by Thinus Ferreira
The National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD linear TV channels finally switched to high-definition (HD) on MultiChoice's DStv this week with National Geographic using the upgrade to unveil its upcoming Summer 2022 factual entertainment content slate for Africa, including its first pan-African kids show Team Sayari, more Bear Grylls, and the celebrity chef-adventurer Gordon Ramsay competing against other chefs and eventually also his own daughter in a new series.
After many years as standard-definition (SD) channels, National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD - also available on China's StarTimes and StarSat in Southern Africa - finally switched to high-definition (HD) on Wednesday on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV service in South Africa and across pan-African countries.
"The exciting line-up of National Geographic programming delivers on our core purpose to tell exceptional stories that ignite wonder and inspiration for people of all ages, enabling them to better understand the world and their place in it," said Christine Service, senior vice president and general manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa.
"We can't wait to bring these wildly entertaining documentary series, feature documentary films and extraordinary natural history shows from the best storytellers in the world to viewers across the continent, and especially in HD for the very first time."
Speaking at the National Geographic Africa Summer 2022 factual showcase about how The Walt Disney Company Africa keeps its collection of linear TV channels like National Geographic strong with vibrant, first-run content to keep these channels a compelling TV destination amidst the growth of video streaming, Christine Service said "our linear channels business is hugely important to us - and certainly on the African continent".
"We continue to produce vast amounts of for all of our different distribution platforms - our linear business, our direct-to-consumer [Disney+], for cinema. So we're just about great storytelling and great content that we can deliver in many different ways to audiences across the globe."
Tracy-Ann van Rooyen, senior manager for programming and scheduling at The Walt Disney Company Africa, said she's personally looking forward to keep watching Primal Survivor: Mighty Mekong, as well as another season of Running Wild with Bear Grylls.
"Hazen Audel is that real adventurer with that real spirit and he goes through the Mekong basin and it just happens to be monsoon season and he has to go through all of the treachery of climbing mountains. Every season of Primal Survivor has showcased this man's mental capacity to just overcome what he's doing."
"You as a viewer sit back and go 'why?' but it's that adventure spirit that you just keep tuning into. I've been a fan of Bear Grylls for many years and I love what he's done with Running Wild with Bear Grylls. Not only are you watching him teach survival skills but also going on an emotional journey".
"Gordon Ramsay's next series is Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered Showdown. He'll be going up against other Michelin-star chefs and in the final episode you'll see him go up against his own daughter. So it's really a question of practice what you preach, who did you raise?"
Amping up pan-African content
On supporting the South African and pan-African TV industry, Tracy-Ann van Rooyen said "we're doing the best we can with Team Sayari".
As National Geographic's first locally-produced pan-African children's production starting on Saturday 24 September at 13:00, Nat Geo hopes the series which features a group of young conservationists will be the springboard for even more local content.
"We're making sure that the story we're telling is pan-African and in South Africa we have our satellite production companies which are producing and telling the stories that you see, and we are briefing them from a National Geographic perspective - so grooming production teams in South Africa to be able to meet a brief that is of a National Geographic standard."
"Alongside that, we do have local series such as Snakes in the City and of course the stories being told by filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, so we are amping up."
From Arabia to athletes and Tut to cooking
Bear Grylls is back with Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge on Wednesday 28 September at 21:00 in which he goes on more survival outings with American celebrities ranging from Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman to Simu Liu and Anthony Anderson.
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The fourth season of Europe from Above will start on 28 September at 19:00 on National Geographic, tracking the changing seasons across a year in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Romania, Serbia and Scotland.
Lost Treasures Of Arabia starts on Friday 28 October at 19:00, investigating AlUla's unsolved
mysteries. This TV special reveals the historical heritage, natural assets and immense legacy of art that continues to inspire future
generations in this Middle-Eastern city.
To celebrate the centennial anniversary of the tomb of King Tutankhamen by Howard Carter 100 years ago in 1922, National Geographic will premiere Tut’s Toxic Tomb on Friday 18 and 25
November at 19:00, with library content King Tut in Color on
Friday 4 November at 19:00 and Tut’s Treasures, The Golden Pharaoh
on Friday 11 November at 19:00.
Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered Showdown starts on 9 November at 21:00 on National Geographic in which the Michelin-star faces off against those closest to him, including going head-to-head with his daughter Tilly in a culinary showdown.
The Navy veteran Big Moe Cason goes on an epic journey to seek out the most mouth-watering dishes cooked over an open flame in World of Flavour with Big Moe Cason starting on National Geographic on 30 November at 21:00, exploring the connections between American barbeque and cultures around the world.
The second season of Critter Fixers will premiere on Friday 11 November at 18:00 on Nat Geo WILD with Dr Hodges and Dr Ferguson, two longtime friends who operate their veterinary hospital in Georgia in the United States.
Edge of the Unknown starts on Sunday 25 December on National Geographic as an epic new 10-episode series by the Oscar producers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. Audiences get to go inside the minds of pioneering adventure athletes as they
recount the most consequential moments of their lives on their journey to
perfect the mastery of their craft.
