographic Partners which they formed in 2015. On March 20, 2019, 21CF's share in National Geographic Partners was assumed by Disney, following
its acquisition of most 21CF businesses.
History
National Geographic had moved towards launching a US cable channel in 1982, but backed out. National Geographic Television,
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...
's for profit TV arm, and
NBC formed a joint venture, National Geographic Channels (NGC). NGC then partnered with
BSkyB
Sky UK Limited is a British broadcaster and telecommunications company that provides television and broadband Internet services, fixed line and mobile telephone services to consumers and businesses in the United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of ...
to launched on September 1, 1997 National Geographic Channel services in U.K. and Ireland via BSkyB, Scandinavia via
Telenor
Telenor ASA ( or ) is a Norwegian majority state-owned multinational telecommunications company headquartered at Fornebu in Bærum, close to Oslo. It is one of the world's largest mobile telecommunications companies with operations worldwide, ...
and Australia via
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was establi ...
. Foxtel and BSkyB were then owned in some form by Rupert Murdoch. Sandy McGovern was president of NGC at the time. The 50/50 partnership was formed to expand NatGeo's National Geographic Television's productions, head by Tim Kelly, that was producing
National Geographic Explorer for
CBS. The
original American version of the channel was launched on January 7, 2001 with Laureen Ong as president and Andrew Wilk as head of programming. National Geographic Society took down its museum and build a TV studio. At the time, the NatGeo kept its TV production unit and got a "sweet heart" guarantee production contract of 44 hours per year at an estimated $500,000 per hour of TV.
Additional National Geographic channels in other parts of the world were also launched under the original joint venture.
In 2007, Ong was replaced by David Lyle, from the just closed Fox Reality channel, as CEO and president Howard Owens. In 2010, the company launched
Nat Geo Wild
National Geographic Wild (shortened as Nat Geo Wild and abbreviated NGW) is a global pay television network owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). T ...
channel in the US to go up against competitor Discovery channel. Ratings dropped as a whole and Lyle and Owens left in 2014. Courteney Monroe moved up from her head marketing post to take over NGC US.
National Geographic Partners unit
On September 9, 2015, the Society announced that it would reorganize its media properties and publications into a new company known as
National Geographic Partners, which would be 73% owned by 21st Century Fox. This new, for-profit, corporation would own ''
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
'' and other magazines, as well as its affiliated television channels—most of which were already owned in joint ventures with Fox.
[ In October 2016, it was announced that the National Geographic Channel, the flagship documentary channel, would drop the word "Channel" from its name.
]
Brands
Current
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
: The flagship television channel of the group which broadcasts documentaries
A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in term ...
on various subjects, as well as docu-reality shows.
* Nat Geo Wild
National Geographic Wild (shortened as Nat Geo Wild and abbreviated NGW) is a global pay television network owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). T ...
: It is a sister channel to the flagship National Geographic television channel that focuses on animal-related wildlife
Wildlife refers to domestication, undomesticated animal species (biology), species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wilderness, wild in an area without being species, introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous ...
and natural history programming.
Former
* National Geographic Adventure
Nat Geo People was an international pay television channel owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). Targeted at female audiences, with programming fo ...
: Launched as Adventure One (abbr. A1), it was aimed at younger audiences, providing programming based around outdoor adventure, travel and stories involving people exploring the world.
* Nat Geo Music
Nat Geo Music is a television music channel operated as a part of National Geographic Global Networks, which is a business unit of National Geographic Partners (a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society) ...
: A channel that focuses on ethnic music.
* Nat Geo Kids
''National Geographic Kids'' (often nicknamed to ''Nat Geo Kids'') is a children's magazine published by the National Geographic Society. Its first issue was printed in September 1975 under the original title ''National Geographic World'' (whic ...
: A children's interest channel.
* Nat Geo Kids Abu Dhabi
Nat Geo Kids Abu Dhabi was an Emirati free-to-air Arabic language documentary channel for children, owned by National Geographic Society/The Walt Disney Company EMEA (Disney International Content and Operations) and the Abu Dhabi Media Foundati ...
: A children's interest channel.
* Nat Geo People
Nat Geo People was an international pay television channel owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). Targeted at female audiences, with programming fo ...
: Targeted at female audiences, the channel's programming focuses on people and cultures. Currently available in Poland and Romania.
Channels by region
All of National Geographic-branded television channels are operated as a part of this unit's business. The Society provides most of programming on the channels, while Disney's broadcast-related units ( Walt Disney Television in the United States and Fox Networks Group outside the United States) handle distribution and advertisement sales of the channels. In most cases internationally, the National Geographic and Fox channels cross-promote each other. In some territories, the versions of National Geographic channels are directly operated by Disney.
Americas
Anglo-America
;United States
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
* National Geographic Wild
* Nat Geo Mundo
National Geographic (formerly National Geographic Channel; abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo or Nat Geo TV) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by the National Geographic Global Networks unit of Disney General E ...
(Spanish language programming)
;Canada: The following channels in Canada are operated by Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian mass media company. Formed in 1999 as a spin-off from Shaw Communications, it has prominent holdings in the radio, publishing, and television industries. It is headquartered at Corus Quay in Toronto, Onta ...
under license.
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
* National Geographic Wild
Latin America
;Spanish-speaking countries
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
(with sub-regional versions for Mexico, Colombia, Central America hich also covers Caribbean islands Pacific hile, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia and Atlantic rgentina, Paraguay and Uruguay
;Brazil
* National Geographic
Asia
NGC Network Asia, LLC operates all of National Geographic-branded television channels across Asia except Japan.
NGC Network Asia previously represented television channels from Fox International Channels (FIC) in the region, but they were transferred to the newly formed Asian branch of FIC in the 2009 reorganization of Star TV.[News Corporation Restructures Broadcast Businesses in Asia]
(press release) News Corporation 18 August 2009 Archived from th
original
on 27 August 2009
The Asian operations also oversee National Geographic TV channels in the Middle East and North Africa (except Israel).
;Pan-regional channels (except Japan)
* National Geographic (Asia)
National Geographic (Nat Geo Asia, formerly NBC Asia and National Geographic Channel and also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo or Nat Geo TV) is a pan-Asian subscription television channel that features non-fiction, factual pro ...
* Nat Geo Wild
National Geographic Wild (shortened as Nat Geo Wild and abbreviated NGW) is a global pay television network owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). T ...
;Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and South Korea
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
* Nat Geo Wild
National Geographic Wild (shortened as Nat Geo Wild and abbreviated NGW) is a global pay television network owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). T ...
;Indian subcontinent: Star India
Disney Star Private Limited is an Indian media conglomerate and a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India. It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Disney Star network runs more than 70 TV channels in eight languages, reac ...
handles channel distribution and advertisement sales in the region.
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
* Nat Geo Wild
National Geographic Wild (shortened as Nat Geo Wild and abbreviated NGW) is a global pay television network owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). T ...
* Nat Geo Tamil
National Geographic (also known as Nat Geo) is an Indian pay television channel that features non-fiction, documentaries involving nature, science, culture, and history, produced by the National Geographic Society. National Geographic Channel o ...
* Nat Geo Telugu
National Geographic (also known as Nat Geo) is an Indian pay television channel that features non-fiction, documentaries involving nature, science, culture, and history, produced by the National Geographic Society. National Geographic Channel o ...
;Middle East and North Africa
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
(in English)
* National Geographic Abu Dhabi (in Arabic)
;Taiwan
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
(in Chinese)
* National Geographic HD
National Geographic (formerly National Geographic Channel; abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo or Nat Geo TV) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by the National Geographic Global Networks unit of Disney General ...
(in English)
;Japan: The following channels in Japan are operated by Fox Networks Group Japan.
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
Europe
The European operations also oversee National Geographic TV channels in Israel, Australia and New Zealand. It is also responsible for the channels in Sub-Saharan Africa.
;Balkans
*National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
;Czech Republic and Slovakia
*National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
;France
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
* National Geographic Wild
;Ukraine
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
* National Geographic Wild
;Greece
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
;Netherlands and Belgium
*National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
*National Geographic Wild
;Poland
*National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
*Nat Geo People
;Portugal
*National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
*National Geographic Wild
;Romania
*National Geographic
*Nat Geo People
;Nordic and Scandinavia
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
* National Geographic Wild
;United Kingdom and Ireland
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
* National Geographic Wild
;Spain
* National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
;Sub-Saharan Africa
* National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
* Nat Geo Gold
;Australia and New Zealand
* National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
* Nat Geo Wild
;Israel
* National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
Former
;Italy
* National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
;Russia and Belarus
* National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
;Germany
* National Geographic
* National Geographic Wild
References
External links
natgeotv.com
A gateway to the websites of National Geographic television channels worldwide
National Geographic Partners
the parent company
{{Fox Networks Group
National Geographic Society
Global Networks
''Global Networks: A journal of transnational affairs'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed multidisciplinary academic journal dedicated to the study of globalization and transnationalism. Its focus spans multiple disciplines within social science, includ ...
Disney television networks
Fox Networks Group