NGCI answers call of the Wild

Nat Geo Channels has launched a new channel: National Geographic Wild. Aren't there already heaps of wildlife on Nat Geo? Actually, depending on the region, NGCI EVP of content Sydney Suissa says the core channel has as little as 10% to 25% of its sked devoted to wildlife. "It's really focused on science and investigations... wildlife is just one of the genres we treat. The Wild channel will be exclusively about life in the animal kingdom."

Already on air in Hong Kong - in English and Cantonese - Nat Geo Wild's global rollout will happen over the next few months, says Suissa, with a launch in Singapore likely in October, and in European territories "in the not too distant future." With the budget dependent on how many territories the rollout covers, Suissa anticipates commissioning from 20 to 40 hours over the coming year.