ANIMAL PLANET INT. launches slate

Programming to Celebrate the Natural World

CANNES, France.- Animal Planet International, the world’s leading animal entertainment brand, today announced the launch of an informative and engaging programming slate focused on celebrating and protecting the natural world, which will roll out on the network this autumn in more than 200 million homes across the UK, Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

The programming slate includes Animals Save the Planet, a series of humorous animated short films that feature tips from animals on how to live a greener lifestyle; Crime Scene Wild, a new series that investigates the illegal wildlife trade; Going Ape, a continuing series that highlights efforts to protect endangered primates in West Africa; and Ocean Voyagers, a landmark high-definition documentary narrated by Meryl Streep that focuses on the mysterious and rarely-seen world of the humpback whale.

“This new slate of programming brings to life what is at the very core of the Animal Planet brand, which is connecting viewers to the natural world through captivating characters and stories that inform, entertain and celebrate the planet,” said Phillip Luff, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Animal Planet International.

Produced in partnership with Academy Award-winning studio Aardman Animations (Wallace & Gromit; Chicken Run), Animals Save the World is a funny, engaging series of ten short clay animation films (20 to 40-seconds in length) that feature animals demonstrating how everyone can make a difference by living a greener lifestyle – including a penguin who discovers how much effort energy-saving light bulbs can save him, and a cow who learns about the environmental impact of his own methane gas. The vignettes will premiere on Animal Planet in all international markets in late 2007.

Crime Scene Wild is a fascinating new series that uncovers the illegal wildlife trade, which is second only to drugs in terms of volume and revenue generated. The series follows former special investigative agent Steve Galster as he uses cutting-edge forensic and DNA technology to track wildlife smugglers and catch them in the act, providing viewers with a behind-the-scenes look into this world. The six x 60-minute series is produced by Cicada Productions for Animal Planet International and will premiere in all international markets starting in 4Q07.

Going Ape is a continuing half-hour series that highlights conservation in action by profiling ongoing efforts to protect primates against loggers and bush meat traders in West Africa. Filmed at the Cameroon Wildlife Aid sanctuary in Cameroon, the series documents the efforts of Rachel Hogan and her dedicated team of veterinarians and volunteers as they work to save and rehabilitate endangered chimpanzees and gorillas in the rainforest. Produced by Tigress Productions for Animal Planet International, the first 13-episode season of the series premiered last autumn. Production has commenced on a second season of the series, which will premiere in all international markets in 2008.

Narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep and filmed in high-definition, Ocean Voyagers is a visually-stunning 70-minute feature documentary that provides a rare and intimate look into the mysterious world of the humpback whale and the ocean environment. The documentary tells the story of the relationship between a mother whale and her calf over an unprecedented span of five years, following the two whales as they embark on a 7,000 mile journey from the South Pacific to Antarctica. Ocean Voyagers is produced by Off the Fence and Feodor Pitcairn Productions in association with Animal Planet International and will premiere in all international markets starting in December 2007.