National Geographic Channel dropping the 'Channel' from its name permamently; adds 'Further' as a temporary tagline as the channel rebrands on 14 November.

National Geographic Channel is finally dropping the word "Channel" from its name permanently and is adding a temporary tagline "Further" in a global rebranding of the yellow frame TV channel and magazine group.

The rebranding of National Geographic Channel (DStv 181 / StarSat 220) will happen on 14 November to co-incide with the roll-out of the National Geographic's global event documentary series, Mars, about colonising the red planet.

South African and African viewers of the Fox Networks Group channel will see the new on-air imaging of National Geographic introduced on 14 November with the rebrand that will affect all 171 countries where the channel is seen, as well as the magazine as the nationalgeographic.com website "as we reimagine our business for the 21st century," says Declan Moore, CEO of National Geographic Partners.

"Further" as a global tagline "allows us to cement National Geographic in the minds of consumers, whether the magazine, the channels or the society," says Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of the National Geographic Society.

"Through our unmatched support of explorers, adventurers, scientists, educators, photographers and other storytellers, we aim to build a worldwide, public community of learners".

"This rebrand marks a significant turning point in the realisation of our transformational new vision for National Geographic," says Courteney Moore, CEO of National Geographic Global Television Networks.

"The new visual design is sophisticated, contemporary and cinematic and lives up to the promise of the National Geographic brand".

The new National Geographic on-air look will include new brand animations as well as the channel's stars doing what is called "talent IDs", including Jason Silva of Brain Games and Origins, Neil deGrasse Tyson (StarTalk) and Richard Bacon (Explorer).

Johnny Flynn, Geoffrey Rush to play young, old versions of Albert Einstein in National Geographic Channel's first scripted TV series, Genius.

The South African born actor and musician Johnny Flynn and Geoffrey Rush will play a young and old version of Albert Einstein in National Geographic Channel's (DStv 181) first scripted TV series entitled Genius.

The first season of the Genius anthology series is based on Walter Isaacson's Albert Einstein biography, Einstein: His Life and Universe, and production will start next month (September) in Prague.

As with several other FOX channels and National Geographic Channel shows the past two years, the Albert Einstein series with 10 episodes will start in South Africa and 170 other countries on the National Geographic Channel simultaneously in 2017.

The Albert Einstein drama will tell the story of a young Albert Einstein, years before he rose to fame - a period during which he was a lowly patent clerk who couldn't get an academic job, and long before his famous research and equations.

Each episode of Genius will explore Albert Einstein's scientific achievements, along with his volatile, passionate and complex personal relationships.

"The caliber of the Genius cast lives up to the show's title," says Carolyn Bernstein, the executive vice president and head of global scripted development and production at the National Geographic Channel.

"The supremely talented Geoffrey Rush is dream casting for the role of Albert Einstein, and Johnny Flynn not only is an incredible talent but also bears more than a passing resemblance to Rush."

"National Geographic's unwavering commitment to excellence and their support and passion for this project has helped us attract talent such as Geoffrey and Johnny. My excitement for this project grows every day, and I cannot wait to get started," says executive producer Ron Howard in the statement, who will also be the director of the first episode of Genius.

National Geographic Channel revamping Explorer into a weekly talk show series; Nat Geo and Nat Geo Wild announce new shows for 2016 and 2017.

The National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) has announced new shows for 2016 and 2017 while it's revamping its Explorer strand into a weekly "docu-talk" series that will have celebrity guests, field reports and talk show segments filmed in front of a live studio audience.

Explorer, done from New York, will start on National Geographic Channel in 2017 worldwide, including on the channel as seen on DStv in South Africa.

"The Explorer announcement marks a significant expansion in the scope and ambition of the series and emulates National Geographic's ongoing commitment to topical, entertaining and, most importantly, vital reporting," says Tim Pastore, president of original programming and production for National Geographic Channel.

"We are investing heavily in creative, entertaining projects that break the rules on how we report on the world and everything in it".

Other new National Geographic Channel projects include Lawless Oceans, a new 6-part documentary series scheduled for 2017 that will follow investigator Karsten von Hoesslin as he tries to solve the case of a murder at sea that was captured on video.

Jason Silva from Brain Games is the presenter of Origins, a new series that will look at how modern humanity took shape, with episodes focused on a single subject like fire, tools and transportation.

Chain of Command is a new 10-episode series in which National Geographic Channel will work with the Pentagon to look at what happens inside the American military in Afghanistan for a year.

Earth Live! is an event programming strand that will include showing wildlife activity from 7 continents.

Deep Freeze is a new documentary series that will look at the life-threatening working conditions for scientists in Antarctica studying the effects of climate change.

Parched is a new 4-episode series look at the world's water crisis.

Mars is a 6-episode series that is both scripted and unscripted and will be shown simultaneously on the National Geographic Channel. Mars tells the story of how man will eventually colonise Mars in 2032 as part of the first manned space mission to the red planet and will be broadcast at the end of this year.

Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182) is also getting three new unscripted series.

Animal ER follows animal rehabilitation in a Texas veterinary hospital.

Project Puppy will follow 6 families as they raise a puppy.

Pet Talk will be a new prime time talk show presented by two veterinarians, a wildlife expert and a field reporter.

National Geographic Channel orders pilot episode for possible new real-life drama series, The Black 22s, set in 1920's Prohibition era St. Louis.

The National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) has ordered a pilot episode for a potentitial new police drama series, The Black 22s with actor David Oyelowo.

The police drama is based on the real-life story of one of America's first all-black police teams and will focus on a black police detective during America's Prohibition era in St. Louis.

David Oyelowo will be a co-executive producer. "The Black 22s is the black Untouchables," says David Oyelowo. "Our goal is to serve up a kinetic and vibrant show that displays the excitement and energy of America in the 1920s, with a cinematic punch".

"It is a moving, muscular and resonant story that perfectly exemplifies the adage that truth is strange and more compelling than fiction," says Carolyn Bernstein, National Geographic's executive vice president of global scripted programming and production.

"It also represents the kind of timely and provocative storytelling that I hope will become a hallmark of National Geographic's new scripted initiative".

Thrilling TV special, Homo naledi: Dawn of Humanity, coming to National Geographic Channel on DStv on Sunday 7 February about Dinaledi cave fossil find.

A beautiful and utterly fascinating TV special, Homo Naledi: Dawn of Humanity, is coming to the National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) on Sunday 7 February at 20:05, going behind the scenes of the groundbreaking discovery and excavation of the extinct hominin species at the Dinaledi cave system at the Cradle of Humankind.

Homo naledi: Dawn of Humanity follows the elaborate excavation process and uses special effects to illustrate where homo naledi fits into paleoanthropology.

The great documentary special directed and produced by Graham Townsley, tells the tale of how cave explorers found the bones and then alerted the paleoanthropologist Lee Berger of the University of the Witwatersrand who realised that he needed to act immediately after seeing the first photos of what was found in the almost inaccessible Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star cave system.

Assembling a special team of experts, so far over 1 500 bones have been found, helping with a greater understanding of mankind's origins and development over millions of years.

The provocative TV special narrated by Jay O. Sanders takes viewers deep inside the treacherous descent of the cave, shows all the enigmatic finds, and uses wonderful graphics to explain what it all means and how it all fits together.

Homo naledi: Dawn of Humanity was filmed as the discoveries were made and the special shows how the ancient bones from so long ago could help to fill in a mysterious million year gap in the fossil record of mankind's evolution - while revealing clues about what makes us human.

National Geographic Channel orders its first scripted drama series, Blood Ivory, and two documentary series, One Strange Rock and Original Sin sex doc.

The National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) has ordered the Fox-owned factual entertainment channel's first real scripted drama series Blood Ivory set inside the illegal ivory trade.

National Geographic Channel also commissioned two new documentary series looking at the natural history of the Earth entitled One Strange Rock, as well as human sexuality, entitled Original Sin: How Sex Changed the World.

"National Geographic has strived to bring the horrors of the ivory trade to the forefront of the global conversation in recent years," says Courteney Monroe, National Geographic Global Networks CEO.

"With Blood Ivory, we are hoping to craft a smart, relevant and riveting drama series that will not only be entertaining under the guidance of some of the best storytellers working today, but also drive home the importance of ending a senseless war on the animal kingdom".

Blood Ivory, written by The Americans' Joshua Brand will look at the global network of illegal animals and ivory trade, and its connection to the trafficking of narcotics, people and weapons.

One Strange Rock as a new documentary series of 6 hour-long episodes will film for 100 weeks worldwide, exploring how Earth became what it is today.

"We're going to transport viewers on a mind-bending and thrilling visual adventure that will amaze and surprise," says Courteney Monroe about One Strange Rock.

Original Sin: How Sex Changed the World, produced by World of Wonder Production, will look at the sexual revolution over the past 5 decades in 6 hour-long episodes and how it has impacted pop culture, science, politics and society.

"In the footsteps of our decades-defining series about how pivotal moments, people and innovations shaped the '80s, '90s and 2000s, we now turn our attention to a subject that was once taboo, but that impacts everything around us,” says Tim Pastore, president of original programming and production for National Geographic Channel.

"This series will explore the myriad ways sex has evolved in public, from ancient art to being front and centre in best-selling novels, technology and politics".

Star Talk has been renewed for a third season.

National Geographic Channel commissioned Mygrations, tracking 'human herd' wildebeest journey facing predators and extreme conditions.

The National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) commissioned Mygrations, a new factual entertainment show in which a group of people will brace the weather, predators and extreme conditions as a "human herd" following a wildebeest migration in Africa.

Migrations, a 6 one-hour series, followed 20 elite male and female athletes, including former special forces members as well as zoologists, making a trek as a "human herd" encountering predators, the elements and dangerous conditions across rough terrain.

Mygrations, produced by October Films in the United Kingdom, will be broadcast on National Geographic Channel in the United States first, and then on the channel in the rest of the world and across Africa.

In Mygrations, the group embarked on a 6 week journey through the Serengeti to the Mara River without a compass, encoutering deep ravines, impassable bogs, scorching plains and raging rivers, as well as countless predators.

"Mygrations is a series that truly embraces National Geographic's pillars of exploration and adventure," says Tim Pastore, National Geographic Channel's global president of original programming and production.

"The human herd's journey not only pushes the limits of human spirit and capability in extreme conditions, but demonstrates the strengths and resilience our ancestors needed to survive"

"Mygrations will give viewers a visceral, heart-pounding experience – delivering gripping content together with breathtaking visuals of one of the most beautiful – and dangerous – places on earth," says Jos Cushing, Mygrations executive producer. "It's a living, unfolding experiment in the most epic lab on the planet".

Killing Patton about mysterious death of World War II general is the next Bill O'Reilly book turned into a TV adaptation by the National Geographic Channel.

The National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) is expanding its "Killing" docu-film franchise and is picking up Killing Patton as the next book-to-TV adaptation from the Fox News Channel (StarSat 261) anchor Bill O'Reilly.

Killing Patton as the 5th made-for-TV movie follows after Killing Reagan was announced exactly a month ago.

Killing Patton, produced by Scott Free Productions for the National Geographic Channel, will be a 4-hour miniseries and will be based on the book published by Bill O'Reilly in 2014.

Killing Patton revolves around the death of the World War II General George S. Patton who died under mysterious circumstances in the months after the end of the war.

"Scott Free Productions and National Geographic Channel have done a brilliant job bringing to life the towering historical figures in my Killing series, and I'm very confident our continued partnership will yield a gripping film about General Patton's tragic death," says Bill O'Reilly in a statement.

Anthony Peckham who is writing the script is also the executive producer, together with Bill O'Reilly, Ridley Scott, David Zucker, Mary Lisio, Teri Weinberg and Charlie Parsons.

"With their unique historical insights, absorbing narratives and A-list talent on screen and behind the scenes, the Killing films have proven must-see hits with audiences all over the world," says Tim Pastore, National Geographic's president of original programming.

"We are very excited to be re-teaming with Bill O'Reilly and Scott Free to add Killing Patton to our scripted slate."

"We’re also thrilled to have screenwriter Anthony Peckham come on board to help bring this project to life, especially given his past successes in delivering iconic characters to the big screen that have garnered critical acclaim and resonated with audiences around the globe".

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.

National Geographic Channel reteaming with Bill O'Reilly for next movie, Killing Reagan, about the assassination attempt on the American president.

As usual there's not as much as a single word from FOX International Channels or FOX International Channels Africa (FIC Africa) about this, but National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) has announced that the factual entertainment channel will produce the next movie based on Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard's book, Killing Reagan.

Killing Reagan about the attempted assassination attempt on American president Ronald Reagan, will follow in the previous National Geographic Channel films Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy and Killing Jesus.

Since Ronald Reagan survived the assassination attempt, Killing Reagan will be different - it will look at how the attack impacted his presidency, shaped America and influenced power within the White House.

"Over the past three years, Scott Free Productions and National Geographic Channels have been incredible partners in bringing my books to life, and I'm confident Killing Reagan will be no different," says Bill O'Reilly in a statement.

"Their formula for translating these stories from the page to the screen, using A-list talent both in front of and behind the camera, has proven to be successful with both audiences and the industry at large."

Killing Reagan will be broadcast on National Geographic Channel in 2016 and is executive produced by Ridley Scott, David Zucker, Mary Lisio and Bill O'Reilly.

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 21 September 2015

SABC's Hlaudi Motsoeneng embroiled in staff intimidation.
Case opened at Brixton police station last week. Nadiva Schraibman told to stay quiet and not talk to the media. Got a threatening message while working on documentary about Desmond Tutu, purportedly from the SABC's chief operating officer (COO).

StarSat will broadcast the FIFA Under/17 World Cup matches.
but can't bother to tell South Africa's TV critics or the press after StarTimes acquired the sport rights.

ITV's Downton Abbey draws lowest viewership ever for a season premiere episode.
The 6th and final season's first episode had 7.6 million viewers in the United Kingdom.

Jana Bennett now the president and general manager of A+E Networks' History (DStv 186).
The former BBC Worldwide president immediately promoted to being the boss of History, based in New York.

Trailer for The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story.
Flat acting but looks good. No broadcasting dates yet for this upcoming movie and the 90210 one on Lifetime (DStv 131) in South Africa.

Stop meddling with the BBC says Europe's media bosses.
Urge the United Kingdom to stop breaking the BBC and to protect its independence.

DStv subscribers flock to MultiChoice demanding compensation.
MultiChoice no longer repairs or supplies old SD PVRs or DualView decoders and won't repair or replace them. Tele marketing agency On Air takes weeks to help DStv subscribers and consumer columnist has to help.

Trevor Noah tells Stephen Colbert that Jon Stewart is "the Jewish Yoda".
"You can't live up to Jon Stewart. It's insane," says Trevor Noah who takes over The Daily Show next week on Comedy Central (DStv 122).

Jenna Coleman has dumped Doctor Who on the BBC.
Confirms that she has filmed her last scenes as Clara.

National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) will have a second season of
Years of Living Dangerously. Will play out in 171 countries, including South Africa.

National Geographic Channel goes looking for God in new series, The Story of God, with Morgan Freeman, set for global broadcast in 2016.

The National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) is launching a search for God with a new series, The Story of God, set to broadcast globally on the channel in 2016 with presenter Morgan Freeman.

Morgan Freeman, who also presented Discovery Networks' scientific exploration series Through the Wormhole, will go on a global exploration, looking at mankind's quest to find and understand God.

"Man's relationship to God is the most important question in the history of humanity," says Morgan Freeman. "This ambitious expedition through the ages and around the globe seeks to understand how faith has shaped our lives, no matter what religion or belief."

The Story of God will be produced by Revelations Entertainment with James Younger, Lori McCreary and Morgan Freeman all as executive producers.

According to National Geographic Channel, Morgan Freeman will "embark on an epic exploration and intimate reflection on God, immersing himself in religious experiences and rituals all around the world, as well as becoming a test subject in scientific labs to examine how the frontiers of neuroscience and cosmology are intersecting the traditional domain of religion".

The Story of God will be shown in 171 countries and territories in 2016 on the National Geographic Channel.

Each episode of The Story of God will centre around one big question about the divine, from the mystery of creation, to the true power of miracles, to the promise of resurrection.

"These timeless and universal mysteries impact people from every faith," says the National Geographic Channel.

Morgan Freeman will be on the ground at some of humanity's greatest religious sites.

He will visit Jerusalem's Wailing Wall, the Vatican, India's Bodhi Tree, abandoned Mayan temples in the Guatemalan jungle and the Lakewood megachurch in Texas.

He will also travel with archaeologists to uncover some of the long-lost religions like the 10 000 year old ruins at Gobekli Tepe in Turkey and the ancient Celtic monument at Stonehenge.

"The Story of God is one of the greatest mysteries and most important ideas in the world," says Morgan Freeman. "For me, this is a personal and enduring quest to understand the divine."

Courteney Monroe, National Geographic Channels CEO, calls The Story of God "an epic and very personal journey to understand mankind's religious devotion".

"Blending science, history, anthropology and personal experience, we're harnessing the power of the National Geographic brand and our unparalleled global reach to tell a meaningful and awe-inspiring story of religion and spirituality, across disciplines and faiths."

"With Morgan Freeman as our storyteller, we're going to produce a visually stunning and thought-provoking series that will spur meaningful conversations about God and faith, by believers and non-believers alike," says Lori McCreary, executive producer from Revelations Entertainment.

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.

Hubble's Cosmic Journey, looking at NASA's famous space telescope project, starts on National Geographic Channel, Saturday 25 April at 20:10

Hubble's Cosmic Journey starts on National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) on Saturday 25 April at 20:10 as the National Geographic Channel will turn the lens on one of NASA's most successful science projects yet.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Hubble telescope which was sent into space in 24 April 1990. The flawed telescope nearly broke NASA but was saved by an audacious Space Shuttle mission to repair it 3 years later.

The Hubble has continued to capture iconic images of previously unseen galaxies and star forming regions, like the famous Eagle and the Horsehead nebulae, and has sent back images of galaxies that's over 13 billion years old.

Hubble's Cosmic Journey is presented by Neil deGrasse Tyson, and will include revealing interviews with the  key players behind the saga of NASA's groundbreaking telescope, as well as astronomers and cosmologists like Stephen Hawking.

Hubble's Cosmic Journey is produced by Bigger Bang Productions.

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 12 April 2015.

Pressure is mounting on the SABC to suspend its head of news, Jimi Matthews over allegations of assault.
Jimi Matthews has not been suspended for allegedly assaulting a female SABC technician; Jimi Matthews appeared before a grievance hearing at the SABC this past Tuesday but it was postponed to 21 April because witnesses were not there.


Acting SABC board chairman Obert Maguvhe says the fired SABC board members are gone.
"Once we remove a person, they are removed" he says over the recently fired Hope Zinde, Rachel Kalidass and Ronnie Lubisi. Meanwhile Joyce Moloi-Moropa, the chairperson of parliament's communications portfolio committee, did get a legal opinion after the minister of communications, Faith Muthambi said the SABC is a state-run company and the SABC board members were fired according to that act.


"Diabolical and secret" MultiChoice and SABC deal over SABC News and SABC Entertainment channels criticised
Although SABC News (DStv 404) and the SABC Entertainment channel which will be launched soon on DStv are produced by the SABC as a public broadcaster, these two channels are exclusively made and available only for MultiChoice and no other satellite TV broadcasters.

Read the entire SABC MultiChoice SABC News SABC Entertainment channels contract here as a public interest document, publicly available, involving South Africa's public broadcaster, as part of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) case it is making at South Africa's Competition Tribunal.

National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) now wants to get into drama series.
After the recent success of Killing Jesus, and following Discovery Channel's Klondike and others, the factual channel now wants to do full-length drama series and drama mini-series as part of a drama strategy since "the market is changing".

MultiChoice Swaziland isn't scared of looming competition in Swaziland.
Swazi Observer reports that digital terrestrial television (DTT) in Swaziland will bring 20 new TV channels - Swazi TV, Channel S, as well as 12 state broadcaster TV channels, and 6 TV channels from new players in the market. MultiChoice says competition will "stimulate the market".

FOX is working on new drama series, Aftermath.
Like The Last Ship the drama will revolve around what happens when a deadly worldwide flu pandemic breaks out.

The first trailer for the new upcoming science fiction drama series Dark Matter.
In this new drama series starting in June, six people wake up on a derelict spaceship and have no idea who they are, how they got there, or why. Each one has a special skill. And they're "dangerous". Dark Matter is from the writer-producers of Stargate.

Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 25 March 2015.

South Africa's set-top box tender for DTT delayed ... AGAIN.
Digital terrestrial television (DTT) further stalled with new drama and a legal battle looming over the tender process for the multi-billion rand set-top box (STB) manufacturing tender.
Meanwhile the switch from analogue to digital TV will cost South African viewers, consumers and the TV industry billions of rand which is not budgeted for.


BBC decision on Jeremy Clarkson 24 hours away.
The star of Top Gear on BBC Entertainment (DStv 120) will know his fate in a day, says a BBC executive, after an inquiry about on-set "fracas". Jeremy Clarkson will be fired Wednesday (today) by the BBC, reports The Telegraph.


National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) bans CNN reporter from Killing Jesus media premiere.
Sarcastic National Geographic Channel spokesperson Chris Alberts "thanks" journalist Tom Kludt for the "extra attention". National Geographic Channel banned the journalist due to "negative coverage" of Bill O'Reilly - who is on FOX News Channel, which is part of the group Nat Geo belongs to.
Nat Geo banned Tom Kludt from the entire Killing Jesus event and denied his media accreditation "out of respect for Bill O'Reilly and because there allegedly isn't space alongside the red carpet.
And ... How National Geographic blatantly intimidated Society Matters until it just closed down last year.

The Empire strikes back.
FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131) sues to keep the name Empire for its TV show - after a real-life record label with the word Empire says the show is causing "trademark dilution by tarnishment" because it is about "a label run by a homophobic drug dealer prone to murdering his friends." ... Yet the record label wants its own stars to appear in Empire.


Mad Men's Jon Hamm went to rehab for alcohol addiction.
Jon Hamm completed a 30-day stay to dry out and "completed treatment for his struggle with alcohol addiction".


The real reason why FOX is reviving The X-Files.
With The X-Files coming back after 13 years to TV its actually more about making the past 9 seasons which also belong to FOX more relevant and appetising to streaming services like Netflix - FOX will monetise The X-Files when new episodes stir interest in people wanting to watch the old episodes.
Also, the revived The X-Files will actually benefit from an older Mulder and Scully. And 7 things that need to happen in the new The X-Files.

National Geographic Channel commissions a 2-hour TV special building a T-Rex dinosaur; revives its Explorer documentary strand.

National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) has commissioned a 2-hour TV special which will show scientists, veterinarians and anatomists constructing an anatomically correct Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur.

The dinosaur reconstruction TV special will make use of cutting-edge special effects, using the input from the specialists.

National Geographic Channel is also reviving its documentary strand, Explorer after an absence of five years.

"Explorer is the quintessential blue-chip National Geographic Channel series, and we're excited to be bringing it back," says Tim Pastore, National Geographic Channel's president of original programming and production.

Explorer, produced by National Geographic Studios, will be shown on National Geographic Channel on DStv in South Africa as well as 171 other countries worldwide.

National Geographic Channel to show Killing Jesus globally in South Africa and 171 countries.

National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) will show the new film, Killing Jesus, based on the book by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard in the United States as well as 171 countries.

The "three-hour television event" will be shown in South Africa and globally, and which is a retelling of the "behind-the-scenes life and death of Jesus".

Killing Jesus will be shown on National Geographic Channel on DStv in South Africa and in Africa on 5 April at 19:10.

Killing Jesus is the third collaboration between the National Geographic Channel, Scott Free and Bill O'Reilly whose first two projects together, Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln, were nominated for Emmys.

Scott Free Productions filmed Killing Jesus in the Moroccan desert with a crew of 250 and more than 4 500 extras, with 93 speaking roles.

Killing Jesus is a historical and dramatic reflection of Jesus' message and preachings which led to his persecution and execution by conspirators who saw him as a threat to their power, placing familiar Biblical characters under a new lens to give them layers of meaning rarely explored before.

Kelsey Grammer plays King Herod, the Roman king of Judea who tried to kill Jesus at his birth, and Stephen Moyer as Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who ordered Jesus' crucifixtion.

Wicked Tuna on National Geographic Channel renewed for a 4th season of the icy docu-reality series.

The popular docu-reality show Wicked Tuna on National Geographic Channel (DStv 181) has been renewed for a 4th season.

Wicked Tuna is produced by Pilgrim Studios, which is also producing the new spin-off series, Wicked Tuna: North vs South.

The new 4th season of Wicked Tuna is set to start on National Geographic Channel in 2015.

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.