ASIA-PACIFIC – KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, AUGUST 2010 – Fox International Channels (FIC), News Corporation’s international multi-media PayTV business, announced the launch of the highly anticipated Nat Geo Wild in partnership with Malaysia’s first and largest PayTV operator, Astro. The launch brings to all Malaysian homes subscribed to Astro the only 24-hour free channel dedicated to conservation, education and entertaining viewers, in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin.
Capitalizing on the award-winning National Geographic Channel’s blue-chip quality factual-entertainment programming, Nat Geo Wild brings unique insights into the natural world, the environment and the amazing creatures that inhabit the planet. Today, Nat Geo Wild is available to over 30 million subscribers in 38 territories worldwide and 17 languages.
“Having the world’s leading documentary channel on Astro’s basic package with programmes dubbed in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin will put Nat Geo Wild ahead in the highly-competitive factual-entertainment category. The launch of Nat Geo Wild, in addition to the highly-rated National Geographic Channel and National Geographic Channel HD, will enable us to continue to build scale, choice and reach for advertisers in Malaysia,” added Chua.
Contributing to Nat Geo Wild are some of the world’s foremost explorers, filmmakers, photographers and scientists including Jean-Michel Cousteau, Emmy award-winning filmmakers Beverly and Dereck Joubert, National Geographic expert herpetologist Dr. Brady Barr as well as the world’s leading primatologist Mireya Mayor. Nat Geo Wild is set to offer a fresh and entertaining means to inspire viewers to appreciate natural resources and encourage people to care for the environment.
In welcoming the new channel to Malaysia, Astro TV’s Chief Operating Officer Henry Tan said, “We are pleased to offer Nat Geo Wild on our platform and deliver such an exciting channel to our millions of subscribers. It is a timely launch as it fits into the backdrop of the increasing environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation efforts in Malaysia. We certainly look forward to a stronger cooperation with Fox International Channels and its growing presence in Malaysia.”
