BBC Earth Heads to Australia

The BBC Earth channel is set to launch in Australia on Foxtel next month, featuring among its factual programs several titles from Sir David Attenborough.

The channel’s debut is slated for Thursday, October 10. Four series featuring Attenborough—Blue Planet II, Planet Earth II, Frozen Planet and The Hunt—will run in their entirety across each of the first four days of the channel’s launch.

The BBC Earth channel will showcase a broad range of world-class factual programs including adventurous travels, human stories and science programs from experts such as Michael Mosley, Louis Theroux, Kate Humble, Professor Brian Cox and Ben Fogle. BBC Earth will replace the existing channel BBC Knowledge, and many more hours of programming will also be available to view in an enhanced on-demand offering.

Monday nights will be home to a series of one-off documentaries from Attenborough starting with Attenborough and the Sea Dragon. Titles premiering on the channel during the first week include Tribes, Animals and Me, which sees wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan joining a different indigenous tribe to get closer to the animals that they hunt; Rituals, showcasing the rites that mark some of the most significant events in human lives across different cultures; and Wild Mexico, exploring the country’s landscape, animals and culture. In addition, Expedition Volcano takes a dangerous scientific journey into the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tim Christlieb, director of branded services at BBC Studio ANZ, said: “BBC Earth is for everyone who is interested in the world they live in and will offer best-in-class premium factual programming fronted by the BBC’s renowned presenters. Many of the best shows and much-loved faces from BBC Knowledge will find a new home on BBC Earth. If you want to view nature in all its magnificence, be amazed by animals that you never knew existed and marvel at their behaviors, connect with your fellow humans through touching stories, explore other cultures, experience hair-raising adventures from the comfort of your armchair or ponder on the big scientific questions of the universe, then BBC Earth is for you. BBC Earth is a well-established global brand, with channels in over 160 countries and we’re looking forward to bringing this channel to Australian audiences.”