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| closed_date =
| closed_date =
| picture_format = [[720p]] [[HDTV]] <br/> (downscaled to [[480i]] for the [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]] feed)
| picture_format = [[720p]] [[HDTV]] <br/> (downscaled to [[480i]] for the [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]] feed)
| owner = [[The Walt Disney Company]] {{small| (73%)}} and [[National Geographic Society]] {{small| (27%)}}
| parent = [[National Geographic Global Networks]]
| parent = [[National Geographic Global Networks]] {{small| ([[Disney Entertainment]]) and [[National Geographic Partners]]}}
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language =
| language =
| area = Worldwide<br>Nationwide
| area = Worldwide<br>Nationwide
| headquarters = [[Washington, DC]], U.S.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/disney-entertainment-television-layoffs-national-geographic-1236026106/ | title=Disney Entertainment Television Lays off 140; National Geographic Heavily Impacted | date=July 31, 2024 }}</ref>
| headquarters = [[Manhattan, New York City]], U.S.
| former_names = National Geographic Channel (2001–2016)
| former_names = National Geographic Channel (2001–2016)
| replaced =
| replaced =
| replaced_by =
| replaced_by =
| sister_channels = {{Unbulleted list|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|[[BabyTV]]||[[Disney Channel]]|[[Disney Junior]]|[[Disney XD]]|[[ESPN]]|[[ESPN College Extra]]|[[ESPN2]]|[[ESPNews]]|[[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]]|[[FX (TV channel)|FX]]|[[FXX]]|[[FX Movie Channel]]|[[FYI (American TV channel)|FYI]]|[[History (American TV channel)|History]]|[[History en Espanol]]|[[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]]|[[LMN (TV channel)|LMN]]|[[Longhorn Network]]|[[Military History (TV channel)|Military History]]|[[Nat Geo Wild]]|[[SEC Network]]|[[Vice (TV channel)|Vice]]}}
| sister_channels = {{Unbulleted list|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|[[BabyTV]]||[[Disney Channel]]|[[Disney Jr.]]|[[Disney XD]]|[[ESPN]]|[[ESPN2]]|[[ESPNews]]|[[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]]|[[FX (TV channel)|FX]]|[[FXX]]|[[FX Movie Channel]]|[[FYI (American TV channel)|FYI]]|[[History (American TV channel)|History]]|[[History en Espanol]]|[[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]]|[[LMN (TV channel)|LMN]]|[[Longhorn Network]]|[[Military History (TV channel)|Military History]]|[[Nat Geo Wild]]|[[SEC Network]]|[[Vice (TV channel)|Vice]]}}
| website = [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/ nationalgeographic.com/tv]
| website = {{URL|https://www.natgeotv.com/|natgeotv.com}}
| online_serv_1 = Service(s)
| online_serv_1 = Affiliated Streaming Service
| online_chan_1 = [[YouTube TV]], [[Hulu + Live TV]], [[Sling TV]], [[FuboTV]], [[Vidgo]], [[DirecTV Stream]]
| online_chan_1 = [[Disney+]]
| online_serv_2 = Service(s)
| online_chan_2 = [[YouTube TV]], [[Hulu + Live TV]], [[Sling TV]], [[FuboTV]], [[Vidgo]], [[DirecTV Stream]]
⚫
}}'''National Geographic''' (formerly '''National Geographic Channel'''; abbreviated and trademarked as '''Nat Geo''' or '''Nat Geo TV''') is an American [[pay television]] [[television network|network]] and [[flagship (broadcasting)|flagship channel]] owned by the [[National Geographic Global Networks]] unit of [[Disney Entertainment]] and [[National Geographic Partners]], a joint venture between [[The Walt Disney Company]] (73%) and the [[National Geographic Society]] (27%),<ref>{{cite web | last=Parker | first=Laura | title=National Geographic and 21st Century Fox Expand Media Partnership | website=Culture | date=2015-09-09 | url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/150909-21st-century-fox-media-partnership | access-date=2024-03-27}}</ref><ref name="vty-deal-close">{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/disney-fox-deal-complete-1203167374/ | title =Disney Closes $71 Billion 21st Century Fox Deal | publisher = Variety | first = Cynthia | last=Littleton | date= March 19, 2019 | access-date = April 3, 2019}}</ref> with the operational management handled by [[Disney Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Steinberg | first=Brian | title=Disney Layoffs Affect National Geographic | website=Variety | date=2019-08-29 | url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/disney-layoffs-national-geographic-1203318735/ | access-date=2024-03-27}}</ref>
}}
⚫
'''National Geographic''' (formerly '''National Geographic Channel'''; abbreviated and trademarked as '''Nat Geo''' or '''Nat Geo TV''') is an American [[pay television]] [[television network|network]] and [[flagship (broadcasting)|flagship channel]] owned by the [[National Geographic Global Networks]] unit of [[Disney Entertainment]] and [[National Geographic Partners]], a joint venture between [[The Walt Disney Company]] (73%) and the [[National Geographic Society]] (27%),<ref name="vty-deal-close">{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/disney-fox-deal-complete-1203167374/ | title =Disney Closes $71 Billion 21st Century Fox Deal | publisher = Variety | first = Cynthia | last=Littleton | date= March 19, 2019 | access-date = April 3, 2019}}</ref> with the operational management handled by [[Disney Entertainment]].


The flagship channel airs non-fiction television programs produced by National Geographic and other production companies. Like [[History (American TV network)|History]] (which is 50% owned by Disney through [[A&E Networks]]) and [[Discovery Channel]], the channel features [[documentary television|documentaries]] with factual content involving [[nature]], science, culture, and history, plus some [[reality television|reality]] and [[pseudo-scientific]] entertainment programming. Its primary sister network worldwide, including the United States, is [[Nat Geo Wild]], which focuses on animal-related programming, including the popular ''[[Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan]]''.
The flagship channel airs non-fiction television programs produced by National Geographic and other production companies. Like [[History (American TV network)|History]] (which is 50% owned by Disney through [[A&E Networks]]) and [[Discovery Channel]], the channel features [[documentary television|documentaries]] with factual content involving [[nature]], science, culture, and history, plus some [[reality television|reality]] and [[pseudo-scientific]] entertainment programming.{{Citation needed|reason='Needs verified sources to claim that National Geographic Channel intentionally aired pseudoscientific programs/shows.'|date=February 2024}} Its primary sister network worldwide, including the United States, is [[Nat Geo Wild]], which focuses on animal-related programming, including the popular ''[[Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan]]''.


As of February 2015, National Geographic is available to approximately 86,144,000 pay television households (74% of households with television) in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/22/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-network-is-in-as-of-february-2015/366230/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223220414/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/22/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-network-is-in-as-of-february-2015/366230/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2015|title=List of how many homes each cable network is in as of February 2015|last=Seidman|first=Robert|work=TV by the Numbers|publisher=Zap2it|date=February 22, 2015|access-date=March 14, 2015}}</ref>
{{As of|2023|11}}, Nat Geo is available to approximately 70,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2016 peak of 91,000,000 households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref>


==Overview==
==History==
In the United States, the National Geographic Channel launched on January 7, 2001,<ref>{{cite news |title=Doctoring the Health Channel |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/01-OCR/BC-2001-01-08-OCR-Page-0027.pdf#search=%22national%20geographic%22 |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=January 8, 2001 |page=12}}</ref> as a joint venture of [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic Television & Film]] and [[Fox Entertainment Group#Cable network programming|Fox Cable Networks]]. National Geographic provides programming expertise and the Fox Networks Group provides its expertise on [[Distribution (business)|distribution]], marketing, and advertising sales.
In the United States, under leadership of its president [[Tim T. Kelly]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stilson |first1=Janet |title=Speeding Up the Growth Curve |url=https://archive.org/details/multichannel-news-international-may-2000/page/n17/mode/2up |work=Multichannel News International |publisher=Cahners |date=1 May 2000 |page=18}}</ref> the National Geographic Channel launched on January 7, 2001,<ref>{{cite news |title=Doctoring the Health Channel |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/01-OCR/BC-2001-01-08-OCR-Page-0027.pdf#search=%22national%20geographic%22 |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |date=January 8, 2001 |page=12}}</ref> as a joint venture of [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic Television & Film]] and [[Fox Entertainment Group#Cable network programming|Fox Cable Networks]]. National Geographic provides programming expertise and the Fox Networks Group provides its expertise on [[Distribution (business)|distribution]], marketing, and advertising sales.
[[File:National Geographic Channel.svg|left|150px|thumb|National Geographic Channel logo (2004–2013)]]
[[File:National Geographic Channel.svg|left|150px|thumb|National Geographic Channel logo (2004–2013)]]


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On December 14, 2017, in a [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|deal]], [[The Walt Disney Company]] announced it would buy the majority of [[21st Century Fox]]. Disney would assume control of Fox's controlling stake in the National Geographic partnership thereafter.<ref name="FoxDisneyPressRelease">{{cite press release |url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/walt-disney-company-acquire-twenty-first-century-fox-inc-spinoff-certain-businesses-52-4-billion-stock-2/ |title=The Walt Disney Company To Acquire Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., After Spinoff Of Certain Businesses, For $52.4 Billion In Stock |publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]] |date=December 14, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214141817/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/walt-disney-company-acquire-twenty-first-century-fox-inc-spinoff-certain-businesses-52-4-billion-stock-2/ |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Following the acquisition, National Geographic and its sister channels were folded into [[Walt Disney Television]], with the president of the National Geographic Partners reporting directly to the Walt Disney Television chairman.<ref name="dl-tv-structure">{{cite news |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Disney Unveils Top TV Executive Structure Post Fox Acquisition: Peter Rice, Dana Walden, John Landgraf, Gary Knell Joining |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/disney-top-tv-executive-structure-fox-acquisition-peter-rice-dana-walden-john-landgraf-1202473566/ |access-date=October 9, 2018 |work=Deadline |date=October 8, 2018}}</ref> Disney officially closed the deal on March 20, 2019, having then added Nat Geo into its portfolio of networks.<ref name="vty-deal-close"/>
On December 14, 2017, in a [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|deal]], [[The Walt Disney Company]] announced it would buy the majority of [[21st Century Fox]]. Disney would assume control of Fox's controlling stake in the National Geographic partnership thereafter.<ref name="FoxDisneyPressRelease">{{cite press release |url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/walt-disney-company-acquire-twenty-first-century-fox-inc-spinoff-certain-businesses-52-4-billion-stock-2/ |title=The Walt Disney Company To Acquire Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., After Spinoff Of Certain Businesses, For $52.4 Billion In Stock |publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]] |date=December 14, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214141817/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/walt-disney-company-acquire-twenty-first-century-fox-inc-spinoff-certain-businesses-52-4-billion-stock-2/ |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Following the acquisition, National Geographic and its sister channels were folded into [[Walt Disney Television]], with the president of the National Geographic Partners reporting directly to the Walt Disney Television chairman.<ref name="dl-tv-structure">{{cite news |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Disney Unveils Top TV Executive Structure Post Fox Acquisition: Peter Rice, Dana Walden, John Landgraf, Gary Knell Joining |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/disney-top-tv-executive-structure-fox-acquisition-peter-rice-dana-walden-john-landgraf-1202473566/ |access-date=October 9, 2018 |work=Deadline |date=October 8, 2018}}</ref> Disney officially closed the deal on March 20, 2019, having then added Nat Geo into its portfolio of networks.<ref name="vty-deal-close"/>


On September 15, 2023, [[Byron Allen]] made a $10B bid to buy ABC, FX & National Geographic as [[Bob Iger]] claimed ‘it not may be core’ to Disney.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Dade Hayes,Jill |last2=Hayes |first2=Dade |last3=Goldsmith |first3=Jill |date=2023-09-15 |title=Disney Fielding Interest In ABC And Other Linear TV Assets From Byron Allen And Nexstar; Media Giant Calls Reports Of Sale Talks “Unfounded,” But Will Consider “Strategic Options” – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/disney-says-abc-station-sale-talks-unfounded-but-keeps-strategic-options-open-1235547332/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> On November 29th, 2023, Iger announced he was no longer interested in selling Disney's linear TV assets, effectively rejecting Bryon Allen's offer.<ref>https://fortune.com/2023/11/29/disney-bob-iger-keep-tv-stations-abc-fx/</ref>
On September 15, 2023, [[Byron Allen]] made a $10B bid to buy ABC, FX & National Geographic as [[Bob Iger]] claimed it 'may not be core' to Disney.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |last2=Goldsmith |first2=Jill |date=2023-09-15 |title=Disney Fielding Interest In ABC And Other Linear TV Assets From Byron Allen And Nexstar; Media Giant Calls Reports Of Sale Talks "Unfounded," But Will Consider "Strategic Options" – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/disney-says-abc-station-sale-talks-unfounded-but-keeps-strategic-options-open-1235547332/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> On November 29, 2023, Iger announced he was no longer interested in selling Disney's linear TV assets, effectively rejecting Bryon Allen's offer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fortune.com/2023/11/29/disney-bob-iger-keep-tv-stations-abc-fx/ | title=Disney's Bob Iger does a 360 on possibly selling ABC and FX and now says he'll keep the TV stations }}</ref>


==TV shows==
==TV series==
{{main|List of National Geographic original programming}}
{{main|List of National Geographic original programming}}
National Geographic Channel's TV shows, in alphabetical order:
National Geographic Channel's TV series, in alphabetical order:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*''[[Abandoned (National Geographic TV series)|Abandoned]]''
*''[[Abandoned (TV series)|Abandoned]]''
*''[[Access 360° World Heritage]]''
*''[[Access 360° World Heritage]]''
*''[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Air Crash Investigation]]''
*''[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Air Crash Investigation]]''
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*''Bid & Destroy''
*''Bid & Destroy''
*''[[Big, Bigger, Biggest]]''
*''[[Big, Bigger, Biggest]]''
*''[[Big Picture with Kal Penn]]''
*''[[The Big Picture with Kal Penn]]''
*''Bizarre Dinosaurs''
*''Bizarre Dinosaurs''
*''Borderforce USA: The Bridges''
*''Borderforce USA: The Bridges''
*''The Boonies''
*''The Boonies''
*''[[Border Wars (TV series)|Border Wars]]''
*''[[Border Wars (TV series)|Border Wars]]''
*''[[Brain Games (National Geographic)|Brain Games]]''
*''[[Brain Games (2011 TV series)|Brain Games]]''
*''[[Breakout (Canadian TV program)|Breakout]]''
*''[[Breakout (Canadian TV program)|Breakout]]''
*''Building Wild''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2903156/|title=Building Wild|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
*''Building Wild''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2903156/|title=Building Wild|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
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*''[[Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey]]''
*''[[Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey]]''
*''[[Crowd Control (TV series)|Crowd Control]]''
*''[[Crowd Control (TV series)|Crowd Control]]''
*''[[Diggers (TV show)|Diggers]]''
*''[[Diggers (TV series)|Diggers]]''
*''[[Dino Autopsy]]''
*''Dino Autopsy''
*''Dino Death Match''
*''Dino Death Match''
*''Dino Death Trap''
*''Dino Death Trap''
*''Dinosaurs Decoded''
*''Dinosaurs Decoded''
*''Do Or Die''
*''Do Or Die: The Animals''
*''[[Dogs with Jobs]]''
*''[[Dogs with Jobs]]''
*''[[Doomsday Castle]]''
*''[[Doomsday Castle]]''
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*''[[Drugs, Inc.]]''
*''[[Drugs, Inc.]]''
*''[[Drain the Oceans]]''
*''[[Drain the Oceans]]''
*''[[Duck Quacks Don't Echo (US TV series)|Duck Quacks Don't Echo]]''
*''[[Duck Quacks Don't Echo (American TV series)|Duck Quacks Don't Echo]]''
*''[[Eat: The Story of Food]]''
*''[[Eat: The Story of Food]]''
*''Europe From Above''
*''Europe From Above''
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*''Eyewitness War''
*''Eyewitness War''
*''Family Beef''
*''Family Beef''
*''[[Family Guns]]''
*''Family Guns''
*''Forecast: Disaster''
*''Forecast: Disaster''
*''[[Genius (American TV series)|Genius]]''
*''[[Genius (American TV series)|Genius]]''
*''Going Ape''
*''[[Going Ape]]''
*''Hacking The System''
*''Hacking The System''
*''Hard Time''
*''Hard Time''
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*''[[Mick Dodge|The Legend of Mick Dodge]]''
*''[[Mick Dodge|The Legend of Mick Dodge]]''
*''Let it Ride''
*''Let it Ride''
*''Life After Dinosaurs''
*''[[The World After Dinosaurs|Life After Dinosaurs]]''
*''[[Life Below Zero]]''
*''[[Life Below Zero]]''
*''[[Life Hacker]]''
*''Life Hacker''
*''The Link''
*''The Link''
*''[[Live Free or Die (television series)|Live Free or Die]]''
*''[[Live Free or Die (TV series)|Live Free or Die]]''
*''[[Locked Up Abroad]]''
*''[[Locked Up Abroad]]''
*''Lords of War''
*''Lords of War''
*''[[Mars (miniseries)|Mars]]''
*''[[Mars (American TV series)|Mars]]''
*''[[Megastructures (TV series)|Megastructures]]''
*''[[Megastructures (TV series)|Megastructures]]''
*''Meltdown''
*''Meltdown''
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*''[[Origins: The Journey of Humankind]]''
*''[[Origins: The Journey of Humankind]]''
*''One World: Together at Home''
*''One World: Together at Home''
*''[[One Strange Rock (TV series)|One Strange Rock]]''
*''[[One Strange Rock]]''
*''Phobia''
*''Phobia''
*''Polygamy, USA''
*''Polygamy, USA''
*''Port Protection''
*''Port Protection''
*"Primal Survivor"
*''[[Race to the Center of the Earth]]''
*''[[Race to the Center of the Earth]]''
*''[[Remote Survival]]''
*''[[Remote Survival]]''
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*''[[Scam City]]''
*''[[Scam City]]''
*''[[Science of Stupid]]''
*''[[Science of Stupid]]''
*''[[Seconds From Disaster]]''
*''[[Seconds from Disaster]]''
*''Sky Monsters''
*''Sky Monsters''
*''Snake Salvation''
*''Snake Salvation''
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*''Supercars''
*''Supercars''
*''SharkFest''
*''SharkFest''
*''[[SuperCroc]]''
*''SuperCroc''
*''[[Taboo (2002 TV series)|Taboo]]''
*''[[Taboo (2002 TV series)|Taboo]]''
*''[[To Catch a Smuggler]]''
*''[[To Catch a Smuggler]]''
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===Nat Geo TV===
===Nat Geo TV===
Nat Geo TV is an [[Mobile app|application]] for [[smartphone]]s and [[tablet computer]]s, along with [[Windows 10]]. It allows subscribers of participating pay television providers (such as [[Time Warner Cable]] and [[Comcast|Comcast Xfinity]]) numerous viewing options:
Nat Geo TV is an [[Mobile app|application]] for [[smartphone]]s and [[tablet computer]]s, along with [[Windows 10]]. It allows subscribers of participating pay television providers (such as [[Spectrum (brand)|Spectrum]] and [[Comcast|Comcast Xfinity]]) numerous viewing options, including individual episodes of National Geographic and [[Nat Geo Wild]]'s original series and documentaries (which are made available live). On August 24, 2024, it was announced that the Nat Geo TV app would shut down on September 23 along with all other Disney-owned [[TV Everywhere]] apps, such as [[DisneyNow|DisneyNOW]], [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]], [[FX (TV channel)|FXNow]] and [[ABC News (United States)|ABC]]. However, viewers can still watch episodes on the Nat Geo website even after said date.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bouma|first=Luke|title=Disney is Shutting Down Disney, Freeform, FXNow, & National Geographic Channel Apps|url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/disney-is-shutting-down-disney-freeform-fxnow-national-geographic-channel-apps/|access-date=2024-08-24|date=2024-08-24|website=Cord Cutters News|language=en-US}}</ref>
*individual episodes of National Geographic and [[Nat Geo Wild]]'s original series and documentaries (which are made available live)


==Controversy and criticism==
==Controversy and criticism==
Archaeologists have protested that National Geographic shows such as ''Diggers'' and ''Nazi War Diggers'' promote the looting and destruction of archaeological sites by promoting the work of metal detecting souvenir hunters and collectable dealers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/archaeologist_n_1315867|title=Two Popular TV Shows Under Fire From Archaeologists|date=March 2, 2012|website=HuffPost}}</ref> In 2013 the National Geographic Channel set off a firestorm of controversy with its reality show ''Diggers''. Professional archaeologists from the [[Society for Historical Archaeology]], the largest scholarly group concerned with the archaeology of the modern world (A.D. 1400–present), roundly criticized the network for promoting the theft of cultural materials on public and private land.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Geographic's Diggers: is it better?|url=https://sha.org/blog/2013/02/national-geographics-diggers-is-it-better/|website=Society for Historical Archaeology|date=February 2013 |access-date=13 July 2016}}</ref>
In 2013, the network began airing the reality show ''[[Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?]]''. National Geographic Channel was criticized for their association with the [[Boy Scouts of America]], an organization which, until a vote in May of that year that overturned its ban, had [[Boy Scouts of America membership controversies|forbidden openly gay members]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/are-you-tougher-than-a-boy-scout-gay-backlash-_n_2545354.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Curtis | last=Wong | title=Boy Scout Reality Series Deemed Anti-Gay 'Marketing Ploy' By LGBT Activists | date=January 24, 2013}}</ref>


Archaeologists have protested that National Geographic shows such as ''Diggers'' and ''Nazi War Diggers'' promote the looting and destruction of archaeological sites by promoting the work of metal detecting souvenir hunters and collectable dealers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/archaeologist_n_1315867|title=Two Popular TV Shows Under Fire From Archaeologists|date=March 2, 2012|website=HuffPost}}</ref> In 2013 the National Geographic Channel set off a firestorm of controversy with its reality show ''Diggers''. Professional archaeologists from the [[Society for Historical Archaeology]], the largest scholarly group concerned with the archaeology of the modern world (A.D. 1400–present), roundly criticized the network for promoting the theft of cultural materials on public and private land.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Geographic's Diggers: is it better?|url=https://sha.org/blog/2013/02/national-geographics-diggers-is-it-better/|website=Society for Historical Archaeology|date=February 2013 |access-date=13 July 2016}}</ref> The show ''Nazi War Diggers'' was accused of showing unscientific and disrespectful handling of human remains. A promotional quote from a military relic dealer, "I feel that by selling things that are Nazi-related and for lots of money, I am preserving things that museums don't want to deal with," was removed from the channel's website in March 2014. National Geographic expressed regret for how the series was presented by its own website but maintained that many of the accusations against the series were based on misinformation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/arts/television/tv-series-is-criticized-in-handling-of-deceased.html|title=TV Series Is Criticized in Handling of Deceased|first=Tom|last=Mashberg|work=The New York Times |date=March 28, 2014|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> The show was repackaged, amid controversy, as ''Battlefield Recovery'' for air during 2016 on [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]] in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-08|title=Channel 5 accused of supporting 'grave-robbing' over TV show Battlefield Recovery|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/08/channel-5-accused-of-supporting-grave-robbing-over-tv-show-battlefield-recovery|access-date=2021-01-07|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>
The show ''Nazi War Diggers'' was accused of showing unscientific and disrespectful handling of human remains. A promotional quote from a military relic dealer, "I feel that by selling things that are Nazi-related and for lots of money, I am preserving things that museums don't want to deal with," was removed from the channel's website in March 2014. National Geographic expressed regret for how the series was presented by its own website but maintained that many of the accusations against the series were based on misinformation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/arts/television/tv-series-is-criticized-in-handling-of-deceased.html|title=TV Series Is Criticized in Handling of Deceased|first=Tom|last=Mashberg|work=The New York Times |date=March 28, 2014|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> The show was repackaged, amid controversy, as ''Battlefield Recovery'' for air during 2016 on [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]] in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-08|title=Channel 5 accused of supporting 'grave-robbing' over TV show Battlefield Recovery|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/08/channel-5-accused-of-supporting-grave-robbing-over-tv-show-battlefield-recovery|access-date=2021-01-07|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 22:05, 2 December 2024

"National Geographic Channel" redirects here. For other uses, see National Geographic Channel (disambiguation).
National Geographic
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaWorldwide
Nationwide
HeadquartersWashington, DC, U.S.[1]
Programming
Picture format720p HDTV
(downscaled to 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
ParentNational Geographic Global Networks
Sister channels
History
LaunchedJanuary 7, 2001; 23 years ago (2001-01-07)
Former namesNational Geographic Channel (2001–2016)
Links
Websitenatgeotv.com
Availability
Streaming media
Affiliated Streaming ServiceDisney+
Service(s)YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, Vidgo, DirecTV Stream

National Geographic (formerly National Geographic Channel; abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo or Nat Geo TV) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by the National Geographic Global Networks unit of Disney Entertainment and National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%),[2][3] with the operational management handled by Disney Entertainment.[4]

The flagship channel airs non-fiction television programs produced by National Geographic and other production companies. Like History (which is 50% owned by Disney through A&E Networks) and Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual content involving nature, science, culture, and history, plus some reality and pseudo-scientific entertainment programming.[citation needed] Its primary sister network worldwide, including the United States, is Nat Geo Wild, which focuses on animal-related programming, including the popular Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.

As of November 2023, Nat Geo is available to approximately 70,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2016 peak of 91,000,000 households.[5]

History

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In the United States, under leadership of its president Tim T. Kelly,[6] the National Geographic Channel launched on January 7, 2001,[7] as a joint venture of National Geographic Television & Film and Fox Cable Networks. National Geographic provides programming expertise and the Fox Networks Group provides its expertise on distribution, marketing, and advertising sales.

National Geographic Channel logo (2004–2013)

The '90s: The Last Great Decade, a documentary series narrated by Rob Lowe, pulled in 1.10 million viewers, and was the second highest-rated July telecast in the National Geographic Channel rating history. The 2000s: A New Reality, also narrated by Lowe, premiered on July 12, 2015.[8]

On November 14, 2016, National Geographic Channel was renamed as simply National Geographic, dropping the "Channel" from its name.

On December 14, 2017, in a deal, The Walt Disney Company announced it would buy the majority of 21st Century Fox. Disney would assume control of Fox's controlling stake in the National Geographic partnership thereafter.[9] Following the acquisition, National Geographic and its sister channels were folded into Walt Disney Television, with the president of the National Geographic Partners reporting directly to the Walt Disney Television chairman.[10] Disney officially closed the deal on March 20, 2019, having then added Nat Geo into its portfolio of networks.[3]

On September 15, 2023, Byron Allen made a $10B bid to buy ABC, FX & National Geographic as Bob Iger claimed it 'may not be core' to Disney.[11] On November 29, 2023, Iger announced he was no longer interested in selling Disney's linear TV assets, effectively rejecting Bryon Allen's offer.[12]

TV series

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Main article: List of National Geographic original programming

National Geographic Channel's TV series, in alphabetical order:

Theme fanfare music

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The National Geographic Channel's signature theme fanfare music, which is played at the beginning of many of the channel's television programs, was composed by Elmer Bernstein. It was originally written in 1964 for the Society's television specials, which were broadcast on CBS, ABC, PBS and NBC from 1964 until the early 2000s.

Other National Geographic US channels

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National Geographic HD

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The United States 720p high definition simulcast of the National Geographic Channel launched in January 2006. It is available on all major cable and satellite providers.

Nat Geo Wild

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Main article: Nat Geo Wild

Nat Geo Wild (stylized as Nat Geo WILD or abbreviated as NGW) is a cable/satellite TV channel focused on animal-related programs. It is a sister network to National Geographic Channel and it is the latest channel to be jointly launched by the National Geographic Society and Fox Cable Networks. It was launched in United States on March 29, 2010, focusing primarily on wildlife and natural history programming.

Nat Geo Mundo

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Nat Geo Mundo
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
Programming
Language(s)Spanish
Picture format480i SDTV
Ownership
OwnerNational Geographic Society
History
Launched2011; 14 years ago (2011)
Availability
Streaming media
Service(s)FuboTV, YouTube TV, Vidgo, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream

Nat Geo Mundo is broadcast in American Spanish, and was launched in 2011.[15] It shares programming with the Nat Geo Channel available in Hispanic American countries. The channel is fully-owned by the National Geographic Society with no involvement from Disney General Entertainment Content.

Nat Geo TV

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Nat Geo TV is an application for smartphones and tablet computers, along with Windows 10. It allows subscribers of participating pay television providers (such as Spectrum and Comcast Xfinity) numerous viewing options, including individual episodes of National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild's original series and documentaries (which are made available live). On August 24, 2024, it was announced that the Nat Geo TV app would shut down on September 23 along with all other Disney-owned TV Everywhere apps, such as DisneyNOW, Freeform, FXNow and ABC. However, viewers can still watch episodes on the Nat Geo website even after said date.[16]

Controversy and criticism

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Archaeologists have protested that National Geographic shows such as Diggers and Nazi War Diggers promote the looting and destruction of archaeological sites by promoting the work of metal detecting souvenir hunters and collectable dealers.[17] In 2013 the National Geographic Channel set off a firestorm of controversy with its reality show Diggers. Professional archaeologists from the Society for Historical Archaeology, the largest scholarly group concerned with the archaeology of the modern world (A.D. 1400–present), roundly criticized the network for promoting the theft of cultural materials on public and private land.[18]

The show Nazi War Diggers was accused of showing unscientific and disrespectful handling of human remains. A promotional quote from a military relic dealer, "I feel that by selling things that are Nazi-related and for lots of money, I am preserving things that museums don't want to deal with," was removed from the channel's website in March 2014. National Geographic expressed regret for how the series was presented by its own website but maintained that many of the accusations against the series were based on misinformation.[19] The show was repackaged, amid controversy, as Battlefield Recovery for air during 2016 on Channel 5 in the UK.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Disney Entertainment Television Lays off 140; National Geographic Heavily Impacted". July 31, 2024.
  2. ^ Parker, Laura (September 9, 2015). "National Geographic and 21st Century Fox Expand Media Partnership". Culture. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Littleton, Cynthia (March 19, 2019). "Disney Closes $71 Billion 21st Century Fox Deal". Variety. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  4. ^ Steinberg, Brian (August 29, 2019). "Disney Layoffs Affect National Geographic". Variety. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  6. ^ Stilson, Janet (May 1, 2000). "Speeding Up the Growth Curve". Multichannel News International. Cahners. p. 18.
  7. ^ "Doctoring the Health Channel" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. January 8, 2001. p. 12. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  8. ^ Gabrielle Pantera. "Nat Geo Channel The 2000s, Rob Lowe Narrates the Naughties". HollywoodDailyStar.com. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  9. ^ "The Walt Disney Company To Acquire Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., After Spinoff Of Certain Businesses, For $52.4 Billion In Stock" (Press release). The Walt Disney Company. December 14, 2017. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 8, 2018). "Disney Unveils Top TV Executive Structure Post Fox Acquisition: Peter Rice, Dana Walden, John Landgraf, Gary Knell Joining". Deadline. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  11. ^ Hayes, Dade; Goldsmith, Jill (September 15, 2023). "Disney Fielding Interest In ABC And Other Linear TV Assets From Byron Allen And Nexstar; Media Giant Calls Reports Of Sale Talks "Unfounded," But Will Consider "Strategic Options" – Update". Deadline. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  12. ^ "Disney's Bob Iger does a 360 on possibly selling ABC and FX and now says he'll keep the TV stations".
  13. ^ "Apocalypse 101" – via www.imdb.com.
  14. ^ "Building Wild" – via www.imdb.com.
  15. ^ "National Geographic Launches Nat Geo Mundo, New Network For Multi-Generational And Bicultural U.S. Latinos". April 4, 2011. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  16. ^ Bouma, Luke (August 24, 2024). "Disney is Shutting Down Disney, Freeform, FXNow, & National Geographic Channel Apps". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  17. ^ "Two Popular TV Shows Under Fire From Archaeologists". HuffPost. March 2, 2012.
  18. ^ "National Geographic's Diggers: is it better?". Society for Historical Archaeology. February 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  19. ^ Mashberg, Tom (March 28, 2014). "TV Series Is Criticized in Handling of Deceased". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  20. ^ "Channel 5 accused of supporting 'grave-robbing' over TV show Battlefield Recovery". the Guardian. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
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