Nat Geo Portugal to Launch New Channels

WASHINGTON, D.C., February
29: In March, National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) will launch
three new channels in Portugal: Nat Geo Music, Nat Geo Wild and National
Geographic Channel HD.

Nat Geo Music in Portugal
will kick off with a Welcome Portugal special, featuring Listen to the World and Geo Sessions: Ben Harper, a
30-minute acoustic performance by recording artist Ben Harper. Other artists to
be showcased during the launch period are Cape Verdean Cesaria Evora,
Portuguese artists Ana Moura, Buraka Som Sistema, and Pedro Abrunhosa; and
other international stars. National Geographic Channel Portugal follows
National Geographic Channel Italy and National Geographic Channel Latin America
in airing the 24-hour Nat Geo Music channel.

Program launches slated
for Nat Geo Wild in Portugal include Raptor Force, which attaches a tiny camera to birds of prey
such as falcons and hawks so that viewers can experience first-hand the full
splendor of their flight skills. Nat Geo Wild is currently available in the
U.K., Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy, Turkey and other territories in Europe.

On National Geographic
Channel HD, upcoming programming for the Portuguese feed includes China’s
Great Wall, a two-part special
that uses sweeping imagery to bring to life tales of those who lived and died
building China’s greatest defensive structure.

“The growth of our
Portugal channel is an immensely exciting time for us, as the channel will now
offer an extensive lineup of our key brands,” said Sydney Suissa, the executive
VP of content for NGCI. “Through these new channel launches, NGCI is able to
expose a multitude of viewers to the core values of National Geographic
including exploration, adventure and conservation.”

—By Ned Berke