BBC Worldwide today announced new programming for global factual brand BBC Earth, with two more series green lit for the channel. The latest titles Fishing Impossible and What Planet Are You On? (working title) will join the previously announced Extreme Weather: The Survivors, to form part of the Earth Unplugged strand on the channel. Julie Swanston, BBC Worldwide’s vice president commissioning for BBC Worldwide channels, described BBC Earth as “natural history with its hair down.”
“Our first slate of new commissions reflects the breadth of content that we are seeking for the Earth Unplugged slot. Fast-paced, visceral adventure, exceptional characters and an irreverent new look at blue-chip natural history. This is compelling, lean-in television that has global appeal,” continued Swanston.
This closely follows the announcements that BBC Earth will launch in Latin America, Asia and South Africa in the coming months. The channel is set to premiere in Latin America and South Africa this September, and Asia in October, following the success of the linear channel across the Nordics; Poland; Turkey; Romania, Hungary and Slovenia earlier in 2015.
Two of the newly commissioned titles for the network are being co-produced with UK partners, Fishing Impossible with ITV and ITV4 and Extreme Weather: The Survivors with Channel 5. BBC Worldwide holds the international distribution rights for these series except UK and Ireland, and all global rights for What Planet Are You On? (WT).
Commercially and internationally the brand is managed by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC. Since launch the brand has grown across multiple platforms including branded blocks on television, live events, social media, visitor attractions, theatrical releases for cinema and online on BBC.com. In 2014/15, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £138.6 million and headline sales of £1,001.8 million and returned a record £226.5 million to the broadcaster.
