News

Exclusive: The race to replace Ralph Lee at the helm of BBC Studios Productions is underway, with the studio signaling its ambition by approaching some of the UK’s top unscripted executives.

Lee will step down as the CEO of BBC Studios Productions next month after a six-year stint to “pursue a new challenge” but Deadline is told that headhunter Russell Reynolds Associates is already scoping out successors.

The successful candidate will run a production unit that contributed heavily to BBC Studios’ £1.6B ($2B) content revenue last year, overseeing hits including Good Omens, Strictly Come Dancing, and David Attenborough’s natural history tentpoles.

Deadline understands that Russell Reynolds has held tentative early conversations with potential candidates including Stv Studios managing director David Mortimer, ITV Studios unscripted director Angela Jain and Karl Warner, Channel 4’s outgoing head of youth and digital.

Fatima Salaria, who previously ran The Apprentice producer Naked,...

Exclusive: Aardman, the iconic UK animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run, has rejigged its top team and brought in a BBC Studios executive to oversee an IP push.

Aardman has hired Emma Hardie, Commercial Director of Global Entertainment for BBC Studios, to the newly-created role of Executive Commercial and Brand Director.

Aardman said Hardie will oversee financing, distribution, licensing, marketing, and planning of the studio’s animated intellectual property. She takes up the role, which includes a seat on Aardman’s executive board, on April 15.

Hardie has worked at BBC Studios for more than seven years, during which time she played a role in the company’s investments in producers Mothership TV and Mettlemouse Entertainment. She also executive produced BBC Studios’ first Snapchat commission for Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II miniseries.

Emma Hardie

Hardie’s hire comes amid a wider executive reshuffle at Aardman. Co-founder...

‘Searching for Sugarman’ Producer Passion Signs ‘Planet Earth II’ Showrunner

Searching for Sugarman producer Passion Pictures has snapped up the showrunner of Planet Earth II from Plimsoll. Tom Hugh-Jones will boost Passion’s natural history offering and be based in Bristol, taking on the new title of MD Passion Planet (Bristol). He has a wealth of major natural history credits including Planet Earth, Human Planet and Life Story across a 30-year career, while he most recently helmed A Real Bug’s Life for Disney+, which launches today. “Planet Earth II and Tiny World are two of my favourite natural history series of all time,” said Passion CEO Nick Southgate. “The chance to work with the showrunner of these extraordinary pieces of TV was a no-brainer. I can’t wait to dig in with Tom and Dave and create a new era of intelligent, big wildlife shows.”

Netflix Explores UFO-Inspired Religion

Netflix...

Hey there, fellow nature and animal lovers! If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for those captivating documentaries that let us dive into the incredible lives of creatures big and small.

Whether you’re fascinated by the elegance of a soaring eagle, the underwater antics of dolphins, or the heartwarming stories of animal families, there’s a documentary for you.

So, grab your popcorn, get comfy, and embark on a wild ride through some of the most mind-blowing and heart-tugging documentaries that celebrate the magnificent wonders of the animal kingdom!

1. Planet Earth II (2016)

As someone who’s always been captivated by the wonders of our planet, “Planet Earth II” is an absolute must-watch.

Related: 7 Documentaries That Unveil the Human Experience

The documentary series takes you on an awe-inspiring journey through various habitats, showcasing incredible animal behaviors and interactions.

The breathtaking visuals and Sir David Attenborough...

Poster for Sundance Now’s ‘The Lovers’

AMC+’s December 2023 lineup includes the premiere of Sundance Now’s The Lovers series, a holiday special with Harry Hamlin, and new episodes of BBC America’s Planet Earth III. The streaming service will also host the Shudder original films It’s a Wonderful Knife and The Sacrifice Game.

AMC+ also announced The Killing starring Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman will be available for binge-watching on December 4, 2023. Season one of UK’s Being Human with Lenora Crichlow, Russell Tovey, and Aidan Turner streams beginning on December 14, with additional seasons arriving on Thursdays. Plus, the quickly canceled Pan Am starring Margot Robbie and Christina Ricci flies in on December 21.

AMC+ December 2023 Lineup The Lovers – Premieres Thursday, December 7 on AMC+ and Sundance Now; New Episodes Continue Every Thursday Until the Season Finale on January 4

The series follows Janet, a foul-mouthed supermarket worker who doesn’t care about anything,...

AMC Networks’ The Walking Dead spinoff Fear the Walking Dead will air the series’ final episodes in November 2023. The zombie apocalypse action-horror series will wrap up its eight-season run with a two-part finale on November 18th.

AMC and AMC+’s November lineup also includes Planet Earth III presented by Sir David Attenborough, new films every Friday, a Nicolas Cage-A-Thon, and the kick-off of winter holiday programming.

2023 November AMC and AMC+ Schedule

Fear the Walking Dead Season 8B – Final Episodes Continue Every Sunday

Now that Shrike (Maya Eshet) and her influence are gone, Madison (Kim Dickens) sets sights on transforming Padre into the safe haven the old Stadium was meant to be. But in doing so the island becomes a target as well as a beacon as word of Madison and this land of resources spreads, attracting unwanted attention that puts Padre back in peril and questions whether our heroes even deserve to save it.

Part III of the eight-episode Natural History TV series "Plant Earth" is narrated by naturalist Sir David Attenborough, with a soundtrack by Hans Zimmer ("Gladiator") streaming October 22, 2023 on BBC America:

"...seven years after the ground-breaking award-winning 'Planet Earth II', 'Planet Earth III' will journey across the continents revealing the wonders of our planet, featuring never before seen behavior, diving deep into the stories and animal characters which reflect the new challenges that wildlife faces in our modern, crowded world. 

"Filming included animals from around the globe, including a leopard leaping 30ft in Southern Africa, a wild rhino walking through the streets of a Nepalese town and a mass of skydiving tree frogs deep in the Costa Rican jungle.

Click the images to enlarge...

Part III of the eight-episode Natural History TV series "Plant Earth" is narrated by naturalist Sir David Attenborough, with a soundtrack by Hans Zimmer ("Gladiator") streaming on BBC America and AMC+ in 2023:

"...seven years after the ground-breaking award-winning 'Planet Earth II', 'Planet Earth III' will journey across the continents revealing the wonders of our planet, featuring never before seen behavior, diving deep into the stories and animal characters which reflect the new challenges that wildlife faces in our modern, crowded world. 

"Filming included animals from around the globe, including a leopard leaping 30ft in Southern Africa, a wild rhino walking through the streets of a Nepalese town and a mass of skydiving tree frogs deep in the Costa Rican jungle.

Click the images to enlarge...

Get ready to take another stunning look at the planet and nature. Season three of the Planet Earth series is coming soon to BBC America and AMC+ and the outlets have released a trailer of new footage.

Sir David Attenborough has returned to narrate the eight-episode season, which will launch at some point this year. The second season, Planet Earth II, was released seven years ago.

Read More…...

Nearing the one-century mark isn’t slowing down Sir David Attenborough.

The 97-year-old nature documentarian will be returning to narrate the third instalment of the critically acclaimed “Planet Earth” series, which first debuted with 2006’s “Planet Earth” and returned in 2016 with “Planet Earth II”. The third “Planet Earth” will premiere later this year on BBC One; a Canadian air date has yet to be announced.

“Planet Earth wouldn’t be Planet Earth without David, so I’m delighted he is presenting the third series,” Mike Gunton, executive producer of “Planet Earth III”, told The Guardian. “As ever, he has brought his huge enthusiasm and wisdom, has been encouraging about our new perspective and has, I know, really enjoyed seeing the extraordinary new wonders brought to the screen.”

Read More: Exclusive: Sir David Attenborough Returns To The Arctic In Sneak Peek At ‘Frozen Planet II’

According to The Guardian , filming on...

Freshman drama “Quantum Leap” is taking a quantum leap to Tuesdays, as NBC unveiled a mostly strike-proof fall schedule that features three new series (two dramas and a comedy) and a crowded midseason bench.

The Peacock net’s lineup is heavy as always on football and Dick Wolf: And even more so on the pigskin, as NBC’s new deal to cover Big Ten football kicks in with a new Saturday showcase. But with few changes in store, the network will rely on established series to launch its freshman entries.

NBC will use unscripted mainstay “The Voice” on Mondays to launch the new Jesse L. Martin starrer “The Irrational,” based on author Dan Ariely’s “Predictably Irrational,” at 10 p.m. On Tuesday, the hit “Night Court” revival will continue to lead off the night and help launch the new comedy “Extended Family,” starring Jon Cryer and Donald Faison, and from Mike O’Malley,...

NBC has finally released its schedule for the 2023 to 2024 TV season, and this time around new series from Jon Cryer and Tom Hanks are leading the charge alongside network staples. NBC’s fall schedule will include three new scripted series as well as a new night of Big Ten Football.

“Lopez vs. Lopez” and “Law and Order: Organized Crime” will also officially be returning, though they’re not set to premiere until midseason. According to Jeff Bader, President of Entertainment Program Planning Strategy for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, “Organized Crime” is currently undergoing a showrunner change and does not currently have a showrunner. “It actually is best for the show to have some time to regroup, and it’ll come on as part of the Thursday lineup later in the season,” Bader told TheWrap.

As for “American Auto,” “Grand Crew” and “Young Rock,” NBC has yet to make a decision...

Television shows are, inevitably, made up of parts. On the surface, there’s the great, overarching story that begins with the first shot and ends with the last. But, within that narrative, there are small parts: the series, and the episode. It is the smallest of these sub-divisions, the episode, that is most intriguing. A truly brilliant episode can bridge the gap between cinema and TV. It can refine the essence of the best shows into a single, self-contained moment. At its most potent, a perfect episode is like mainlining all the myriad ingredients of prestige television in a single sitting.

But great TV shows do not necessarily beget great episodes and, conversely, great episodes are not always the sign of a great show. The start of 2023 has been dominated by discussions about The Last of Us, a perfectly good series including one stunning episode. In it, two supporting characters...

Television shows are, inevitably, made up of parts. On the surface, there’s the great, overarching story that begins with the first shot and ends with the last. But, within that narrative, there are small parts: the series, and the episode. It is the smallest of these sub-divisions, the episode, that is most intriguing. A truly brilliant episode can bridge the gap between cinema and TV. It can refine the essence of the best shows into a single, self-contained moment. At its most potent, a perfect episode is like mainlining all the myriad ingredients of prestige television in a single sitting.

But great TV shows do not necessarily beget great episodes and, conversely, great episodes are not always the sign of a great show. The start of 2023 has been dominated by discussions about The Last of Us, a perfectly good series including one stunning episode. In it, two supporting characters...

Television shows are, inevitably, made up of parts. On the surface, there’s the great, overarching story that begins with the first shot and ends with the last. But, within that narrative, there are small parts: the series, and the episode. It is the smallest of these sub-divisions, the episode, that is most intriguing. A truly brilliant episode can bridge the gap between cinema and TV. It can refine the essence of the best shows into a single, self-contained moment. At its most potent, a perfect episode is like mainlining all the myriad ingredients of prestige television in a single sitting.

But great TV shows do not necessarily beget great episodes and, conversely, great episodes are not always the sign of a great show. The start of 2023 has been dominated by discussions about The Last of Us, a perfectly good series including one stunning episode. In it, two supporting characters...

Are you looking for the greatest TV programs ever made? If so, this is exactly where to find them! Did your favorite show make the list of best TV series of all time?

We have researched and compiled a list of 10 amazing series based on IMDb ratings and viewership data. Ranging from crime dramas to animations – no matter your preference, there’s something here for everyone. So grab some popcorn & settle in; it’s time for an awesome TV marathon experience.

IMDb utilizes its user rating systems to create seemingly never-ending lists of top shows around all genres. One particular list is termed the “Top 250 TV Shows,” thanks again to these scoring methods used by contributors online daily. Below are listed out ten highest-rated TV series according to those stats.

10 Highest-Rated TV Shows of All Time The Sopranos (1999–2007) – 9.2 Game of Thrones (2011–2019) – 9.2 Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014) – 9.3 Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008) – 9.3 The Wire...

Apple TV+ just released a gorgeous trailer for the docuseries Big Beasts. Two-time Emmy Award nominee – and everyone’s favorite Loki – Tom Hiddleston narrates the 10-part documentary series premiering on Friday, April 21, 2023, one day prior to Earth Day.

The docuseries will launch with the release of the first two episodes, followed by two new episodes every Friday leading up to its May 19th finale.

Big Beasts is executive produced by Emmy Award winner Tom Hugh-Jones (Planet Earth II), Emmy Award nominee Grant Mansfield (Hostile Planet), and two-time Emmy Award nominee Martha Holmes. The docuseries is produced by Plimsoll Productions.

Apple TV+ released this description of the documentary series:

From the acclaimed creative team of the Apple TV+ Award-winning docuseries Tiny World comes Big Beasts. Filmed over two years, the series takes audiences on an epic journey around the globe, from freezing poles to tropical rainforests, to meet nature’s most captivating giants.

Over a decade ago, four-time Emmy®-winning series Frozen Planet gave viewers unprecedented insight into life in the Poles. Now, the highly-anticipated sequel, Frozen Planet II, returns to the Arctic and Antarctic to observe the amazing species that thrive there. But, going further than the first season, it also explores life beyond the Poles – witnessing the wildlife dramas that play out in all the world’s coldest regions: our high mountains, frozen deserts, snowbound forests, and ice-cold oceans. These are the last true wildernesses on earth; places so challenging for survival that only a heroic cast of animals can live here. From polar bears to penguins, Siberian tigers to snow monkeys, each species must overcome unique challenges to survive their extreme environments. Narrated by Emmy®-winning famed naturalist Sir David Attenborough (Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II), Frozen Planet II premieres Saturday, January 28 at 8pm Et/7pm C on BBC America and AMC+.

It’s last call for a number of noteworthy movies leaving HBO Max in December. If you remember “Project Popcorn” – the strategy that saw all 2021 Warner Bros. movies stream on HBO Max the same day they hit theaters – then “Mortal Kombat” and “Those Who Wish Me Dead” will sound familiar. The martial arts reboot and Taylor Sheridan thriller, respectively, will be leaving the streaming service this month.

It’s also final call for Martin Scorsese’s “Bringing Out the Dead,” the extended version of Ridley Scott’s “The Counselor” and Edgar Wright’s terrific sci-fi action-comedy “The World’s End” if auteurs are your thing. “Planet Earth” and “Planet Earth II” are also leaving the streaming service soon.

Here’s the full list of what’s leaving HBO Max in December 2022.

Also Read:

Here’s What’s New on HBO and HBO Max in December 2022

December 8

Mortal Kombat, 2021 (HBO)

December 13

Spark: A Space Tail,...

BBC Studios Natural History Unit (Nhu) will invest £1 million (1.08 million) over three years to develop and support aspiring natural history filmmakers in the U.K. and globally.

The Nhu produces popular natural history programs including “Blue Planet II,” “Planet Earth II,” “Seven Worlds,” “One Planet,” presented by David Attenborough, “Dynasties,” “Blue Planet Live” and “Springwatch”

In places where the Nhu is filming, the initiative will fund opportunities for locally based production talent to access in-country training, offer field experience working with Nhu teams on location, and invest in local talent to attend U.K.-based training courses.

Funds will also be allocated to ensure local-language versions of Nhu productions are made available for local viewings in communities who would otherwise have no means of accessing this content.

Some of the initiatives are already in progress, with locally based emerging talent working on “Kingdom,” an Nhu series for BBC One and BBC America,...

BBC Two are set to celebrate the prolific 40-year career of the iconic cinematic composer, Hans Zimmer.

The brand new documentary, ‘Hans Zimmer – Hollywood Rebel,’ is a 60-minute film, which airs on BBC Two on Sunday 16 October at 9pm, looks back at Hans’ glittering forty-year career, having redefined the movie score: thrilling audiences, pioneering new techniques, breaking all the rules about how to write for movies and introducing new generations to the incomparable drama of orchestral music. Now, given unprecedented access, this film will trace Hans’ amazing life and career, from post-war Germany to Hollywood royalty.

The in-depth, personal profile of the most influential and talented movie composer of his generation, will be getting inside the head of the man whose music has dominated modern movie making. Often imitated but never bettered, Hans’ distinctive sound has dominated the film industry for over twenty years – and having his name credited on...

The life and work of Hans Zimmer, the Oscar-winning composer of “The Lion King” and “Dune: Part One,” will be celebrated in BBC Two documentary “Hans Zimmer – Hollywood Rebel.”

The 60-minute film looks back at Zimmer’s 40-year journey from post-war Germany to Hollywood royalty. It will seek to reveal the musical secrets of Zimmer over a career that includes scores for films “Rain Man,” “Pirates of The Caribbean,” “Gladiator,” “No Time To Die,” “The Dark Knight,” “Batman Begins” and “The Thin Red Line” plus the music he created for BBC Studios Natural History films, including “Planet Earth II,” “Blue Planet II” and “Frozen Planet II.”

The film also features interviews with Ron Howard, Denis Villeneuve, Christopher Nolan, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Barry Levinson, James L. Brooks, Gore Verbinski, Steve McQueen, Stephen Frears and Tim Bevan.

Zimmer said: “I’m honored to be sharing this insight into my career and life with the BBC audience.

Click here to read the full article.

Channel Four’s Help, starring Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham, has won the Grand Jury Prize at the Banff Rockie Awards after the British pandemic drama won the best feature length film prize at the Banff World Media Festival’s international TV competition on Monday night.

The film from The Forge, Channel 4 and All3Media International is set in a Liverpool care home and stars Comer as a carer who bonds with a patient, played by Graham, and is put to the test as the Covid-19 pandemic hits in March 2020. Past recipients of the Grand Jury Prize include I May Destroy You, Fleabag, Big Little Lies, Planet Earth II and Sharp Objects.

In other prize giving on Tuesday night, the dramedy series Sort Of, from the CBC and HBO Max and starring and co-created by Bilal Baig, won the program of the year prize.

The end of the final full day of the 2022 Banff World Media Festival saw the Canadian confab reward barrier-breaking projects and honor a departed genius.

Tonight’s Rockie Awards Gala handed out the Program of the Year Award and the Grand Jury Prize to CBC sitcom Sort Of and Channel 4’s Jodie Comer-Stephen Graham pandemic TV movie Help, respectively. As was previously announced, the Jully Black-hosted Banff ceremony also posthumously awarded the Canadian Award of Distinction to Jean-Marc Vallée. The Montreal-born Dallas Buyers Club, Wild and Big Little Lies director died late last year.

‘Dune’ Production Designer Patrice Vermette Pays Tribute To Late Jean-Marc Vallée In Oscar Speech

Back for an in-person festival up in the stunning Alberta mountains for the first time since 2019, Banff honored Netflix Global TV boss Bela Bajaria with the Rockies’ Impact Award and Vivica A. Fox with the 2022 Inclusion Award. See...

Did the five-minute prologue to "Jurassic World Dominion" leave you wishing you could simply watch an entire film or show about an ancient world populated by dinosaurs without all those pesky humans running amok? If so, you're in luck! Executive producers Jon Favreau ("The Mandalorian") and Mike Gunton ("Planet Earth II") have teamed up with Apple TV+ to make "Prehistoric Planet," a nature docuseries that explores precisely that.

Reviews have already begun to drop for "Prehistoric Planet," with /Film's Sarah Bea Milner giving the show top marks, writing:

This might be the most ambitious nature documentary to date: produced by Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton for BBC...

The post Prehistoric Planet Trailer: Walk With Dinosaurs In This Apple TV+ Docuseries appeared first on /Film.

Exclusive: Ryan Reynolds will narrate the Discovery+ documentary Curb Your Carbon which uncovers the 10 simple and effective things we can do right now to help fight climate change.

The streamer also revealed its Earth Day programming slate to be featured from April 15-24. Included as part of the line-up is content that celebrates the exploration and conservation of our planet and the inspiring people, places, and wildlife that depend on it to survive.

A full breakdown can be found below.

Curb Your Carbon- (premiering April 21) Humor, crazy stunts, and stunning animations: the documentary reveals the simple and effective ways we can all help fight climate change in an easy-to-understand way. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds. (Discovery)

Chasing Ocean Giants- In this 8-episode series, Patrick Dykstra, a Wall Street lawyer turned filmmaker and conservationist, uses state-of-the-art exploration technology, to help scientists decipher the mysteries of the ocean’s giants. (discovery+ Original)

Crikey!

That Nat Geo tile on Disney+ just upped its star power. At Monday’s Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter Press Tour, National Geographic unveiled 13 new original projects being produced for the streaming service, including shows from Will Smith, Jon Favreau and David Blaine.

Smith’s new series, “Pole to Pole,” comes under his Westbrook company’s first-look deal with Nat Geo. “Pole to Pole” follows Smith as he journeys 26,000 miles over 100 days from the South Pole to the North Pole.

Darren Aronofsky, James Cameron and Ron Howard/Brian Grazer are each overseeing a pair of new Disney+ programs under the Nat Geo banner. One of the projects from the Imagine duo will be Howard’s “We Feed People,” which premieres at SXSW ahead of its Memorial Day streaming launch. “We Feed People” follows chef José Andrés and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen’s mission in the disaster relief sector.

One...

Paramount+ Buys Oasis Concert Doc

Concert film Oasis Knebworth 1996 will head to Paramount+ in the US, UK, Latin America, Australia, the Nordics and Canada following its worldwide theatrical release. Dates are yet to be scheduled. Those outside of those markets will be able to watch the pic on MTV Worldwide. The film is told through the eyes of the concertgoers and features extensive and never-before-seen archive concert and backstage footage, plus interviews with the band and event organizers. “ViacomCBS has a long and storied history with Oasis dating back to their infamous performance on MTV Unplugged and unforgettable appearances on MTV’s The Jon Stewart Show and 120 Minutes,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming and Events, ViacomCBS and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “This film will give Paramount+ and MTV audiences an all-access pass into these iconic concerts that defined an era and catapulted Oasis to legendary status.

Streaming

Netflix has unveiled a release date for its first Spanish Original reality show “Insiders,” which will premiere around the world on Oct. 21. Hosted by “Money Heist” actor Najwa Nimri, the show has been billed as something completely new to the reality landscape in which its contestants believe, through the entire filming process, that they are only in the qualification rounds for an entirely different show. With the cameras constantly rolling, the twelve participants are kept in the dark that they are, in fact, being filmed for a hidden camera show. Set on a 17200 sq. ft. soundstage rigged with more than 250 hidden microphones and 70 hidden cameras, the contestants will unknowingly let their true colors shine right until the final reveal, when one winner will take home €100,000.

Acquisition

Nhk has acquired broadcast rights to Ines Marzouk’s feature documentary “My Mohamed is Different,” a standout in the World Showcase section of...

BBC Studios is expanding its relationship with Malaysia’s pay TV giant Astro with the launch of linear channels BBC Earth and BBC Lifestyle together with on-demand channels BBC First and BBC Brit.

Astro made BBC Earth and BBC Lifestyle available from Sept. 15, with BBC First and BBC Brit launching Oct. 15.

BBC Earth is home to award-winning natural history and science programming such as Primates, Dynasties, Seven Worlds, One Planet, A Perfect Planet and the upcoming series Eden: Untamed Planet. BBC Lifestyle features the BBC’s host of home, design and cookery shows from global names such as Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver.

BBC First is ...

BBC Studios is expanding its relationship with Malaysia’s pay TV giant Astro with the launch of linear channels BBC Earth and BBC Lifestyle together with on-demand channels BBC First and BBC Brit.

Astro made BBC Earth and BBC Lifestyle available from Sept. 15, with BBC First and BBC Brit launching Oct. 15.

BBC Earth is home to award-winning natural history and science programming such as Primates, Dynasties, Seven Worlds, One Planet, A Perfect Planet and the upcoming series Eden: Untamed Planet. BBC Lifestyle features the BBC’s host of home, design and cookery shows from global names such as Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver.

BBC First is ...

“Planet Earth” producer Jonny Keeling has been appointed the new head of the BBC’s Natural History Unit (Nhu), Variety can exclusively reveal. He takes up the new role in December.

Keeling, who is currently series producer on “Planet Earth III,” will be responsible for all of the Nhu’s creative and commercial activity, reporting to BBC Studios’ managing director of factual, Tom McDonald. He will also join McDonald’s leadership team.

The producer, whose credits include David Attenborough series “Planet Earth,” “Planet Earth II,” and “Seven Worlds, One Planet,” will take over as the unit’s head from Julian Hector, whose five-year stint saw him oversee shows such as “Blue Planet II,” “Dynasties” and “The Green Planet.”

Hector also oversaw the Nhu’s first original commissions for international broadcasters. Keeling’s remit will include developing the unit’s presence in North America via its satellite office in Los Angeles.

“I seriously think this is the most important film I’ve worked on in my career,” acclaimed cinematographer Gavin Thurston admits about shooting Netflix’s “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet.” After having collaborated with revered documentarian David Attenborough for over 30 years, it is Thurston who is probably better placed than almost anyone else to declare this film the most personal and essential work that Attenborough has ever produced. Watch our exclusive video interview with Thurston above.

See Exclusive Video Interview: Steven Price (‘David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet’ composer)

“A Life on Our Planet” is narrated by the legendary 93 year-old broadcaster and natural historian, who himself has won three consecutive Emmys for narrating the nature documentaries “Blue Planet II” (2018), “Our Planet” (2019) and “Seven Worlds, One Planet” (2020). It premiered on Netflix late last year to wide acclaim from critics (scoring a staggering 95% “fresh” rating at Rotten Tomatoes) and...

There’s little in this world more soothing than turning on a nature documentary and hearing David Attenborough’s calm, steady voice. Even as a disembodied narrator, the 94-year-old presenter has become such a ubiquitous presence that watching any nature doc without him feels strange, as if trying to put on a shoe before realizing it’s on the wrong foot. This month, in fact, Attenborough’s voice anchors two separate productions: Apple TV Plus’ documentary “The Year the Earth Changed” (out April 16) and Netflix’s “Life in Color” (out April 22). In both, he proves why he has become the go-to authority on the natural world as he highlights wonder and warnings with equal urgency.

“Life in Color” focuses mostly on the specifics of wildlife versus its place in the world at large. Making occasional appearances onscreen to marvel at a primary-colored macaw or two, Attenborough narrates the series with gentle ease,...

Julian Hector, head of the Natural History Unit at BBC Studios Productions, will step down at the end of the year after five years leading the unit, and almost three decades at the BBC.

Since taking over from Wendy Darke in 2016, Hector has overseen a stellar period in the Bristol, England-based production house’s 64-year history, with shows like “Planet Earth II,” “Blue Planet II,” “Dynasties” and “Seven Worlds, One Planet” proving global successes.

Under his leadership, the Natural History Unit (Nhu) also won several new commissions, including the BBC’s “The Green Planet” and “Frozen Planet II,” Apple’s upcoming “The Year the Earth Changed,” National Geographic’s “Ocean Xplorers,” “Endangered” for Discovery, and “The Americas” for NBCU.

In the past four years the unit’s output has received more than 200 awards, including four Emmys and 11 BAFTA TV awards.

Hector began at the unit in 1993, producing series like “Battle of the Sexes...

Julian Hector, the head of BBC Studios’ iconic Natural History Unit, is leaving after nearly 30 years of service to the production division behind global hits including Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and Seven Worlds, One Planet.

Hector first joined the Natural History Unit in 1993 and succeeded Wendy Darke as its head in 2016. BBC Studios said he has presided over the most successful period in the Bristol-based unit’s 64-year history, steering Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Dynasties to the screen.

As well as making these BBC landmarks, Hector has expanded the Nhu’s client base into the streaming world, helping the production outfit win commissions including The Year The Earth Changed for Apple TV+. He is leaving to pursue other interests connected to wildlife and championing the natural world.

BBC Studios’ managing director of factual Tom McDonald said: “I have nothing but admiration for Julian – he’s been an exceptional colleague.

A renewed focus on natural history programming has led WildBear Entertainment to appoint wildlife biologist and writer, producer and director Dr Chadden Hunter as an executive producer.

Hunter has previously worked for the BBC as a producer, director and writer on Seven Worlds, One Planet, and Planet Earth 2, as a series producer on Wild Arabia, and as a principal director on Frozen Planet.

His credits also include National Geographic programs Hunter & Hunted and Cliffhangers, both of which he presented.

Overall, his projects have won 12 Emmy Awards and eight BAFTAs.

In his new role, Hunter will be working with the Wildbear team to deepen its slate of natural history content and films, secure new commissions, and run productions.

He said he was excited to start the next chapter of his career with the company.

“I’ve been a fan of [WildBear’s] work for years and it’s great to be back on home turf in Australia,...

Discovery has jumped into the video streaming service game with Discovery+, a new way to watch all of its content on demand. The service launched in the United States on January 4, and we’ve broken down everything you need to know about it below.

You Can Watch Shows From Several Major Cable Channels

Discovery+ includes content from every media property under the Discovery umbrella, which includes: HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, OWN, Discovery, Discovery+ Originals, Investigation Discovery, Magnolia Network, A&e, Lifetime, History, Trvl, DIY Network, Science Channel, and The Dodo.

For the first time in its 63-year history, BBC Studios’ renowned Natural History Unit is setting up shop outside the U.K. In 2021, the Nhu will launch a permanent satellite office in Los Angeles.

The Nhu is behind some of the world’s most iconic natural history programs, including “Blue Planet II” and “Planet Earth II,” which have been watched by more than a billion people globally. The new U.S. outfit will allow the production unit to better serve its growing roster of American buyers, with a laser focus on the streamers.

In the last 18 months alone, the unit has won projects with Apple TV Plus (“Prehistoric Planet”) and NBCUniversal (10-part landmark series “The New World”), as well as PBS (“The Green Planet”), BBC America (“Frozen Planet II”) and Discovery (“Endangered”). There’s also a collaboration in place with “Avatar” helmer James Cameron and Ocean X for Nat Geo.

Scripted dramas drove U.K. TV exports to a record £1.48 billion ($1.97 billion) in 2019/20, a 6% year-on-year increase, according to a report from producers’ trade body Pact.

Dramas like “Chernobyl,” “His Dark Materials,” “The War of the Worlds,” “The Feed” and “Doctor Who,” produced by U.K. companies, were the key export drivers and accounted for 48% of all revenue. Factual programming, including “Seven Worlds,” “One Planet” and “The Planets,” increased its share from 23% to 28% year-on-year.

The U.S. continues to be the most important market for U.K. exports contributing 32%, or £466 million ($622.5 million) of all revenue in the 2019/20 financial year, an increase of £22 million ($29.3 million) year-on-year, the report states. France, with £102 million ($136.3 million) and Australia with £98 million ($131 million) complete the top three markets for U.K. TV exports.

China was identified last year as a market with growth potential and revenues out of the territory increased by 25% to £40 million (53.4 million).

Looking ahead...

The 23rd annual Scad Savannah Film Festival has announced this year’s competition award winners. Best narrative feature went to “Killing Eleanor,” while “Kusasa” won best documentary feature. “My Brother’s Keeper” won the Jury Award for exceptional storytelling.

A key stop on the festival circuit leading up to the Academy Awards, Scad screened more than 150 films ranging from narrative features to documentaries and shorts with 14 world premieres.

Thirty-three awards were announced from the 122 films selected to compete in the categories of narrative features, documentary features, professional shorts, animated shorts, student shorts, Global Shorts Forum, Shorts Spotlight and Southern Voices.

“Killing Eleanor,” directed by Rich Newey, is about a terminally ill elderly woman who convinces a self-destructive addict to help her die on her terms in exchange for clean urine. Meanwhile, “Our Side,” directed by Nicola Rinciari, won best live action short by a Scad student. The story follows an African...

Sony/Atv Music Publishing announced it has centralized its two production music divisions — Extreme Music and Emi Production Music — as one global operation and named Russell Emanuel as its President & CEO. According to the announcement, the appointment gives Emanuel oversight of Sony/Atv’s global production music business, which will combine the strengths and experiences of both companies to better serve its composers and clients around the world.

Emi Production Music is home to top libraries including Kpm, Music House and Juice, and Extreme Music represents a roster of talent including Quincy Jones, Hans Zimmer, Sir George Martin, Labrinth, Rodney Jerkins, Ramin Djawadi, and many more.

Sony/Atv Chairman and CEO Jon Platt stated, “Russell is undeniably one of the best in the business, and I’m pleased to recognize his expertise and influence with this new leadership role. His vision to integrate these two successful production music entities will further support our composers,...

Exclusive: Apple TV+ has discovered its next natural history series – a project that uses the latest audio technology to tell wildlife stories.

The streamer has ordered 12-part series Earthsound from British production company Offspring Films.

The half-hour series uses audio technology and cinematic 360 sound design to reveal the unexpected, unfamiliar and untold natural stories on every continent of the planet.

Earthsound will be exec produced by Offspring Film’s founder and creative director Alex Williamson and with Sam Hodgson as series producer. Justin Anderson (Planet Earth II), Joe Stevens (Blue Planet II) and Tom Payne (Big Blue: Live) will serve as producers for Offspring Films.

Based in the natural history hub of Bristol, UK, Offspring Films was set up in 2014 by Williamson, who was previously head of development at the BBC’s Natural History Unit, where oversaw the creation of series including Planet Earth II.

It produced Apple’s Earth at Night in Color,...

BBC America is merging the beauty of nature with the majesty of music for the four-network television event Planet Earth: A Celebration. The special will premiere on BBC America, AMC, IFC and SundanceTV on August 31 at 8pm Et. It will debut on the same day in the U.S., UK and China.

From lions to giraffes to dolphins to snow leopards, Planet Earth: A Celebration highlights eight of the most extraordinary sequences from BBC America’s impactful and Emmy-winning Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II. In addition to new narration from naturist Godfather Sir David Attenborough, the sequences will include a rearrangement of original scores from award-winning composer Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and the team at Bleeding Fingers. The string section of the score is performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, accompanied by Brit and Mercury Award-winning UK rapper, Dave, who performs on the grand piano. Both the orchestra...

"Experience the hidden world... where bigger isn't always better." Netflix has released an official trailer for a new docu-drama series titled Tiny Creatures, one of the first projects directed by award-winning nature cinematographer Jonathan Jones. It "magnifies some of the world's smallest wildlife... In every episode, immerse yourself in a different ecosystem and see the drama that unfolds right at our very feet." Nature is so cool! It's not really a documentary, they wanted to tell stories with each of these little animals. "All eight episodes feature tiny creatures facing huge challenges in dramatic new environments. Helped by a team of handlers and trainers, Jonathan used real animals for the stories, and even wrote scripts for them ahead of filming." The series is narrated by Mike Colter and directed by the cinematographer who won an Emmy for "Planet Earth II". I think we're all in need of some wholesome, adorable...

AMC Networks Entertainment Group President Sarah Barnett will be stepping down from her position after Labor Day. Following her departure, the company’s Entertainment Networks, which includes AMC, BBC America, IFC and Sundance TV, and AMC Studios will report to AMC Networks COO Ed Carroll on an interim basis.

Barnett’s departure comes at a challenging time for linear television and especially ad-supported basic cable whose prospects were further hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, which cut ad spending. Her exit also comes at a high for her division. The announcement follows Tuesday’s Emmy nominations, where AMC Networks scored two of the eight best drama series Emmy noms with AMC’s Better Call Saul and BBC America/AMC’s Killing Eve, the only non-premium/streaming series to make the cut in the top drama category this year.

Like most linear TV companies, AMC Networks has been shifting its focus to streaming.

Sketch comedy series Sherman’s Showcase is returning for a second season and will be simulcast across IFC and sister network AMC.

This comes ahead of the launch of its one-hour Black History Month Spectacular, which launches on June 19.

The six-part series, which features half-hour episodes, is slated to air in 2021.

Sherman’s Showcase was created by and stars Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin. The pair exec produce alongside John Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorious through their Get Lifted Film Co. and Frank Scherma and Jim Bouvet of RadicalMedia and Pete Aronson.

The show features a range of sketches, cultural nostalgia, A-list guest stars and songs. The first season included guests including Common, Quincy Jones and Tiffany Haddish.

The show originally aired on IFC, but the move to put the second season on AMC as well is the latest example of the AMC Networks Group simulcasting shows across its channels.

Earlier this month,...

BBC factual controller Alison Kirkham is set to join streaming platform Apple TV Plus.

Kirkham will join Apple TV Plus this summer, reporting into creative director for Europe Jay Hunt. Based in London, the executive will have responsibility in Europe for unscripted original series and films.

Kirkham is the first major hire for Apple’s U.K. team since film producer Joe Oppenheimer joined the tech giant in 2018.

Apple TV+ global team is led by heads of worldwide video Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht.

The appointment comes as the platform, in common with other streamers, looks to expand its non-scripted output. Apple’s non-scripted commissions include “Prehistoric Planet” and “Long Way Up” with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman.

Kirkham joined the BBC in 2005 as an executive producer and became controller of factual commissioning in 2015. Programming highlights include “Planet Earth II” and “Blue Planet II,” “Ambulance,” “Exodus,” “Hospital,” ”Muslims Like...

Apple has hired BBC factual controller Alison Kirkham as its new unscripted chief in the UK, reporting to creative director of worldwide video Europe, Jay Hunt.

Kirkham will join the Apple TV+ international creative development team this summer after 15 years at the BBC, the last six of which she has spent in charge of factual programming.

During her time at the BBC, she has overseen shows including Planet Earth II, coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, and the recent breakout Studio Lambert hit Race Across The World.

As well as overseeing unscripted shows at Apple, she will have some exposure to drama and comedy, with recent shows coming out of Hunt’s team including Trying and Gary Oldman spy drama Slow Horses.

“I will forever be proud that, for six years, I was able to walk into New Broadcasting House as the controller of factual commissioning at the BBC.

Updated: Networks and streamers are setting special programming to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22. We’ll be updating as more information comes in, so refresh for the latest.

National Geographic has programmed an entire day of special Earth Day programming on April 22, culminating with two Nat Geo specials.

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Jane Goodall: The Hope, featuring the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall, follows her throughout her travels, capturing her commitment and determination to spread a message of hope. Premiering April 22, at 9/8c on Nat Geo and Nat Geo Wild. Born Wild: The Next Generation is produced in tandem with ABC News and hosted by Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts.