World’s Leading Documentary Producer and Largest Commercial Terrestrial
Broadcaster in UK Will Co-Produce Over 300 Hours Of Programming By 2001
Washington, D.C., April 14, 1998
National Geographic Television (NGT), one of the world’s leading documentary producers,
and Carlton Television, the leading commercial terrestrial broadcaster in the UK, announced
a joint venture production and distribution agreement that will create over 300 hours of
factual programming over the next three years, covering a broad spectrum of topics from
natural history to adventure and exploration. The announcement was made by Tim Kelly,
President of National Geographic Television, and Andy Allan, Director of Programmes for
Carlton Television.
The joint venture agreement combines NGT’s factual production expertise with Carlton’s
existing production infrastructure. Together the two companies will establish an Editorial
Board, co-chaired by Paul Cleary, Head of Documentaries at Carlton Television, and Keenan
Smart, Head of the Natural History Unit at NGT, and comprised of other members from both
organizations. A program development fund will be established to facilitate the creation of
programming. Factual programming developed by the partnership will be focused on natural
history, adventure and peoples of the world, with the first completed programs expected by
early 1999.
“The programming produced under this joint venture agreement with Carlton marks the next
step in creating original programming for National Geographic Channels Worldwide,” said
Kelly in making the announcement. “We look forward to developing both one-offs and
episodic series that will serve as signature programming for the Channels as well as for
international distribution.”
“We are delighted to be working with such a prestigious company as National Geographic,”
said Allan. “We have created a fantastic opportunity to share our program-making skills on
the development of popular, quality factual programs.”
Programs produced under the NGT/Carlton joint venture will serve as the first strands of
original programming developed exclusively for the National Geographic Channels in its
current territories in Europe and Australia, as well as future launches around the world.
“National Geographic Channels’ development strategy encompasses a strong commitment to
commissioning original programming,” added Sandy McGovern, president of National
Geographic Channels Worldwide. “The joint venture between NGT and Carlton opens the
door to a plethora of production opportunities for all of the various aspects of our
operations.”
Carlton International Media Ltd., the global multimedia distribution arm of Carlton
Television, and Explore International, the distribution arm of National Geographic, will
handle terrestrial licensing of the programming. Distribution responsibilities will be handled
on a project by project basis.
Rupert Dilnott-Cooper, Managing Director of Carlton International, commented, “High
quality factual programming has been one of the mainstays of our catalogue. Thanks to this
exciting venture, we will now be able to offer viewers a whole new range of programs with
strong international appeal.”
“This joint venture is a strategic hat trick: it expands NGT’s production; signals our focused
interest in collaborating with the world’s best producers and broadcasters; and fuels the
expansion of the National Geographic Channels,” noted Rick Allen, President of National
Geographic Ventures, NGT’s parent company.
Carlton International Media Ltd. is now the largest distributor of classic British films and the
leading sales house for British television programs outside of the BBC. With a catalogue of
over 9,000 hours of programming, including 1500 classic movies, it is the distributor for
Carlton Television, ITN Productions, and Meridian Broadcasting, as well as for several
leading UK independent producers.
Carlton Television is the largest commercial terrestrial broadcaster in the UK, reaching over
22 million people. The broadcaster also invests $250 million per year to produce all of their
own programming.
National Geographic Channels Worldwide in partnership with BSkyB launched the National
Geographic Channel in September 1997 in the UK, Australia, Republic of Ireland,
Scandinavia, and Finland. In addition to the highly acclaimed National Geographic Television
product, the channels’ program schedule showcases high caliber documentaries from other
distinguished filmmakers and production/distribution companies from around the world,
focusing on such topics as natural history, adventure, science, exploration, and culture.
National Geographic Channels Worldwide is a business enterprise formed by NBC and NGT.
Building on its reputation for remarkably visual and adventurous storytelling, National
Geographic Television augments its award-winning documentary production with new
children’s, prime-time drama, large-format and feature film programming, as well as
international broadcast and video distribution. At present, NGT’s programming can be seen
in the US on the NBC, TBS, and PBS networks as well as through syndication and home
video, and through more than 100 different outlets in some 90 territories currently licensing
NGT programming.
Contact:
Kathie Teter, NGT
+1 202 857-7671
Gabriella Alaimo, Pryor & Associates
+1 818 382-2233
Mark Grey, Carlton
+1 011 44 171 612-7351
