Nat Geo Wild
| File:Nat Geo Wild logo.svg Logo used since 2019 | |
| Company type | Pay television channel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | January 1, 2006 in Hong Kong |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Wildlife and natural history programming |
| Owner | National Geographic Partners (Walt Disney Company 73%, National Geographic Society 27%) |
| Website | www |
National Geographic Wild (commonly known as Nat Geo Wild or NGW) is an international wildlife-focused pay television channel and a companion network to the National Geographic Channel. It is owned by National Geographic Partners, a collaborative enterprise between the Walt Disney Company (holding a 73% stake) and the National Geographic Society (holding 27%). The channel primarily broadcasts factual programming related to natural history.
Initially introduced in Hong Kong on January 1, 2006, Nat Geo Wild subsequently expanded its presence to countries including the United Kingdom, Turkey, Ireland, Romania, India, Vietnam, and Poland, where it took over from the now-defunct Adventure One. It holds the distinction of being Hong Kong’s first bilingual wildlife channel, transmitting content in both English and Cantonese, while also providing Tagalog language programming in the Philippines. The channel made its Latin American debut on November 1, 2009, as a high-definition service and launched in the United States in 2010.
By November 2023, Nat Geo Wild was accessible to around 36 million pay-TV households within the U.S., a decrease from its 2019 peak of 61 million. This reduction mirrors broader industry trends favoring streaming services such as its parent company’s Disney+, which has led to diminished carriage agreements and lower prioritization during retransmission negotiations. Notably, Charter Spectrum discontinued carrying Nat Geo Wild in 2023—with plans to reinstate it by fall 2025—while Verizon Fios is set to drop the channel starting in 2025.
Americas
Nat Geo Wild commenced broadcasting in the United States on March 29, 2010, replacing Fox Reality Channel. Early distribution partners included Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cox Communications, Verizon Fios, and AT&T U-verse. On April 19, 2010, Dish Network began offering the channel, followed by DirecTV on June 30. DirecTV introduced a high-definition feed for Nat Geo Wild on August 15, 2012.
The Latin American version of the channel operated from November 1, 2009 until March 31, 2022. Afterward, its programming was integrated into NatGeo, Disney+, and Star+ platforms.
Internationally
- Africa
Nat Geo Wild became available across Sub-Saharan Africa through South Africa’s DStv service starting in mid-2009.
- Southeast Asia
The channel was accessible via Singapore’s StarHub TV, Malaysia’s Astro and Unifi TV, featuring multiple audio options. In the Philippines, some shows were broadcast in Filipino (Tagalog). Operations in Southeast Asia ended on October 1, 2023, with content shifting to Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar.
- East Asia
In Hong Kong, Nat Geo Wild was offered through Now TV. The South Korean feed launched on April 16, 2009. Japan received the channel on January 10, 2011 via Sky PerfecTV!, but this feed ceased on January 31, 2021 following Disney+’s introduction. The network discontinued transmissions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea effective October 1, 2023.
- Middle East and North Africa
Broadcasting across Middle Eastern and North African regions occurs through the beIN. The channel launched in Israel on July 23, 2008.
- Australia
The Asian feed became available in Australia starting November 15, 2009 via Austar and Foxtel. An HD version launched on Foxtel on November 1, 2010; Austar added HD on July 1, 2012 following its acquisition by Foxtel. From February 1, 2015 Nat Geo Wild was carried by Australian IPTV provider Fetch TV, with HD introduced two years later in February 2017. The channel ceased operations across Australia and New Zealand on April 1, 2023.
- Canada
The Canadian edition debuted May 7, 2012 under the management of Corus Entertainment, paralleling the National Geographic Channel (Canada).
- India
Nat Geo Wild began broadcasting in India on July 31, 2009. Since 2013 it has offered four language audio tracks: English, Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. As of October 1, 2023 this Indian feed remains the sole active Asian version.
- Pan-European feed
Launched across Europe on March 1, 2007; it currently reaches an estimated audience of approximately 10.5 million households within the UK.
- France
The French version of Nat Geo Wild was introduced on September 9, 2008 with an HD feed following on November 8, 2011. It is distributed throughout France as well as Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Africa and other territories. Initially exclusive to Canalsat and Numericable, it expanded to ISP packages in 2014 but reverted to Canal+ exclusivity by 2018.
- Italy
Italy’s Nat Geo Wild launched October 14, 2007 via Sky Italia and is also accessible in Switzerland. The HD feed started February 1, 2012; a one-hour timeshift service began September 28, 2014. The Italian channel discontinued operations October 1, 2022 alongside National Geographic Italy.
- Spain
Spain received its Nat Geo Wild feed starting October 1, 2011.
See also
- National Geographic Television
- National Geographic Society
- Nat Geo People
- List of programs broadcast by Nat Geo Wild
External links
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Cable television in Hong Kong
- Defunct television channels
- Disney television networks
- English-language television stations in Australia
- Fox Networks Group
- National Geographic (American TV channel)
- Television channels and stations established in 2006
- Television channels in the United Kingdom
- Television networks in the United States