NBC Plans to Continue Broadcast of NBC Europe in German-Speaking Region
Changes To Become Effective July 1, 1998
Washington, D.C., April 20, 1998
NBC announced today that it will expand its partnership with National Geographic in
Europe and in Asia while continuing to distribute NBC programming throughout the two
regions. As a result of this agreement, National Geographic Channels Worldwide, the
business enterprise between NBC and National Geographic Television, will greatly
increase its penetration throughout Europe and will launch in Asia. The announcement
was made today by Andrew Lack, President, NBC News, and Tim Kelly, President,
National Geographic Television.
This announcement marks the second stage of NBC’s plans to strengthen its international
position through strategic partnerships. Last December, NBC announced a global alliance
with Dow Jones to create CNBC: A Service of NBC and Dow Jones. The agreement also
enables NBC to better focus its international programming, building on its already
successful partnership with National Geographic.
The National Geographic Channel has quickly demonstrated its potential by garnering
strong early support and wide acclaim. In addition to the highly regarded National
Geographic Television documentary product, the National Geographic Channel’s program
schedules showcase high-caliber documentaries from other distinguished filmmakers and
major programming alliances from around the globe, focusing on a range of topics from
natural history and peoples of the world to adventure and science.
Andrew Lack, President of NBC News, said: “This partnership with National
Geographic is the next step in NBC’s plan to provide focused, quality programming on a
global basis. In fact, the National Geographic brand is one of the most powerful in the
world. Our track record with them, beginning with the Specials in the U.S., and now with
the Channel in the U.K., has already proven very successful and we’re looking forward to
producing more programming on a worldwide basis as we go forward.”
NBC Europe, together with a group of German television producers and investors, plans
to continue distribution in the German-speaking region where it currently reaches over 25
million homes. The NBC service would retain the most popular shows from its current
programming lineup, including “Dateline,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late
Night with Conan O’Brien,” and would enhance its lineup with locally produced content
on the channel.
NBC Asia will maintain an office in Hong Kong for regional distribution and business
development but will reduce its staff by approximately 75 employees. NBC News and
CNBC Asia will continue to maintain their bureaus in Hong Kong. National Geographic
Asia will be headquartered in Singapore. NBC Europe is in the process of determining the
impact of these changes in terms of staff.
National Geographic Distribution
Effective on July 1, 1998, NBC Europe will convert its programming in 11 million homes
to the National Geographic Channel. This distribution will include the U.K., Ireland,
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, and Israel.
Also effective on July 1, the NBC Asia distribution platform, currently reaching 7 million
homes, will convert its programming to National Geographic Channel Asia, a 24-hour per
day, seven days a week programming service.
Tim Kelly, President of National Geographic Television, said: “This is a quantum leap for
National Geographic Channels Worldwide. This expansion proves that National
Geographic’s unique editorial voice has strong worldwide appeal.”
Rick Allen, President of National Geographic Ventures, said: “For 110 years, National
Geographic has made it possible for scientists and explorers to stretch the boundaries of
our world—from the first polar expeditions to the most recent findings on the earliest
humans and the largest dinosaurs. Now, through our Channel partnership with NBC, that
rich tradition spreads around the globe, inspiring a new generation of adventurers.”
“On the heels of our recent joint venture with CNBC and Dow Jones, our announcement
today enables us to partner with still another strong editorial content provider and
positions us internationally to experience a whole new level of growth, ” said Tom
Rogers, President, NBC Cable and Business Development.
The National Geographic Channel Europe will air CNBC and NBC News material in a
six-hour block from 6 a.m. to noon (Central European Time). In Asia, the National
Geographic Channel will contain up to four hours a day of NBC News material.
Stuart Goldfarb, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Worldwide Business
Development, said: “Today’s announcement is a natural next step in our global evolution.
National Geographic makes an excellent strategic partner for NBC. Through these joint
ventures, we can continue our plan to provide strong branded channels throughout Europe
and Asia.”
Said Sandy McGovern, President of National Geographic Channels Worldwide: “With
NBC’s support and backing, the National Geographic Channel will now be available to
nearly 25 million subs in 22 countries. We have accomplished this feat in less than a year,
and this progress has been a direct result of our strategic partnerships with strong media
companies. We are pleased that NBC has confidence in our worldwide channel endeavor
and we greatly appreciate their continued support. In addition, we look forward to
strengthening our partnership with BSkyB through the European expansion.”
Joint Ownership
In the U.K., Australia and Scandinavia, the National Geographic Channel is half owned by
News Corporation’s BSkyB, with the remaining 50 percent owned by the NBC/National
Geographic joint venture. The new European expanded service will have the same
ownership.
The National Geographic Channel in Asia will be owned equally by NBC and National
Geographic Television.
National Geographic Channel Worldwide (NGCW), a business enterprise formed by NBC
and NGT, launched September 1, 1997, in the U.K., Australia, and the Republic of
Ireland, and later in the month in Scandinavia and Finland. NGCW represents National
Geographic’s first branded television channels.
NBC is a global media company with broadly diverse holdings. NBC owns and operates
the NBC Television Network as well as thirteen television stations. In the United States,
NBC owns CNBC, operates MSNBC in partnership with Microsoft, and maintains
equity interests in Arts & Entertainment, The History Channel and Court TV. NBC also
has an equity stake in Rainbow Media Holdings, a leading media company with a wide
array of entertainment and sports cable channels, including the Madison Square Garden
network. Internationally, NBC also operates CNBC: A Service of NBC and Dow Jones
in partnership with Dow Jones & Company in Europe and Asia.
Building on its reputation for remarkably visual and compelling stories, 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 U.S. on the NBC, TBS Superstation, and PBS networks as well as through
syndication and home video.
National Geographic Television is a subsidiary of National Geographic Ventures, the for-
profit arm of the National Geographic Society. As the world’s largest non-profit
scientific and educational organization, the Society is renowned for funding some of the
newest, most exciting explorations and discoveries, many of which are reported by
National Geographic magazine and the Web site nationalgeographic.com
Contact:
Alex Constantinople, NBC Corporate Communications
+1 212 664-6151
Kassie Canter, NBC News, Hong Kong
+1 011 852 8487-9003
Kathie Teter, NGT
+1 202 857-7671
Jeff Pryor, Pryor Assoc.
+1 818 382-2233
