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Tag: David Attenborough

  • Sea it to believe it David Attenborough dives deep with National Geographic

    Sea it to believe it David Attenborough dives deep with National Geographic

    MUMBAI: From the man who’s shown us the planet’s wildest wonders comes a call louder than the crashing waves and this time, the sea is the story. To mark World Oceans Day, National Geographic and Sir David Attenborough have teamed up for the first time to present OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, a sweeping, feature-length documentary that blends science, storytelling, and soul-stirring visuals to shine a light on our planet’s blue heart and how we might just save it. The film premieres on Sunday, 8 June at 7 pm on National Geographic and streams the same day on JioHotstar.

    At 99 years old, the legendary broadcaster, biologist, and knighted natural historian delivers what may be his most powerful message yet. Drawing on a 70-year career of exploration, Attenborough takes viewers on an awe-inspiring undersea journey from coral reefs to kelp forests, seamounts to the open ocean showing how the Earth’s watery lungs are all interconnected, increasingly imperilled, and yet astonishingly resilient.

    With haunting new footage of bottom trawling, the film doesn’t flinch from showing the devastation being caused by destructive fishing practices. But rather than wallowing in gloom, Attenborough and the filmmakers focus on solutions: stories of hope, restoration, and revival, offering evidence that if action is taken now, marine life can recover at unprecedented scale.

    “If we save the sea, we save our world,” declares Attenborough and the science backs him. According to recent studies and inputs from advisors including Enric Sala, founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas, ocean protection efforts can lead to rapid biodiversity rebounds and support climate stability.

    The film’s timing is no accident. It aligns with the UN Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice and falls mid-decade of the UN’s Ocean Science for Sustainable Development plan (2021–2030), lending weight to its message.

    As National Geographic EVP Tom McDonald put it, “There is no one better to deliver this landmark film than Sir David.”

    In India, where over 11,000 km of coastline supports thriving marine ecosystems and millions of livelihoods, the message couldn’t be more personal. JioStar president of entertainment Alok Jain noted, “This is not just a global story, it is our story too.”

    With sweeping cinematography, compelling accounts, and Attenborough’s trademark gravitas, Ocean urges viewers to rethink their relationship with the ocean. The film also offers hope that with the right marine protection policies and public pressure, we can restore what’s been lost beneath the waves.

    Later this year, the film will also be made available to educators and non-profits worldwide, bringing the message to classrooms, museums, and conferences.

    Directed by Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey, and Colin Butfield, and produced by Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios, Ocean is not just a documentary, it’s a rallying cry for ocean lovers, policy-makers, and future generations.

    Tune in this Sunday, 8 June at 7 pm because when Attenborough speaks, the world listens. And this time, the sea needs us to.

  • Sony BBC Earth premieres ‘Planet Earth III’ narrated by Sir David Attenborough

    Sony BBC Earth premieres ‘Planet Earth III’ narrated by Sir David Attenborough

    Mumbai: Sony BBC Earth has announced the premiere of ‘Planet Earth III’, the latest addition to the groundbreaking and award-winning Planet Earth series. The eight-part series follows some of the world’s most amazing species and narrates extraordinary stories depicting drama, thrill, humor, and emotions. Presented by Sir David Attenborough, the show will premiere on Sony BBC Earth on 29 July 2024, at 09:00 pm.

    Produced by BBC Studios natural history unit, ‘Planet Earth III’ reflects the set of challenges that wildlife faces in the modern, crowded world. The show is making a comeback two decades after the original Planet Earth series first aired. It highlights some of the fantastic locations of India that include the teak forests where whistling wild dogs hunt prey three times their size and a village with venomous cobra co-existing with humans, leading to a change in their behaviour.

    The final episode sheds light on the ‘heroes’ across the globe who put their lives on the line to protect the wildlife and the critically important ecosystems of our planet.

    For the show’s premiere, Sony BBC Earth has launched a campaign titled ‘WilderThanYourImagination’. It focuses on mesmerising viewers with Earth’s unseen wonders, taking them to a world of incredible stories, beyond their imagination. Ahead of the premiere, the channel conducted screenings at the Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai science centers that saw over 1400+ students enjoying the content and learning from it.

    Sony Pictures Networks India chief marketing officer & business head – English cluster & Sony AATH, Tushar Shah said, “At Sony BBC Earth, we are dedicated to providing viewers with high-quality programming that ignites curiosity and fosters a deep connection with the natural world. Planet Earth III delivers on this commitment and perfectly embodies the brand promise. Narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough, this remarkable series is an immersive adventure into the heart of the wild. It showcases extraordinary tales of resilience, adaptation, and hope in the natural world.”

    Planet Earth III executive producer Mike Gunton said, “Planet Earth III is about the resilience and adaptability of nature and the remarkable animals changing their lives to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world dominated by us. This is the most ambitious Planet Earth series ever made, and we spent 1904 days filming it. We hold great responsibility as filmmakers to spark deep passion for our natural world, and we are excited for Indian audiences to have the chance to watch this fantastic series.”

  • Sony BBC Earth celebrates five-year anniversary with new campaign

    Sony BBC Earth celebrates five-year anniversary with new campaign

    Mumbai: Factual entertainment channel Sony BBC Earth has launched a 360-degree campaign titled ‘Make Every Moment Meaningful’ as the channel completes five years.

    The channel has also introduced a property called ‘5 Years 5 Mega Shows’ giving viewers a chance to vote for their favourite movies. The property will air every Saturday at 8 p.m from 12 March.

    As per the campaign, the channel launched a user-generated contest called #5YearsOfLife on Instagram giving people a chance to share how they added meaning to someone’s life via reels using the brand audio. An innovative Instagram filter was introduced to create an immersive experience. Built using augmented reality, the filter works when users point their camera towards the Sony BBC Earth logo (on-air, web, print, and outdoor) and their screens come alive with animated animal figures.

    Sony BBC Earth airs some of the biggest titles in factual entertainment such as “Planet Earth,” “Dynasties,” “Blue Planet 2” and “Serengeti.”  Its shows feature storytellers such as Sir David Attenborough and Steve Backshall.

    “Guided by our consumer understanding and insights, we wanted to create a brand which when coupled with our core values would be a breakthrough in the factual entertainment space,” said Sony Pictures Networks’ chief marketing officer and business head – English cluster and Sony AATH Tushar Shah. “As we complete five years of Sony BBC Earth, we are happy to see our vision come to life. With the strengths of both its partners, including top-notch content, esteemed brand equity, and distribution genius, the channel has always added meaning to the life of its viewers. We hope to continue entertaining the audiences and add meaning to every moment they spend with us.”

  • Sony BBC Earth gave select students an unprecedented opportunity to be a part of the world premiere of ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’ followed by a live interaction with Sir David Attenborough

    Sony BBC Earth gave select students an unprecedented opportunity to be a part of the world premiere of ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’ followed by a live interaction with Sir David Attenborough

    MUMBAI: Set to enthral the world is BBC’s much-awaited landmark series ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’, which received a one-of-a-kind global launch on 7th October amidst students and guests in London, India and Africa. In India, Sony BBC Earth partnered with Royal Opera House to host this exclusive event for a select 500 school children who were the first few in the world to be a part of this global premiere and witness the biggest series ever produced on biodiversity.

    The grand event was hosted by actress Tara Sharma Saluja and graced by Maria Goretti and Cyrus Sahukar, all three are sincere environment advocates and big fans of Sir David Attenborough. The enthusiastic audience watched the first part – Antarctica – of the 7-part series, before joining a live Q&A session with the crew in London. The response to the first episode was overwhelming as students cheered in support of Weddell Seals and Baby Albatross and were beyond thrilled to quiz Sir David Attenborough and the production team about the challenges involved in making the series.

    Premiering in India in December, ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’ tells the story of earth’s spectacular and unique seven continents, each one full of life and how they shape the extraordinary animal behaviour and biodiversity we see today. For the series, filmmakers have employed new technology, including boundary-defining drone techniques, to capture unique perspectives, new species, and animal behaviour never before seen.

    As well as showing where humankind is negatively and positively impacting the health of the planet, viewers will witness sequences such as: the world’s most bizarre predator in the Iranian desert; grave-robbing hamsters in Austria; one of the largest and rarest animals on the very brink of extinction in Kenya; and polar bears using a never before seen hunting strategy to catch beluga whales in North America’s Hudson Bay.

    Complementing Seven Worlds, One Planet’s stunning landscapes and powerful stories is the potent combination of the unmistakeable voice of Sir David Attenborough and the stirring music of Hans Zimmer, delivering appointment to view television that’s sure to resonate with everyone who watches it.

  • Sir David Attenborough makes surprise onstage appearance at glastonbury to launch new BBC natural history series seven worlds, one planet

    Sir David Attenborough makes surprise onstage appearance at glastonbury to launch new BBC natural history series seven worlds, one planet

    MUMBAI: To celebrate Glastonbury going single-use plastic free for the first time in its 49-year history, inspired by the continued Blue Planet II effect, BBC Studios joined forces with festival organisers to celebrate the amazing work of its iconic Natural History Unit and globally launch its next blockbuster Seven Worlds, One Planet, which is set to premiere in India on Sony BBC Earth.

    And in a surprise appearance in front of his biggest ever live audience, the show’s narrator, Sir David Attenborough, took to the legendary Pyramid stage yesterday on Sunday 30 June to introduce the world premiere of the new series’ curtain-raising prequel.

    MAIN – Please see caption description for details

    Sir David also revealed that the extended trailer features a tantalising collaboration between enigmatic Australian performer/songwriter Sia and legendary composer Hans Zimmer, who join forces on the original song ‘Out There’, that accompanies the prequel.

    The Seven Worlds, One Planet prequel, showcasing the rich diversity of the earth’s continents, was also simultaneously broadcast globally in almost 50 countries on linear and digital platforms, providing international fans of BBC’s natural history shows with a first glimpse of the new show. As well as scenes from the seven-part landmark series, the prequel also features some exclusive additional footage.

    Throughout the final day of Glastonbury, festival-goers have been immersed in the natural world with clips in between performances as well as a three-minute piece of footage celebrating the diversity of life on planet earth. The Worthy Farm faithful were also treated to a breath-taking natural soundscape set to ambient oceanic footage celebrating diversity in our oceans before the Seven Worlds, One Planet world exclusive.

    BBC Radio 1 also gave the song Out There its global radio debut on the Dev and Alice Show at the same time as the prequel played out to the Glastonbury attendees.

    The song, inspired by the Attenborough-fronted Planet Earth II series, was composed by Sia, Christopher Braide and Hans Zimmer, produced by Russell Emanuel, and arranged by Andrew Christie for Bleeding Fingers Music.

    The Seven Worlds, One Planet prequel can be viewed here:

    Sir David Attenborough, commented on the upcoming series by saying: “Seven Worlds, One Planet will resonate with audiences worldwide. We all belong to a continent after all, we all share planet earth. I am delighted to introduce the latest work from BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit.”

    Sia commented: “I was honoured to be asked to collaborate with Hans Zimmer for Seven Worlds, One Planet. The work this programme – and the Planet Earth series – does on behalf of our planet is essential and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

    Hans Zimmer says: “Sia is a real virtuoso and has a voice to match the power of her song writing. Out There is sublime and it was a joy for myself and the Bleeding Fingers team to bring it to life and give the Seven Worlds, One Planet prequel a soundtrack to complement the extraordinary imagery and voice of Sir David.”

    Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Director of Content, added: “We’re delighted to give the Glastonbury audience the first look at the prequel for Seven Worlds, One Planet. This is going to be an extraordinary series for BBC One fronted by Sir David Attenborough. The combination of cutting edge technology and unique insights into animal behaviours will give us a new perspective on the natural world.”

  • British factual channel Eden commissions show with David Attenborough

    MUMBAI: British natural history channel Eden has commissioned a five part series with Sir David Attenborough called D‘avid Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities‘.

    The series will be produced by Humble Bee Films. It will show some of nature’s extraordinary evolutionary anomalies and how, even today, these curious animals continue to baffle and fascinate.s

    Each episode will feature two creatures with curiously distinctive adaptations that link together with a common theme. From the curious ‘hoax’ of the Platypus’s discovery to the Narwhal, the creature that inspired myth of the Unicorn, and the Mole Rat that defies the age limits of all other rodents and lives for 30 years, Sir David will discover how nature has found a way of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

    UKTV senior commissioning editor Catherine Catton said, “We’re thrilled to be working with Humble Bee Films to produce this exclusive series with Sir David for Eden. Sir David Attenborough is a national treasure and we can’t wait to see his passion and curiosity for all things unusual in nature come to life in this fantastic commission for the channel.”

    Humble Bee Films‘ Stephen Dunleavy, who is the executive producer for the series, said: “I am delighted to be working with Eden and Sir David on this fascinating series. David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities will combine David‘s gift for storytelling with wonderful histories of discovery in the natural world. A mix of the curious and the downright baffling, it promises to be a treat for viewers of all ages.”

  • BBC to celebrate life and work of Charles Darwin

    BBC to celebrate life and work of Charles Darwin

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC has announced a “season of content” to mark the life and work of Charles Darwin on BBC Winter 08/09.

    The season will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin which completes on 12 February, 2009. It will also mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of his book On the Origin of Species, which laid out the theory of evolution by natural selection. The book completes its 150th year on 24 November 2009.

    BBC Vision controller Knowledge Commissioning George Entwistle said, “The key Darwin anniversaries provide an excellent opportunity for the BBC to explore in real depth this revolutionary idea, and the man behind it. The season will stretch across the BBC landscape and we’re delighted to have content from across television, radio and online. We hope it will connect our audiences to Darwin the man, as well as Darwin the scientific revolutionary. I hope this season will inspire our audiences and deliver real insight into his ideas and what they mean for contemporary society.”

    “2009 and 2010 are years of great significance for science and will see a major push from the BBC in the public understanding of science The BBC has commissioned some of the biggest science landmarks we have ever done, covering some of the most important fundamentals of scientific literacy,” added BBC Vision head of Science John Lynch.

    A range of BBC content from BBC Science, Natural History Unit, Religion and Ethics and CBBC will be delivered across television, radio and online wherein stories and voices about this “mould-breaking” scientific theory will be showcased.

    BBC One will kick off the season with a one-off special from David Attenborough and the Natural History Unit (NHU) in Bristol.

    Tree of Life will explore the origin of Darwin’s idea.

    Andrew Marr On Darwin’s Legacy is a series for BBC Two, which aims to explore the radical impact of Darwin’s theory not only in science, but also society, political movements (capitalist, Marxist and fascist) and religion.

    BBC Four will present two specially commissioned one-off documentaries: What Darwin Didn’t Know and Darwin: In His Own Words.

    Entomologist and farmer Jimmy Doherty will recreate many of Darwin’s ground-breaking plant experiments at Down House, the Darwin family home in Kent, in Darwin’s Garden.

    BBC One has also commissioned Life from the NHU, a natural history special which captures animal survival behaviours.

  • BBC to conduct debates on public service bradcasting

    BBC to conduct debates on public service bradcasting

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC will launch a debate with the public and the creative communities to garner views on public service broadcasting, ahead of its own submission to Ofcom’s Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) review.

    Ofcom is looking at how well PSB is being delivered in the UK, its funding models and how it will be consumed in the future.

    The BBC’s programme of debate will include:

    The Creative Industry Lecture Series – a series of lectures given by Sir David Attenborough, Stephen Fry and Will Hutton in their personal capacity, addressing various aspects of what public service broadcasting delivers to Britain.

    There will also be research with the UK’s creative community and the wider audience on their attitudes to public service broadcasting. BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons and other Trustees will hold a series of direct conversations with the public across the country via radio phone-ins and public meetings to hear directly their views on the BBC, in addition to the Trust’s annual survey of public opinion about the BBC and its delivery of the public purposes.

    There will also be research from the BBC Trust that considers the impact of societal changes in the UK on public service broadcasting.

    These activities will inform the BBC’s public submission to Ofcom, which will be delivered in June. The BBC is committed to listening to all constituencies ahead of finalising its response to Ofcom.

    Lyons says, “Ofcom’s first-stage report raises some important issues which require serious consideration and open debate. The Trust will listen to a wide range of opinion as we consider our response, and we will place special emphasis on the views of the wider public. Their interests must be at the heart of all debates and the conclusions finally reached.”

    BBC DG Mark Thompson said, “I am pleased that the Ofcom report reaffirms the audiences’ view that the BBC is the cornerstone of public service broadcasting in Britain. As part of our engagement with the review, I want to focus on what our audiences want from us in the future.

    “The BBC has always innovated, but I am really struck by the early successes of iPlayer. How audiences will want to receive programmes like Doctor Who, Gavin And Stacey or News 24 in the future is something that we’ve done a lot of thinking about. I’m looking forward to hearing from the public and the creative industries what they want from the BBC as we move to a digital society.”

    The BBC has launched a website (bbc.co.uk/thefuture) to support Ofcom’s PSB Review and encourage debate, as well as capture lectures, ongoing research, and speeches.

    The creative industry lecture series will begin with Sir David Attenborough on 30 April. Stephen Fry will follow on 7 May and Will Hutton on 15 May. The lectures will be published in a book, which will be available online and broadcast on BBC Parliament, as well as being available to stream or download on BBC iPlayer.

  • Attenborough concludes his look at life on earth on BBC One with cold-blooded animals

    MUMBAI: Sir David Attenborough concludes his epic overview of life on earth with new perceptions of cold-blooded animals in the show Life In Cold Blood. The show is a co-production between BBC and Animal Planet and will air in the UK on BBC One.

    Attenborough says, “Reptiles and amphibians are sometimes thought of as slow, dim-witted and primitive. In fact, they can be lethally fast, spectacularly beautiful, surprisingly affectionate and extremely sophisticated.”

    He first brought viewers Life on Earth, then The Private Life Of Plants, followed by The Life Of Birds, The Life Of Mammals and Life In The Undergrowth.

    Now, using the latest in filming technology from the BBC’s Natural History Unit – including ultra-high-speed, thermal, miniature and on-board cameras – Attenborough reveals the surprising and intimate lives of the cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians, discovering the secret of their survival. After all, they have ruled the earth for nearly 200 million years and, today, there are well over 14,000 species.

    From the largest and most dangerous reptiles on earth demonstrating tender and sensual courtship, to tortoises and horned chameleons jousting dramatically, flashing anolis lizards and waving jacky dragons, the Life In Cold Blood team capture previously unseen behaviour bringing their unknown lives to the screen as never before.

    Tiny scarlet frogs engage in sumo wrestling, baby worm-like caecilians feast on their mother’s skin, mother salamanders viciously defend their broods against marauders and spectacled caiman are filmed taking care of crèches of up to 100 young.

    After each main programme, there is a 10-minute feature, “Under The Skin,” produced in collaboration with the Open University in the UK. It follows Attenborough as he examines the technology used by scientists that enable the team to bring this incredible animal behaviour to the small screen.

  • BBC Worldwide unveils slate for ATF

    MUMBAI: From Sir David Attenborough to Jeremy Clarkson, Michael Palin to Jane Austen, Cinderella to Igglepiggle, UK pubcaster the BBC ‘s commercial arm BBC Worldwide goes to this year’s Asia Television Forum (ATF) in Singapore with a crop of natural history, factual, children’s, drama and lifestyle titles and a range of formats that will be available for local production.

    BBC Worldwide’s natural history slate opens new chapters while drawing others to a close. Wild China, the BBC’s first ever co-production in China, offers insight into that country. Life in Cold Blood, which tells the epic story of reptiles and amphibians, completes Sir David Attenborough’s landmark overview of life on the planet.

    In the drama catalogue, Mistresses stars Sarah Parish and Sharon Small. It follows the lives and loves of a group of 30-something girlfriends. Fairy Tales, whose cast includes James Nesbitt and Denise Van Outen, offers grown-up adaptations of four childhood classics – Cinderella, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Billy Goat’s Gruff and Rapunzel.

    Andrew Davies, who had earlier adapted Bleak House and Pride and Prejudice for the pubcaster has now turned his hand to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, while the team behind Primeval present a re-imagining of Frankenstein and the team behind Hotel Babylon present The Whistleblowers, a new high-speed thriller.

    From the BBC’s factual, lifestyle and history teams come Warriors. This is a show based on the lives of men such as Napoleon and Spartacus who shaped the world around them. Michael Palin’s New Europe sees the comedian and traveller continue his global odyssey, this time exploring the countries that are part of the so-called new Europe. The motoring magazine show Top Gear will also be showcased.

    BBC Worldwide’s children’s catalogue includes In The Night Garden, a modern interpretation of a nursery rhyme picture book from Ragdoll, the creators of Teletubbies, and two new animation series: Animalia, based on the hugely popular books by Graeme Base, and Freefonix, an adventure series following three musical renegades.

    New formats include Dance X, recently licensed to ABC in the US, which pits rival dance teams against each other. Find Me The Face is a reality show which follows two top talent scouts as they look to find the next big supermodel. On Fortune – Million Pound Giveaway, five philanthropists give away a million pounds of their own money to deserving members of the public. School’s Out is a quiz show which sends celebrities back to school and tests whether they are top or bottom of the class.