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.

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

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Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey is coming to South African viewers in March on National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) with Fox International Channels (FIC) which has added the new series to debut in South Africa and Africa at the same time as it will be shown internationally.

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.

 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.

FIC Africa which has Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey for National Geographic Channel on MultiChoice's DStv platform has not yet made any announcement for it, but the breathtaking new documentary series will start in March for South Africa viewers extremely close to the American starting date of 9 March.

FIC and National Geographic Channel in fact will launch Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey on all 90 National Geographic Channels in 180 territories within a week of the show starting in the United States, with the 13 episodes which will roll out within a week or sooner around the globe.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey will work like The Walking Dead on FOX which FIC rolls out globally as soon as possible following the American broadcasting date and with great success.

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 FIC and National Geographic Channels International.

"We have done global launches across all of our Fox entertainment channels for shows like The Walking Dead. We have done global launches across all of our National Geographic Channels for shows like Brain Games."

"But we have never put the combined FIC power of our entertainment channels and our National Geographic Channels behind one show and premiered it day and date with the United States," says Liz Dolan.