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.

National Geographic removes Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk from the schedule as the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against him continues.

National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261) has now 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.

Meanwhile there's little clarity from FOX Networks Group as to whether the second season of the revived Cosmos with Neil deGrasse Tyson as presenter that is supposed to be broadcast from 3 March 2019 on National Geographic will actually go ahead or not.

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".

Several serious allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against the American astrophysicist with the investigation that is continuing.

"In order to allow the investigation to occur unimpeded, we chose to hold new episodes of StarTalk until it is complete. We expect that to happen in the next few weeks at which time we'll make a final decision," says National Geographic in a statement.

The 5th season of StarTalk started in November 2018 but is now gone after just 3 episodes, although several more episodes with guests like George R.R. Martin, former American vice-president Al Gore, Weird Al Yankovic, Bill Nye, Dan Rather, Jeff Goldblum, Jack Black, James Marsden and Anna Deavere Smith have already been produced for broadcast.

In a statement on Facebook, Neil deGrasse Tyson said he welcomes an investigation: "In any claim, evidence matters. Evidence always matters. But what happens when it's just one person's word against another's, and the stories don"t agree?"

"That's when people tend to pass judgment on who is more credible than whom. And that's when an impartial investigation can best serve the truth – and would have my full cooperation to do so."

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.

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.