Tim Pastore out as president for original programming at National Geographic, Geoff Daniels to take over until a replacement can be found.

Tim Pastore is out at National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261) where he was president of original programming and production for the past 4 years. His last day was Friday 1 June.

Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager of Nat Geo WILD will be overseeing unscripted content for both National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD (DStv 182 / StarSat 221 / Cell C black 262) until a permanent replacement can be found.

"It goes without saying that Tim was an instrumental part of our transformation, and I will be forever grateful to Tim and his team for dedicating themselves to our new programming vision," said Courteney Monroe, National Geographic Global Networks CEO in a memo to National Geographic Partners staff.

She alluded to Disney's possible takeover of 21st Century Fox, that includes Fox Networks Group and National Geographic's set of channels.

"I know change is hard, especially at a time when we face uncertainty as a company, but rest assured that Geoff and I both have a clear vision for what we need to do and we are excited, as we enter a new fiscal year, to continue along our transformational path."

Tim Pastore in a memo to staffers said "I wanted to write to you personally to let you know that after four incredible years as president of programming for National Geographic Channels, I have decided that it's time to pursue new opportunities".

National Geographic commissions new 6-part documentary series, Hostile Planet, looking at the way animals have found to survive in inhospitable places.

National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261) has commissioned a new 6-part documentary series, Hostile Planet, that will be looking at the way in which animals have found ways to survive and adapt in some of the world's most inhospitable places.

Hostile Planet will be produced by director Guillermo Navarro who will also serve as executive director, and Plimsoll Productions.

"Set against the backdrop of a more violent and volatile climate, the battles for survival take on a new urgency as animals face intensified wildfires, blizzards, droughts and downpours. To some, the new challenges are too much, but for others, it presents new opportunities," says National Geographic.

Hostile Planet uses new camera technology to allow a close-up vantage point as the animals navigate through their changing landscapes. Each episode explores one the planet's roughest environments – including jungles, mountains, deserts, oceans, the poles and grasslands – and how each of its inhabitants acclimate to its turn of events.

"The series celebrates the surprising resiliency of animals that survive and thrive in the face of adversity," says Tim Pastore, National Geographic president of original production and programming in a statement.

"Not only do we showcase animals during their most dramatic, culminating moments, we also explore the consequences of a changing climate by immersing the viewer into an emotional narrative."

Guillermo Navarro says "It's an incredible honor to bring my vision to life with National Geographic, which is known for its unparalleled wildlife storytelling. With Hostile Planet, I am able to build a visual narrative to capture environments where species face the most critical state of our times."

"National Geographic permits us to push the boundaries of this genre as only this network can do," says Grant Mansfield, CEO of Plimsoll Productions. "With this freedom, we are creating a dynamic saga of life on Earth that’s exhilarating and fascinating. Just because there's life, it doesn't mean living is easy."

National Geographic renews The Story of God with Morgan Freeman for a 3rd season to be broadcast in 2019.

National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261) has renewed The Story of God with Morgan Freeman for a third season.

The third season of The Story of God that will be broadcast on National Geographic in 2019 in 172 countries and 43 languages, will once again see actor Morgan Freeman go on an international journey as he discovers the power of religion and how it touches all of our lives.

Morgan Freeman will travel to some of the world’s holiest sites and speak with religious leaders, scientists, historians and archaeologists to try to shed light on questions about the puzzle of the divine laws.

Each episode of the 3rd season of The Story of God will focus on a different topic about the divine to help shed light on the questions that inspired mankind.

Executive producers include Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary and James Younger of Revelations Entertainment.

“We are pleased to expand our partnership with Morgan, Lori, James and the entire Revelations Entertainment team on another season of The Story of God,” says Tim Pastore, National Geographic president of original programming and production.

“Our viewers around the world have had an incredible response to the series thus far, and we’re excited to see where else this team might take us.”

Phil Keoghan taking over as presenter of Explorer on National Geographic; show retooled yet again with the new 20-episode season that will visit far-flung places.

Phil Keoghan is taking over as the new presenter of Explorer on National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261), replacing the BBC presenter Richard Bacon.

National Geographic cancelled Explorer in 2010 but then revived it in 2016 as a weekly talk show series “mixing intrepid field pieces, round-table discussions and in-depth interviews”.

Now National Geographic is now once again adapting and rebooting Explorer for its latest upcoming season starting it's broadcast later in 2018, taking Explorer out of the studio and into the world with a new season of 20 episodes, produced by National Geographic Studios, visiting far-flung, real-world places.

The presenter known for his work on The Amazing Race will venture into far-flung regions to meet with National Geographic Explorers on the front lines of groundbreaking scientific, technological and historical discoveries for the new Explorer season that is currently in production.

The new Explorer will premiere on National Geographic in 172 countries and 43 languages.

“Phil embodies what it means to be a National Geographic Explorer - he's undoubtedly interested and curious about investigating the relationship between the Earth and human life,” says Tim Pastore, president of original programming and production at National Geographic.

“Explorer is a show about informing and entertaining, and we’re confident that with Phil as presenter, he will be the catalyst for viewers to understand the way we fit into the world.”

Phil Keoghan says “I have been sharing stories in front of a camera for the past 30 years, and I am thrilled to partner with National Geographic again on such an iconic series that is rooted in fueling the adventurous spirit found in all of us.”

“I look forward to taking viewers with me on adventures around the globe to learn how we shape the world through adventure, curiosity and understanding.”

The season’s correspondents on Explorer include Francesca Fiorentini, journalist, comedy writer and host and producer of Al Jazeera's AJ+; and Ryan Duffy, a journalist who has scaled empty high-rises in China’s Ghost Towns.

Also included are Jago Cooper, a British archaeologist, National Geographic Explorer and the curator of the Americas at the British Museum; journalist Cara Santa Maria; musician Sal Masekela; documentary filmmakers Gaelareh Darabi, Tim Samuels, Mariana van Zeller and Alexandra Roca; and innovator Albert Lin.

Subjects that Explorer will cover in upcoming episodes of the new season include:

Light Riders – The show embeds with a group of Silicon Valley-backed Tanzanians who carry solar panels to remote areas and bring electricity to villagers for the first time in their lives.

The Future of Farming – With the world population on track to exceed 9 billion by 2050, how will we feed the world? The show heads to Europe, where one country may have already discovered a path toward averting global disaster through amazing technological innovation.

Godfather of Gaza – The show investigates the illicit and highly dangerous underground system of Hamas-run tunnels in the Gaza Strip. Correspondent Mariana van Zeller gains unparalleled access to a tunnel run by a businessman intent to dig his way to a better life for the people of Gaza.

Sensory Substitution – Using advanced technology, a group of scientific pioneers re-create missing senses and push the limits of human perception.

Saltwater Crocs – Once on the brink of extinction, Australia’s saltwater crocodiles are making a comeback with alarming consequences. The exploding crocodile population is fueled, in part, by demand from fashion brands.

Will Smith to present the new National Geographic event series, One Strange Rock, produced by Darren Aronofsky, starting March 2018.

Actor Will Smith has been announced as the presenter of the new limited event series, One Strange Rock, coming to National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220) in 2018.

Produced by filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, the 10-episode "global event series" will look at planet Earth and inside it and is being produced by Nutopia and Protozoa Pictures.

One Strange Rock is set to be broadcast globally on National Geographic from March 2018 in 172 countries.

"I am thrilled to have Will Smith on board to guide our series," says Darren Aronofsky.

"His charisma, intelligence and humanity will add greatly to the project, helping welcome viewers into this unique narrative about the mind-blowing wonders that make life on Earth possible."

One Strange Rock is the extraordinary story of Earth and why it is special and uniquely brimming with life among a largely unknown but harsh cosmic arena.

Also appearing will be a group of astronauts including Chris Hadfield, Jeff Hoffman, Mae Jemison, Jerry Linenger, Mike Massimino, Leland Melvin, Nicole Stott, and Peggy Whitson.

They will tell the story of Earth through unique perspectives and relate personal memoirs of Earth as seen from space.

"Their personal experiences are portals to vital themes explored throughout the series, including the genesis of life, death, breath, cosmic violence, human intelligence, sacrifice, terraforming and more," says National Geographic.

"By pairing the incomparable, out-of-this-world, global appeal of Will Smith with our rock-star astronauts, who literally went out of this world, we tell the incredible story of the complexities of our planet," says Tim Pastore, president for original programming and production at National Geographic.

"With the distinctive storytelling from Darren Aronofsky, One Strange Rock will be an incredible visual treat, taking audiences from the microscopic to the cosmic, leaving viewers to see and appreciate our planet as never before."

National Geographic says One Strange Rock will "reimagine factual programming and give viewers a cinematic spectacle like they have never seen before".

"We'll unpack the science behind our marvelous planet and provide stories that are entertaining and provocative".

National Geographic released the first teaser trailer for One Strange Rock on Tuesday:

National Geographic to reveal Princess Diana on DStv in her own words in new documentary film made from her secret Andrew Morton recordings.

National Geographic (DStv 181) has secured the new documentary Diana: In Her Own Words with DStv subscribers that will hear the late Princess Diana telling her side of her life story at a period when the world thought she was living a fairy tale but while her marriage and life was actually falling apart.

Speaking from beyond the grave on 18 August at 20:05, Diana: In Her Own Words is told entirely in Princess Diana's voice, with no interviews, that National Geographic bills as including "unique recordings" that have never been broadcast before. 

Diana: In Her Own Words is spliced together by 1895 Films from archival footage and photography and the secret recordings done in 1991 inside London's Kensington Palace, recorded with her permission by a friend on behalf of the journalist Andrew Morton.

Andrew Morton was writing a book about Princess Diana's life to reveal what life was really like for the most photographed woman in world.

The public was unaware that Princess Diana's marriage to Prince of Wales was at crisis point.

In Diana: In Her Own Words, Princess Diana reveals her intimate thoughts and feelings at a very specific point in her life, providing new perspectives on her relationship with Charles and her life under the microscope of the public glare.

"National Geographic Documentary Films is committed to bringing the world premium feature documentaries that cover timely, provocative and globally relevant stories from the very best documentary filmmakers in the world," says Tim Pastore, National Geographic president of original programming and production.

"This film is no exception as it provides fresh perspective and insight into Diana's side of the story and continues our long tradition of providing our audiences unprecedented access to significant events."

In vivid detail, Princess Diana reflects upon the full story of her life, depicting her circumstances in 1991. She takes viewers from her unhappy childhood to her awkward introduction to Prince Charles when she was just 16 years old,and the dramatic tale of a young girl thrust upon the world's stage.

Diana recounts her emotional wedding day and also her experiences with postpartum depression and bulimia."

"We broke down the major moments of her life and arranged them chronologically, then illustrated them with media reports and archival images from that time," says Tom Jennings, executive producer of Diana: In Her Own Words.

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 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".

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.