NEW YORK/TORONTO – January 17, 2019 – Smithsonian Networks and Blue Ant Media today announced a collaboration to expand distribution of Smithsonian Channel in Asia-Pacific, Turkey, Israel, the Middle East and Africa. The deal is the latest development in the successful partnership between the two companies and involves Blue Ant Media operating the network’s HD and 4K SVOD platforms, free-to-air and pay TV linear television services and branded programming blocks in the aforementioned territories.
“Blue Ant Media is uniquely positioned to seamlessly facilitate Smithsonian Channel’s entry into new territories in Asia, Africa and the Middle East,” said Tom Hayden, President of Smithsonian Networks. “We are very pleased to continue our successful relationship with Blue Ant Media in expanding the brand’s global presence.”
Past enterprises include the launch of Smithsonian Channel in Canada and joint venture Love Nature 4K, which creates and distributes the largest library of 4K wildlife and nature content in the world though linear television and via streaming video in 60+ countries. This latest partnership combines Smithsonian Channel’s powerful brand and award-winning programming with Blue Ant Media’s established affiliate sales, marketing and operations presence in the regions.
“The Smithsonian Channel is an iconic brand committed to extraordinary factual storytelling through documentaries and series covering science, nature, culture, history, air and spacecraft, stemming from the Smithsonian Institute’s impressive 130+ year history as a cultural hub,” said Ward Platt, CEO, Kids & Global Networks, Blue Ant Media. “Blue Ant Media has a suite of global brands, with great programming, that are rapidly growing in popularity all over the world, and a strong team on the ground in multiple territories internationally, which will see Smithsonian Channel grow its footprint even further in markets such as South East Asia, India, China, Japan, Australia, Middle East and Africa.
Inspired by the world-famous Smithsonian Institution – the world’s largest museum, education and research complex – and the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® and CBS, Smithsonian Channel entertains and educates while showcasing awe-inspiring stories and powerful factual programs, shining new light on popular genres. Smithsonian Channel is already available in the USA, Canada, Latin America, Nigeria and Singapore.
Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing factual entertainment, available in HD and 4K Ultra HD across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel, winner of Emmy® and Peabody awards for its programming, combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, travel, history, science, nature and pop culture. Among the network’s offerings are series including Aerial America, America in Color, The Lost Tapes, Mighty Ships, Million Dollar American Princesses, The Pacific War in Color and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include The Coronation, The Mountain Lion and Me, Earth from Outer Space and Titanoboa: Monster Snake. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Channel Plus™, a subscription video streaming service delivering over a thousand hours of the Channel’s stunning and diverse library of documentaries and series in HD and 4K Ultra HD. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international content producer, distributor and channel operator. From our production houses around the world, we create content for multiple genres including factual, factual entertainment, short-form digital series and kids programming. Our distribution business, Blue Ant International, offers a catalogue of 3,000+ hours of content, including the largest 4K natural history offering on the market. Blue Ant Media’s international channel business offers a portfolio of media brands such as Love Nature (International), ZooMoo Networks (International), Smithsonian Channel Canada, BBC Earth (Canada), Blue Ant Entertainment (International), Blue Ant Extreme (International) and HGTV (New Zealand). Blue Ant Media is headquartered in Toronto, with operations in Los Angeles, Singapore, Auckland, Dunedin, London, Washington, Sydney, Beijing and Taipei. Blueantmedia.com. Follow us on: Twitter/LinkedIN/Instagram
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