BBC Studios’ NHU Producing Wildlife Doc for Discovery

Marking its first-ever non-BBC commission, BBC Studios is on board to produce The Red List for Discovery Channel.

From BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit (NHU), which is behind the megahit Planet Earth and Blue Planet franchises, The Red List is a two-hour film following the work of dedicated wildlife conservationists across the globe as they compile the latest version of “The Red List”—the most comprehensive record of the state of the world’s wildlife that has ever been created. The doc project will give viewers an inside look at the worldwide effort to bring endangered species back from the brink of extinction.

Mark Linsey, director of BBC Studios, said: “This third-party commission from Discovery heralds a new dawn for BBC Studios and is a really exciting moment in the history of the BBC. On top of that, The Red List is being made by BBC Studios’ world-renowned Natural History Unit so will be unmissable television. I couldn’t be more proud of Lisa Opie and Julian Hector and his team at the NHU.”

Julian Hector, the head of the NHU at BBC Studios, commented: “With the rate of species’ extinction being terrifyingly high, never has it felt more important to tell the stories of those species on the brink and the heroes working to save them; we are delighted to have the opportunity to do just that.”

Rich Ross, the group president of Discovery Channel and Science Channel, said: “From its earliest beginnings, Discovery has been a leader in bringing stories about wildlife conservation to audiences across the globe. BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit is the expert in creating content about the natural world. This collaboration couldn’t be more perfect.”