National Geographic Channels International Secures Extended Control Of National Geographic Programming To Ensure Broadcast Exclusivity

NGC’s Global Content Sales Division Absorbs NGTI Assets to Serve as Outlet for Long Form National Geographic Branded Content

(Washington, DC) National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has announced the acquisition of National Geographic Television International’s (NGTI) sales and distribution operations and related programming rights in a move that allows it to extend and control exclusivity windows for partners carrying its networks worldwide in 163 countries. NGCI has obtained global television and certain digital rights to NGTI’s extensive programming catalogue – representing more than 1,000 hours of programming. NGCI will also control broadcast, VOD, SVOD and related digital rights for all present inventory and future National Geographic Channel produced programming while National Geographic Ventures (NGV) will continue to retain home entertainment, theatrical rights, short form video and other affiliated digital rights.



“Secondary windows of National Geographic programming on other platforms have been an important concern for our channel partners,” said Hernan Lopez, President and CEO of Fox International Channels and National Geographic Channels International. “NGCI can now offer our operators full assurance of exclusivity while at the same time expanding our resources to increase the overall programming budget – significant milestones as the network continues to evolve, approaching 15 years of continued success in the pay-tv sphere.”



Extending premiere windows offers a two-fold advantage: protecting the investment value for NGCI business partners – especially network operators and advertisers – through exclusive access to National Geographic programming while also offering audiences a signature broadcast destination for the National Geographic viewing experience.


“National Geographic Channels’ success as a major player in the nonfiction TV programming and distribution arena is driving us to take a strategic view of our global broadcast distribution business,” said Ted Prince, Jr., COO, National Geographic Global Media and President, NGV. “By putting broadcast distribution and sales under the same worldwide umbrella, we’re creating a distribution synergy that will optimize global initiatives, and allow NGV to continue to expand worldwide home entertainment and digital streaming businesses.”



As NGCI takes on the NGTI portfolio, it will fulfill all of NGTI’s existing obligations, and the teams will operate in tandem during this transition. Both entities will continue to share the National Geographic booth at the upcoming MIPCOM (Booth: R29.41), showcasing the full range of expanded inventory.





About National Geographic Channels International

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) invites viewers to live curious through its smart, innovative programming that questions what we know, how we view the world and what drives us forward. A business enterprise owned by National Geographic Ventures (NGV) and FOX Entertainment Group, NGCI contributes to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education through its six channels: National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Wild HD, Nat Geo Adventure and Nat Geo Music.

Globally, National Geographic Channel (including NGC U.S., which is a joint venture of NGV and FOX Networks Group) is available in more than 380 million homes in 163 countries and 37 languages.

For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com

About National Geographic Ventures

National Geographic Ventures (NGV) is a wholly owned, taxable subsidiary of National Geographic Society, one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the National Geographic Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. NGV creates and distributes content across multiple platforms and media providing outlets for the hundreds of scientific and expedition-based grants awarded each year. Part of the editorial group National Geographic Global Media, NGV is composed of National Geographic Television, the documentary production arm of National Geographic; Home Entertainment; and Digital Media, which includes Nationalgeographic.com and the Digital Publishing group of Mobile, Games and App Production and Distribution. Additionally, NGV includes National Geographic Entertainment, which comprises National Geographic Features Films, Cinema Ventures, Music, and Kids Entertainment. For more information, go to www.nationalgeographic.com.