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.

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.