Nat Geo Launches Japanese-Language Website

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 4:
National Geographic Ventures, in partnership with Broadmedia Corporation, has
debuted a local-language version of its web portal in Japan.

The site features content
such as photo galleries and videos, as well as localized news and events
affecting the Japanese audience. With more than 3,000 pages of continuously
updated content, the site launches with nearly 200 videos dubbed in the
Japanese language and more than 1,200 photos from photographers from around the
world, all of which can be accessed for free.

The Japanese-language
portal will offer up fare from NationalGeographic.com categories like
environment and nature, which highlights environmental issues; people and
places, which features countries and cultures from around the globe; animals,
which offers an up-close exploration of animals, from insects to mammals, along
with their habitats; and news, a daily, updated source of articles from around
the world, including announcements or discoveries related to such topics as
environment, nature, culture and science.

In Japan, National
Geographic magazine is published
in the Japanese language through a joint venture with Nikkei BP, and the
National Geographic Channel is offered through a partnership with News
Broadcasting Japan Corporation.

"The launch of this
Japanese-language site continues National Geographic's commitment to and
success in extending its brand globally through a localized focus,” said Ted
Prince, the COO of National Geographic Ventures. “We hope to make the website a
vital destination for the Japanese market, which will further spread our
mission of inspiring people to care about the planet.”

National Geographic
Ventures includes groups such as National Geographic Television and National
Geographic Digital Media, which operates NationalGeographic.com and National
Geographic Maps.

—By Irene Lew