[Submitted via press release]
National Geographic is changing its content schedule to focus strongly on Africa - by ensuring its viewers get quality content that is fresh and tailor-made for the continent and delivered timeously.
The global documentary and entertainment channel has recently reviewed its channel structure and content proposition to take into consideration African audience requirements
Further to this, the channel will see a strong new slate of programming introducing more character driven series and series with longer run durations. New shows aim to bring a National Geographic eye to such varied topics as how tourists get scammed in the new show Scam City through to peering into the psyche of people who are preparing for the end of the world in Doomsday Preppers.
National Geographic Channel General Manager; Alessandro Tucci said: “the solution proposed is to deliver a newly created English feed for Africa.
“The new feed, will serve Africa much better. We’ll be able to better manage seasonality, Africa related content, time zones and even our programming specials, that viewers have been accustomed to, over the years.”
“All that - in addition to smaller breaks and the new graphic package and channel look & feel that has been introduced recently, as part of our global channel re-launch," he added.
Another important element to note is programme start times, which will also be altered from the ubiquitous top of the hour/ half past the hour. Shows will now begin ten minutes before the hour etc. and viewers are advised to check schedules, to avoid missing out on their channel favourites.
“There will now be a better method to create Africa specific scheduling windows and the choice to consider Africa seasonality,” he said.
Tucci believes this would have a great impact on the lucrative prime time slot that would be structured to consider earlier times for Africa (prime time commences at 19:00 as opposed to 21:00 in Europe).
“In the long-term, it would allow the channel the power to schedule with Africa ratings in mind,” he concluded.
The channel’s restructure takes effect today, Monday 09 July 2012.