National Geographic commissions its Drain the Oceans specials franchise for a full 10-episode series for broadcast later in 2018.

National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261) has greenlit a more extensive series of its "Drain the Oceans" franchise, with a 10-episode Drain the Oceans series that will be produced for broadcast on the channel and shown in 172 countries later this year.

Drain the Oceans, a co-production between Mallinson Sadler Productions in the United Kingdom and Australia's Electric Pictures, will use underwater scanning technology to remove the water from the Earth's oceans in a special effects "draining" effect to show what lies beneath.

The hour long episodes of Drain the Oceans will combine scientific data with state-of-the-art reconstructions to examine shipwrecks, sunken cities, geology and technology on the floor of lakes, seas and oceans around the world.

The China Seas, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean, the Nile, the Pacific Rim, the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea will be among the sea beds explored throughout the series.

Putting water’s influence aside, Drain the Oceans aims to explain how vessels sank, how modern tech operates in challenging climates, what ancient geological formations can tell us about life on Earth, where Nazi secrets may reside and why the search for Atlantis is still on.

Drain the Oceans is an international commission from Hamish Mykura, executive vice president and head of international content for National Geographic, in London.

"We had several successful stand-alone Drain The Oceans specials that, one after the other, resonated with audiences all over the world, so we're very proud to be diving into a full-series commitment," says Hamish Mykura.

Crispin Sadler and Mark Fielder will executive produce for Mallinson Sadler with Phil Craig, Andrew Ogilvie and Andrea Quesnelle executive producing for Electric Pictures. Carolyn Payne is executive producer for National Geographic.

"I am thrilled to be joining Crispin Sadler, the team at Mallinson Sadler and National Geographic to produce this landmark series," says Andrew Ogilvie of Electric Pictures.

"By combining resources, we are able to harness the skills and experience of some of the most talented television professionals in both the United Kingdom and Australia to produce a very high-quality series that will delight audiences wherever it is shown."

"It is a truly global project that takes the 'draining' technique of using CGI to peel back the ocean, and other large bodies of water, to reveal what lies below and applies it on a much larger scale than has been seen before."

Second season of MARS on National Geographic starts filming in Budapest; new 6 episodes will be set even further into the future.

The second season of the fictional and anchored by real-life science and astronomy docu-drama series, MARS on National Geographic (DStv 181) has started filming in Budapest and has added several additional actors to the cast.

MARS - interspliced with real-world scientists talking about various challenges surrounding a manned mission to Mars - tells the fictionalised futuristic recreation of mankind's first manned mission to the red planet.

National Geographic renewed Mars for a second season in mid-January 2017.

In March it was a little bit awkward when Hamish Mykura, the executive vice president for programming and development at National Geographic, briefly visited South Africa and did a presentation at MultiChoice's DStv Media Showcase.

I've watched all the episodes of the first season of MARS on National Geographic that was put on DStv Catch Up with the show that of course ends on a cliffhanger with - spoiler alert! - the explorers finally discovering life on Mars in the final scenes.

I therefore asked Hamish Mykura if he can reveal just a little bit of how the second season of MARS will proceed, given that the show is anchored by real-life science to give possible solutions to the problems faced on Mars, but with MARS that will now obviously have to venture even further into more speculative "science fiction" territory.

"We are looking at a next series, but nothing announced yet," Hamish Mykura told me.

Oh-kay.

With filming that has now started, the new 6 episodes of the second season of MARS will take place several years further into the future, with the new season of Ron Howard's Imagine Entertainment and Brian Grazer's Radical Media that will be broadcast on National Geographic in 2018.

Dee Johnson is the new showrunner of the second season. "This season takes us literally into new territory."

"With no laws, no government and no safety nets of any kind, what is it like to be among the first settlers of Mars? Not only do we explore dangers and mysteries of this brand-new world, but we also explore what it means to be human in a place where so few exist."

By now the Daedalus astronauts have built a full-fledged colony called Olympus Town and the second season will examine mankind's impact on Mars and the planet's impact on humanity.

Back in their roles from the first season are JiHAE as Hanna Seung (mission pilot) who also plays twin sister Joon Seung (capsule communicator of mission control); Sammi Rotibi as Robert Foucault (Nigerian mechanical engineer and roboticist); Alberto Ammann as Javier Delgado (hydrologist and geochemist); Clémentine Poidatz as Amelie Durand, (French mission physician and biochemist); Anamaria Marinca as Marta Kamen (a Russian exobiologist and geologist); and Cosima Shaw as Leslie Richardson (British nuclear physicist).

New actors have joined the second season of MARS: Esai Morales, Roxy Sternberg, Gunnar Cauthery, Levi Fiehler, Evan Hall, Akbar Kurtha and Jeff Hephner.

Esai Morales will play Roland St. John (CEO of private enterprise Lukrum Corporation); Roxy Sternberg is Jen Carson (operation forewoman at the Lukrum mining colony); Gunnar Cauthery plays Lt. Michael Glenn (newest addition to Olympus Town and second in command); Levi Fiehler will play Cameron Pate (molecular biologist tech in Olympus Town); Evan Hall is Shep Master (the wild card of the Lukrum crew); Akbar Kurtha is Dr. Johar (psychologist) and Jeff Hephner is Kurt Hurrelle, leader of the Lukrum mining colony.

More restructuring of National Geographic's international management and programming division with programming decisions now made in America.

The top management restructuring of National Geographic is continuing with more decisions regarding the global programming seen on the range of National Geographic Channels like National Geographic, NatGeo WILD and NatGeo Gold on MultiChoice's DStv and StarTimes Media SA's StarSat that will be made in the United States instead of London and Europe.

Hamish Mykura is now becoming the executive vice president of programming and development for National Geographic Global Networks.

Hamish Mykura will be reporting directly to Tim Pastore, the United States boss who will now oversee National Geographic's unscripted programming globally as president of original programming and production at National Geographic Global Networks.

Hamish Mykura was previously the executive vice president and head of international content.

Hamish Mykura will stay in National Geographic's London headquarters which will continue to commission some international content, although the bulk of commissioning will now be done from Washington DC in the United States from now on.

Jules Oldroyd, the senior vice president of programming strategy and development at National Geographic in London will be moving to Washington.

Jules Oldroyd will now be reporting to Brad Dancer, the executive vice president of programme planning and research, so that National Geographic can better align global roll-outs for premium programming worldwide. Brad Dancer's scope increases internationally.

Heather Moran's role is also increased and as executive vice president for programming, strategy and operations it will widen from just the United States to now include oversight of global production operations of National Geographic.

Liz Dolan, chief marketing officer for Fox International Channels (FIC) will now also be the interim chief marketing officer for National Geographic's channels globally and report to Courteney Monroe.

"By aligning my senior team to serve the global interests of the channels, we are now even better positioned to become the world's leading destination for premium science, adventure and exploration programming," says Courteney Monroe, who was appointed as the new CEO of National Geographic Global Networks in November 2015.

Courteney Monroe appointed as the new CEO of National Geographic Global Networks; Ward Platt the new COO of National Geographic Partners.

Courteney Monroe has been appointed as the new CEO of National Geographic Global Networks.

Courteney Monroe now becomes the new National Geographic Channels boss who will be in charge of channels like National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) and Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182).

She will oversee global programming, operations and global marketing for the portfolio of National Geographic Channels worldwide, and will also be in charge of National Geographic Studios, the in-house TV production studio making shows like Brain Games and Explorer.

Courteney Monroe had been the CEO of National Geographic Channels in the United States.

Meanwhile Ward Platt, currently the chief operating officer (COO) of Fox International Channels and CEO of National Geographic Channels International has been appointed in the new position of COO of National Geographic Partners.

In this position Ward Platt will oversee the entire portfolio of National Geographic Partners' businesses, including channels distribution, advertising revenue, digital publishing, licensing, travel and consumer products. He will also look after the National Geographic Partners' international operations.

Hamish Mykura, National Geographic Channels International vice president and head of content remains in his position.

The appointments come after 21st Century Fox completed its deal to take majority control of National Geographic and started firing 10% of the overall staff earlier this month.

"Upon completing the transaction to form National Geographic Partners, we are thrilled to bring these incredibly talented executives to the senior leadership team," says Declan Moore, CEO of National Geographic Partners chief Moore said in a statement.

"We're excited to officially begin our journey to bring a new and integrated National Geographic experience to people worldwide, and I look forward to partnering with Ward Platt and working with Susan Goldberg, Courteney Monroe and Jeffrey Schneider to share the National Geographic mission with an even larger audience," says Declan Moore.

Sky Vision Productions producing Nepal earthquake documentary special, Earthquake on Everest, for the National Geographic Channel.

Following the devastation, a Nepal earthquake documentary, Earthquake on Everest, is soon coming to National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) as a TV special, produced by Sky Vision Productions.

Earthquake on Everest (which will be known as The Day Everest Shook for Sky's Sky 1 TV channel) is produced by Sky Vision Productions in association with Sky News (DStv 402) with the award-winning producer and director Dick Bower.

Earthquake on Everest will combine footage from several teams on the ground in Nepal, expert testimony from world-renowned scientists as well as computer-generated effects to illustrate and show how the devastating earthquake occurred and why it happened.

"The earthquake ... unleashed multiple avalanches on Mount Everest, resulting in the worst disaster the mountain has ever recorded," says Danny Tipping, the executive producer and director of programming and development at Sky Vision Productions.

"The film will also include the latest findings from the world's leading geologists to establish what can be done to identify when and where the next earthquake might strike," says Danny Tipping.

"The magnitude of the tragedy in Nepal has touched people all over the globe," says Hamish Mykura, the executive vice president and head of international content for National Geographic Channel.

"This is a chance to examine the human cost and share astonishing stories of survival with viewers all over the world. Even now - as the shockwaves subside - seismologists are attempting to learn lessons from the quake. This documentary will reveal the science behind the news story."

Earthquake on Everest will be broadcast on the National Geographic Channel on 21 June at 20:05 South African time with three repeat braodcasts after that.

National Geographic Channels International unveils new upcoming shows for 2013 going behind Dubai airport and tough jobs in Russia.

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has announced new upcoming programming which South African viewers will start to see on the National Geographic Channel (DStv 260) on MultiChoice's DStv in 2013.

The shows commissioned by NGCI's international content unit in London include Dubai: Ultimate Airport, Vinnie Jones' Toughest Russia and Preppers UK: Surviving Armageddon (above).

Dubai: Ultimate Airport is a 10 part series from Arrow Media going behind the scenes at the incredibly busy airport.

Preppers UK: Surviving Armageddon is a British version of the American show which South African viewers can see already on the National Geographic Channel about people making their own amateur yet astounding preparations should a global calamity befall civilization so that they can survive.

Vinnie Jones' Toughest Russia sees Vinnie Jones taking on some of the toughest jobs and lifestyles in Russia, from being a bodyguard to a policeman.

"From capturing the tension and complexity of operating a very large, dynamic airport to following Vinnie Jones' quest to uncover the grit and glory behind Russia's toughest jobs, NGCI's newly commissioned programming slate offers viewers extraordinary access to some of the world's most remarkable people and places - all delivered by some of the brightest producers in the field," says Hamish Mykura, the executive vice president and the head of international content for NGCI.

National Geographic Channels International appoints Edward Sayer as its new commissioning editor.

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has appointed Edward Sayer as its new commissioning editor.

Edward Sayer will be based in London and be working under Hamish Mykura, NCGI's executive vice president and head of international content. Edward Sayer will be developing series and TV specials for the company's bouquet of channels around the world, says NCGI in a press statement. He will be taking over the role in mid-September.

"Ed Sayer has a great creative track-record, lots of energy and experience in developing and producing popular series," says Hamish Mykura.

"He's a perfect fit for National Geographic Channel's exciting new phase. This continued expansion of our London-based content hub places us in an excellent position to work with the very best program makers and identify fascinating and entertaining formats and storytelling that can lift the channel to new heights."