NGCI Commissions Two New Series

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 20: National
Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has commissioned U.K.-based Renegade
Pictures for two new series: Planet Mechanics and Vegas
Comes to China.

Planet
Mechanics is an
8×1-hour series featuring Dick Strawbridge and Jem Stansfield. The team uses
ingenuity, resourcefulness and wit to confront ecological challenges head on.
Their exploits include helping small businesses and individuals go green in
their daily lives by creating everything from an air-propelled motorbike for a
takeout delivery restaurant, to saving a youth hostel by taking it off the grid
and powering it from a local stream and fire hoses. The series begins airing in
April.

Vegas
Comes to China follows
the progression of Macau from tiny colonial town to booming gambling
metropolis, surpassing Las Vegas in profit. Two of the world’s richest men are
battling over this new empire, with more than $6.9 billion in revenue at stake.
Airing in May, the series offers a microcosm into the fundamental changes
underway throughout China.

Planet Mechanics
is executive produced by Donna Clark from Renegade Pictures. Vegas Comes to
China is executive produced by Sam Anthony and Alan
Hayling from Renegade Pictures.

“Renegade
Pictures has delivered two compelling series on topics at the forefront of
interest,” said Sydney Suissa, the executive VP of content for NGCI. “Planet
Mechanics is a
refreshing take on green programming, offering optimistic, innovative and
achievable solutions.”

Suissa continued: “With character-driven plots, culture clashes
and some significant high-risk wagers, Vegas Comes to China thoroughly examines
East-versus-West big business.”

—By
Ned Berke