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Blue Ant Media Announces 2026-27 Original Programming Slate with Six New Greenlights and Two Renewals 

28 January 2026

The latest lineup of unscripted titles will premiere across Blue Ant’s Canadian specialty networks before rolling out on its global streaming channels

Titles include Paranormal Nation: Guardians, Pet Search and Rescue, Cosmic Vistas, and two new seasons of the hit franchise Mysteries from Above

SlateImage

Pictured top left to right: Cosmic Vistas, Hitler’s Last Stand, S6; bottom left to right: Pet Search and Rescue, Paranormal Nation: Guardians

(Ottawa, Canada – January 28, 2026) – International streamer, production studio and rights-management business Blue Ant Media unveiled today from Prime Time its latest slate of original unscripted Canadian titles, created by a diverse range of established Canadian producers, spanning mystery, paranormal, history, space, pets and wildlife genres. Overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Production and Development, Global Media, the slate will roll out across Blue Ant’s portfolio of Canadian specialty networks, including Cottage Life, T+E, BBC Earth and Smithsonian Channel in 2026-27, followed by its global streaming channels. Additionally, Blue Ant Rights oversees licensing opportunities for multiple titles in the slate outside of commissioning territories. Kelly Payne, VP Business Strategy & Operations, Original Programming, Global Media, will represent the Canadian networks at Prime Time.

“We’re continuing our momentum as a public company with a slate of homegrown, globally relevant originals that spotlight Canadian creatives shaping what audiences watch next,” says Craig Junner, SVP, Programming & Content Strategy, Global Channels & Streaming, Blue Ant Media. “Blue Ant’s integrated model brings local stories to platforms around the world, first by premiering in Canada on our specialty TV networks, then by rolling out across our own global streaming platforms in addition to international sales to global partners through our distribution arm, Blue Ant Rights.”

Blue Ant’s investment in focused, high-affinity genres is delivering strong domestic ratings and global appeal, driving audiences to its Canadian specialty channels and attracting international buyers. The 2026-27 slate includes history titles for Smithsonian Channel in Canada, such as History Unsolved: The Investigation Files (10 x 60’), Angkor: Hidden Jungle Empire (1 x 60’) and Hitler’s Last Stand, Season 6 (8 x 60’), with Blue Ant coming on board to commission the latest installment of the long-running series. 

New series Paranormal Nation: Guardians (6 x 60′), a Blue Ant Media and APTN co-production, will debut on T+E and a reboot of Cosmic Vistas (8 x 60’) will air on BBC Earth, building on the original series’ consistent ratings performance. The reboot features the most diverse team of passionate space experts ever assembled, bringing clarity and insight to the abstracts of space science in a way that resonates on a human level.

For Cottage Life, the slate includes the new title Pet Search and Rescue (1 x 60’) and the return of the hit franchise Mysteries from Above, Seasons 5–6 (S5 10×60’, S6 8×60’), after Seasons 1–4 ranked among the channel’s top programs and performed strongly with key demos A18+ and A25-54. 

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**MEDIA NOTE** See below a breakdown of Blue Ant Media’s original programming announcement, including series synopses, production partners, and network information. Additional photography for each title can be found here. 

New Greenlights: 

History Unsolved: The Investigation Files (10 x 60’)
Producer: Blue Ant Studios
Canadian broadcast premiere scheduled for winter 2026 on Smithsonian Channel, followed by Declassified 
A compelling docuseries where a team of historians and criminologists tackle the past’s most enduring mysteries. From the legendary curse of King Tutankhamun to the truth behind the Mona Lisa heist, each episode presents three cases that play out like real-time forensic investigations, filled with twists, intrigue, and unexpected revelations. At the core of every story is the evidence board: a dynamic visual device that helps chart the investigation’s shifting landscape. As new clues emerge and theories evolve, our detectives connect the dots, expose hidden motives, and peel back the layers of history with the urgency, suspense, and drama of a modern thriller. Blue Ant Rights oversees global pre-sales and licensing. The series is produced with the financial participation of CMF. 

Angkor: Hidden Jungle Empire (1 x 60’)
Producer: Zoot Pictures
Canadian broadcast premiere scheduled for summer 2026 on Smithsonian Channel, followed by Declassified 
In the 14th century, Angkor may have been the world’s largest city and was home to Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument on Earth. For 600 years, it served as the seat of kings and a remarkable achievement of urban engineering before being mysteriously abandoned and reclaimed by the jungle. This one-hour documentary investigates what happened to Angkor, using archaeological evidence, expert analysis, and historical insights to explore the rise and fall of this extraordinary civilization. Blue Ant Rights oversees pre-sales and licensing for Canada.

Paranormal Nation: Guardians (6 x 60′)
Producer: Aurora North Media in partnership with Great Pacific Media, a Blue Ant Media and APTN Co-production
Canadian broadcast premiere scheduled for fall 2027 on T+E during the channel’s nationwide Free Preview, followed by HauntTV
The documentary series follows a Syilx Spirit Warrior, a Cree Psychic Medium, and a Navajo Medicine Man, as they confront real spiritual disturbances in Indigenous communities and other notorious haunted sites across Western Canada. They are Guardians, spiritual protectors tasked with restoring and maintaining balance between the living and the dead. Drawing on sacred ceremonies, ancestral teachings and powerful cultural medicines passed down through generations, they intervene when it is needed and where others cannot. Each episode offers rare, unprecedented access to Indigenous spiritual practices, revealing a world where healing, protection and responsibility to the spirit realm are paramount. Blue Ant Rights oversees global pre-sales and licensing. The series is produced with the financial participation of CMF. 

Pet Search and Rescue (1 x 60’)
Producer: Fireworks Media Group
Canadian broadcast premiere scheduled for spring 2027 on Cottage Life during the channel’s nationwide Free Preview, followed by Love Pets
When a beloved pet disappears, one family-run team from Vancouver answers the call. Led by real-life pet detective Parker Mills, this high-stakes, heartwarming documentary follows search and rescues in real-time, capturing the emotional urgency of families desperate for answers. The cameras join a true-crime-style search for a missing pet and offer an inside look at life at Petsearchers HQ, where Parker and his family juggle operations and a lively crew of animals. Blue Ant Rights oversees global pre-sales and licensing. Pet Search and Rescue is produced with the financial participation of CMF. 

Cosmic Vistas
(8 x 60’)

Producer: Blue Ant Studios

Canadian broadcast premiere scheduled for summer 2026 on BBC Earth, followed by Declassified 

As scientific discoveries bring a greater understanding about the universe, this all-new reboot offers a fresh, informative and visually stunning look at space. Cosmic Vistas takes you on a breathtaking journey to unveil the wonders of space like never before. Driving the stories forward is the most diverse team of passionate and engaging space experts ever assembled. Each episode dives into three extraordinary stories of achievements in the race to better understand space, using stunning new imagery to transport viewers across the cosmos. From mighty human missions to the captivating mysteries of distant worlds, the series explores the Universe’s secrets, inviting us to reflect on our origins, our place among the stars, and the limitless possibilities of what we can achieve. Blue Ant Rights oversees global pre-sales and licensing. The series is produced with the financial participation of CMF. 

Hitler’s Last Stand, Season 6 (8 x 60’)
Producer: Omnifilm Entertainment in association with Parallax Film Productions
Canadian broadcast premiere scheduled for spring 2027 on Smithsonian Channel, followed by Declassified 
A high-stakes docudrama series that plunges viewers into the final, desperate battles of WWII, where Allied forces faced fanatical Nazi resistance in a crumbling Third Reich. Using a thrilling combination of immersive drama recreation, expert interviews and character-driven storytelling, each episode reveals a specific siege or stand-off during this period of WWII, with a tight focus on individual acts of valour, tactical decision-making and the military technology deployed. Blue Ant Rights oversees global pre-sales and licensing. The series is produced with the financial participation of CMF. 

Returning Titles:

Mysteries from Above, Season 5 and Season 6 (S5 10×60’, S6 8×60’)
Producer: Blue Ant Studios 
Canadian broadcast premieres scheduled for fall 2026 (Season 5) and spring 2027 (Season 6) on Cottage Life, followed by Declassified 
The hit franchise series sets out to investigate significant historic and contemporary sites from above with drone, satellite, and aerial photography. Each story begins with a view from above, which allows a unique perspective to understand the site below and dramatically changes the way we see these mysteries, ourselves and the world around us. From eerie abandoned sites, to staggering natural marvels, to the evocative relics of ancient civilizations, the series uses cutting-edge satellites, drones, and aerial views to uncover long-forgotten secrets, solve earth-bound enigmas and explore bizarre natural phenomena. Blue Ant Rights oversees global pre-sales and licensing. Both Seasons are produced with the financial participation of CMF. 

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