Nat Geo Kids’ Weird But True! Lands TV & Radio Shows

WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Kids is prepping the multiplatform launch of Weird But True!, the magazine’s most popular fun-facts feature and book series, via syndicated TV and SiriusXM radio this fall.

Starting tomorrow, Weird But True! will premiere as a syndicated series airing on Saturday mornings primarily on FOX television stations. In addition, the strand will be featured as an hour-long radio show on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live on Friday evenings beginning in October. The radio show features National Geographic Kids editors Becky Baines and Kate Hale.

The TV series is produced in partnership with Steve Rotfeld Productions and will air as part of a three-hour educational block of syndicated programming. The radio show will air new episodes weekly on Fridays at 5 p.m., with a replay on Sundays at 1 p.m. There will also be two replays on Weird But True Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Additionally, National Geographic Kids is hosting its first-ever Weird But True! live event on its Facebook page on September 14 at 11:30 a.m. Nat Geo Kids will also feature a regular stream of Weird But True! facts on its Facebook page and Twitter account every Wednesday.

The TV and radio programs come on the heels of the franchise’s successful book sales, with 21-plus titles published and more than 4 million copies sold to date. The magazine segment launched in 2004.

“Kids consistently told us how much they loved Weird But True! every time we ran our facts in the magazine, so we listened to them,” said National Geographic Kids’ creative director, Melina Bellows. “We hope they’ll be happy to see we now have expanded Weird But True! to TV, satellite radio, online, in bookstores and in our Weird But True! app!”

“National Geographic sets the gold standard for factual programming,” noted Steve Rotfeld, the president of Rotfeld Productions. “It is tremendously exciting to have Nat Geo Kids’ most popular franchise, Weird But True!, join our popular and critically-acclaimed Xploration Station block. We are loving this series and are proud to be partnering with the iconic Nat Geo brand.”

“Did you know that you can shine your shoes with a banana peel?” said Mindy Thomas, program director and host of The Absolutely Mindy Show on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live. “Becky and Kate have been two of my favorite guests, who are always teaching our listeners something new, so when we had the chance to turn this into an official show, we jumped at the opportunity.”