National Geographic pushes launch of Cosmos' second season off the schedule as investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Neil deGrasse Tyson continues.

National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261) and parent FOX have pushed the launch of the second season of Cosmos from the schedule as the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Neil deGrasse Tyson continues.

Cosmos: Possible Worlds will no longer start on 3 March on FOX in the United States and on National Geographic worldwide as a "global event" as previously announced.

Last month National Geographic also removed Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk series from the schedule with completed episodes of the current 5th season not yet broadcast that have been shelved as the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against him continues.

Fox Networks Group hyped the return of Cosmos for a new season, produced by Ann Druyan's Cosmos Studios and Seth MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door Productions, as a "global event", but with the investigation continuing after several serious allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against the American astrophysicist, the next season of Cosmos has been shelved for now and there is no set broadcast date any longer.

"The credo at the heart of Cosmos is to follow the evidence wherever it leads," Cosmos producers said in late-2018 in a statement. "The producers of Cosmos can do no less in this situation. We are committed to a thorough investigation of this matter and to act accordingly as soon as it is concluded."

There's been no statement from FOX and National Geographic. It's not clear whether FOX and National Geographic plan to edit and recut the new Cosmos season without Neil deGrasse Tyson to replace his scenes with a new presenter.

FOX, National Geographic and Cosmos producers investigating Neil DeGrasse Tyson over sexual misconduct allegations.

FOX, National Geographic and the producers of the Cosmos series of which he is the presenter are investigating astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Two women on Thursday claimed that Neil deGrasse Tyson made inappropriate sexual advances.

"We have only just become aware of the recent allegations regarding Neil deGrasse Tyson. We take these matters very seriously and we are reviewing the recent reports," says FOX and National Geographic in a statement.

The producers of Cosmos in a statement says "The credo at the heart of Cosmos is to follow the evidence wherever it leads".

"The producers of Cosmos can do no less in this situation. We are committed to a thorough investigation of this matter and to act accordingly as soon as it is concluded."

The second season of the revived Cosmos is supposed to be broadcast from 3 March 2019 on National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261).

Katelyn Allers, a Bucknell University physics and astronomy professor, is accusing Neill deGrasse Tyson of groping her at a 2009 meeting of the American Astronomical Society.

Ashley Watson, a former assistant of Neil deGrasse Tyson, said he tried to persuade her to have sex with him and made inappropriate comments and as a result quit her job.


UPDATE SUNDAY 2 December 07:30:

Neil deGrasse Tyson in a statement on Facebook says "I've recently been publicly accused of sexual misconduct".

"These accusations have received a fair amount of press in the past 48 hours, unaccompanied by my reactions. In many cases, it's not the media's fault. I declined comment on the grounds that serious accusations should not be adjudicated in the press. But clearly I cannot continue to stay silent."

Neil deGrasse Tyson says he welcomes an independent investigation "which FOX/National Geographic (the networks on which Cosmos and StarTalk air) announced that they will conduct".

"I'm the accused, so why believe anything I say? Why believe me at all?"

"Accusations can damage a reputation and a marriage. Sometimes irreversibly. I see myself as loving husband and as a public servant – a scientist and educator who serves at the will of the public. I am grateful for the support I've received from those who continue to respect and value me and my work."

Next season of documentary series, Cosmos: Possible Worlds, to start on National Geographic on 3 March 2019.

The second season of the revived Cosmos documentary series, entitled Cosmos: Possible Worlds, will start on National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261) on Sunday, 3 March at 20:00.

Cosmos was renewed in January 2018 with Cosmos: Possible Worlds that will be broadcast on National Geographic in South Africa and Africa, including 172 countries and territories.

The second season of the rebooted Carl Sagan series retains the same creative team behind-the-scenes as during the first season of Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey, with Seth MacFarlane as executive producer, Ann Druyan as executive producer, writer and director and executive producers Brannon Braga and Jason Clark.

The renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will once again return as the presenter of the 13-episode second season that will again be broadcast worldwide on FOX in America and on National Geographic in the rest of the world.

National Geographic says "Continuing the legacy of its predecessors, Cosmos: Possible Worlds will translate the revelations of science into a lavishly transporting experience, taking audiences on a series of spiritual voyages of exploration".

"The new season will reveal previously uncharted realms, including lost worlds and worlds to come, and those that we may one day inhabit in a thrilling future we can still have."

Cosmos: Possible Worlds, produced by Cosmos Studios and Fuzzy Door Productions, will be accompanied with a simultaneous book release written by Ann Druyan with the same title.

Cosmos: Possible Worlds will go on sale from 19 February 2019 in the United States and worldwide.

National Geographic renews Cosmos with Neil deGrasse Tyson for a second season in 2019, entitled Cosmos: Possible Worlds.

National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261) has renewed Cosmos for a second season that will be broadcast in 2019, entitled Cosmos: Possible Worlds.

The second season of the rebooted Carl Sagan series will retain the same creative team behind-the-scens as during the first season of Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey, with Seth MacFarlane as executive producer, Ann Druyan as executive producer, writer and director and executive producers Brannon Braga and Jason Clark.

The renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will once again return as the presenter of the 13-episode second season that will again be broadcast worldwide on FOX in America and on National Geographic in the rest of the world.

Cosmos: Possible Worlds, produced by Cosmos Studios and Fuzzy Door Productions, will be accompanied with a simultaneous book release written by Ann Druyan with the same title.

"In the vastness of space and the immensity of time, the number of worlds to explore and stories to tell are virtually infinite," says National Geographic.

"The Cosmos television series transported a global audience to the farthest reaches and most deeply hidden recesses of the universe. In the course of those journeys, the series dramatized the lives of many of the forgotten searchers who contributed to the world’s understanding of who, when and where we are in the universe. Cosmos: Possible Worlds will venture to previously uncharted territories."

Thanks to global roll-out, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, becomes National Geographic Channel's new most-watched TV series ever.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey has become National Geographic Channel's (DStv 181) most watched TV series ever - luring 90 million viewers worldwide - due to its global roll-out strategy employed by Fox International Channels (FIC) with greater and greater success.

Besides reaching 45 million viewers on FOX and National Geographic Channel in the United States, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey attracted 90 million international viewers across its 13 episodes with presenter and astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson.

The series was shown on National Geographic Channels in 180 countries and extremely close to the broadcast of episodes in the United States in what is now becoming known as "a unified international scheduling approach" where different global regions air episodes within hours, days or a week of making its debut in America.

According to National Geographic Channel Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey created triple digit viewership increases in primetime or total day average viewership in countries ranging from Australia, Colombia, Croatia, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom.

"Cosmos has been a phenomenal ride for National Geographic Channels International (NGCI), establishing a new zeitgeist in television 30 years after the original series premiered," says Ward Platt, the chief executive officer of NGCI, in a statement.

"It has awakened global audiences to the wonders of the universe - and their own innate curiosity - in an inspiring way," says Ward Platt.

"Cosmos serves as a fantastic benchmark - illustrating the power of a fully integrated strategic vision, awe-inspiring content and the strengths of the FOX and National Geographic brands to create an outstanding viewing experience for audiences that repeats week after week," says Liz Dolan, the chief marketing officer of FIC and NGCI, in the statement.

BREAKING. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey starting in South Africa on 16 March at 19:10 on National Geographic Channel and FOX.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey will start on 16 March in South Africa at 19:10, a week after the United States launch date.

ALSO READ: Eye-popping new documentary series, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, coming to South African viewers in March on the National Geographic Channel.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey will be seen on multiple South African TV channels - including high definition (HD).

The first episode of the new National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) series will be shown on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 130) and National Geographic Channel at the same of 19:10 on 16 March. At 23:00 the same night, the first episode will also be shown on Nat Geo WILD (DStv 182).

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey will however not be shown on Nat Geo GOLD (StarSat 300), I'm told.

After the first episode, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey's other 12 episodes will continue on National Geographic Channel.

"The vision of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey inspired us to create a launch across all of our National Geographic Channels and FOX channels that will reach an unprecedented 400 million homes outside the United States," says Liz Dolan, the chief marketing officer of FOX International Channels (FIC) and National Geographic Channels International.

"Not only will the show premiere in 400 million homes, but in many of those homes it will be on two, three or four channels," says Liz Dolan.

Seth MacFarlane, a big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation (and the creator behind Family Guy and The Cleveland Show) is the executive producer of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey together with Brannon Braga of Star Trek fame.

 The 13 part, remarkable and eye-popping new documentary series serves as a visually, scientific and special effects rich update of the 1970's landmark series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage - you can almost call it Cosmos: The Next Generation.

In Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, presenter and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson boards a futuristic, teardrop like spaceship with the ability to go anywhere in the universe and in time, and then takes viewers on a dazzling, dreamscape-like journey through time and space.