On Friday, May 1, the National Geographic Channel launched on Diamond
Cable, increasing the channel’s reach with cable companies representing the channel to over a million UK cable households.
London, May 8, 1998
This latest cable carriage agreement with Diamond Cable makes the National Geographic Channel available in almost 50% of all UK cable households, increasing the distribution for the channel since its September 1 launch.
Jerry Glover, managing director of the National Geographic Channel, said, “Given the direction most new channels seem to be going, it’s excellent to be increasing our UK distribution along with our European distribution.”
Jack McAuley, marketing and programming director of Diamond Cable, said today, “Our customers have been telling us for some time now that this is just the kind of informative, educational programming they want to see on Diamond, so with such a genuine, consumer-led demand, I’m full of confidence for a successful launch. I’m delighted to be working with the National Geographic Channel. This is a first-class, entertaining product and one I am excited to offer our customers.”
The growth of the channel continues worldwide with National Geographic Channels premiering in the UK, Australia, Ireland, and Scandinavia in the past six months. During this time the National Geographic Channel has become one of the top three most popular channels on FOXTEL’s Australia platform. In the UK the channel has seen viewership expand to become one of the top prime-time basic channels, according to BARB research, despite the channel’s launch in a very
competitive market.
From July 1, 1998, the National Geographic Channel will be available to an additional 11 million homes across Europe (including Scandinavia, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary and Israel), when NBC Europe converts its programming to the National Geographic Channel.
Also effective on July 1, the NBC Asia distribution platform, currently reaching seven million homes, will convert its programming to the National Geographic Channel Asia.
In addition to the channel’s worldwide expansion, 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. Programs produced under this agreement will serve as the first strands of original programming developed exclusively for the National Geographic Channel in its current territories in Europe, Asia, and Australia, as well as future launches around the world.
Contact:
Robyn Smith, National Geographic Channel
+1 44 0181 847 4349
