National Geographic Pacts with History Hit for Shipwreck Doc

National Geographic has partnered exclusively with Dan Snow’s History Hit, the All3Media company Little Dot Studios and Consequential for a documentary event detailing the successful search and discovery of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance.

The documentary event about the shipwreck is set to premiere this fall as part of National Geographic’s Explorer series, airing globally on National Geographic channels and Disney+. Produced in partnership with ABC News, it will be directed by BAFTA-nominated Natalie Hewit (Antarctica: Ice Station Rescue, Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World).

Further, exclusive storytelling about the Endurance will also be featured across National Geographic’s digital and social platforms, as well as in a future issue of National Geographic magazine and an episode of the podcast Overheard at National Geographic.

The expedition was organized by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust and set off from Cape Town on February 5 on a voyage to the Weddell Sea, off the coast of Antarctica where the Endurance sank in 1915. The expedition was led by polar geographer Dr. John Shears with marine archaeologist Mensun Bound as director of exploration. Also on board were South African icebreaker Agulhas II, a crew of scientists and archaeologists and a team of experienced extreme-environment filmmakers, led by History Hit’s Snow.

History Hit, Little Dot Studios and Consequential have produced a range of content covering the setting up of the expedition, the voyage, search and discovery, as well as the history, science and other themes. Short-form content will continue to be distributed to subscribers with exclusive content breaking on TikTok, followed by History Hit TV, HistoryHit.com and History Hit’s podcast network and other social channels, together with Little Dot Studios’ network of owned and operated digital and social media accounts, including Timeline World History, Earth Stories and Real Stories. National Geographic has the exclusive long-form documentary chronicling the expedition and its triumph set to air later this year.

Courteney Monroe, president of National Geographic content, said: “Through bold exploration and storytelling, National Geographic has taken generations of loyal fans from the deepest depths of the ocean to the peak of Mount Everest, enabling them to see and engage with the world in entirely new ways. The search for Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship, Endurance, could not be a more perfect story to continue this proud legacy and join the storied Explorer franchise, which for almost four decades has been investigating and reporting on some of the world’s greatest mysteries. It is our hope—along with our incredible partners on this project—that the blockbuster story behind Shackleton’s Endurance, featuring exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to the high-stakes adventure, will inspire the next generation of explorers and adventurers.”

Debra O’Connell, president of networks at Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, said: “We salute the team at the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, Dr. John Shears, Mensun Bound and the crew of scientists and archaeologists aboard the South African icebreaker Agulhas II for this incredible discovery and for opening a new chapter in one of the most fabled stories in exploration history. From the stories we are telling right now on natgeo.com, the ABC Network through ABC News and our ABC Owned Television Stations to what will be an exceptional documentary on the National Geographic Channels and Disney+ this fall, we are excited about the ways in which we will illuminate and celebrate the achievement of this remarkable team.”

Snow, co-founder and creative director of History Hit, said: “This has been the most exciting and challenging experience of my career so far. The team has found not only the world’s most famous shipwreck but also its most inaccessible. After going through storms, blizzards and thick sea ice, we have got some astonishing images of Endurance and a laser scan accurate to within centimeters. People thought the story of Endurance was over when it sank in November 1915, but it wasn’t. This is the start of a new chapter.”