ITV Studios Lines Up Broadcasters for Natural-History Specials

ITV Studios has signed up a host of international broadcasters for its blue-chip natural-history one-offs India’s Wild Karnataka and Wild Tokyo.

India’s Wild Karnataka, narrated by Sir David Attenborough and produced by Icon Films and Mudskipper, has been picked up by France 5, ServusTV in Germany, SVT in Sweden, VRT in Belgium, DR in Denmark and ETV in Estonia. Bilibili and Huanxi Media licensed the special in China, while it has been acquired by KBS in Korea, Discovery in India, PTS in Taiwan and TVNZ in New Zealand. SBS broadcast the Australian premiere, with BBC Earth taking pay premiere later this year.

Narrated by Toby Jones (The Hunger Games; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) and produced by Oxford Scientific Films in partnership with Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, Wild Tokyo was sold to Bilbili and Huanxi Media in China, Discovery for pan-Asia, TVNZ in New Zealand, Seven in Australia, WDR in Germany, DR in Denmark and BBC Earth in Africa.

BBC America picked up both documentaries for its dedicated blue-chip natural-history strand Wonderstruck.

Ruth Berry, managing director of global distribution at ITV Studios, said, “Over the past couple of months, we have seen numerous feel-good stories about how the current global situation is bringing people around the world closer to nature, and these documentaries are certainly suited to audiences craving that touch. Both of these exquisite productions are prime examples of our invigorated commitment to wildlife programming and, alongside other shows on our growing slate of blue-chip content, such as the award-winning Magical Land of Oz, which recently secured great ratings when it was rerun in the U.K., we are now one of the major destinations for clients looking for stunning natural-history programming.”