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| Not quite the Spice Channel, but close.
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We know what you're thinking. "National Geographic is one of those magazines we used to look through when we were kids to get a peek at some saggy exotic breasts, right?" Well, yes. But for those who read it to learn about far off mystical places and see eye popping photos of wildlife, it was more like a sacred shrine than a pre-pubescent porno source (of course, if we happened to see some waist length African jugs, that was okay too).
Regardless of your reasons for picking up the magazine, the fact is you probably did, along with everyone else. The name, National Geographic, is familiar to folks all over the world (including even those people who can't read the magazine, since they use back issues to beat their children). And that's precisely why NBC and Fox, who already have partnerships with National Geographic in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, are so interested in a cable network. The goal: To crush the Discovery and Animal Planet channels like Godzilla stepping on a Yugo.
"What we have in National Geographic is the ultimate global brand," NBC executive Tom Rogers said while scurrying toward the bathroom with the "Women of the Nile" issue.
Fox owner Rupert Murdoch, media mogul and amateur crocodile wrestler, will reportedly hog 50 percent of the venture, while National Geographic and NBC will settle for a measly 25 percent share.
The magazine first launched its television operations overseas during the fall of 1997 and has expanded quickly into 54 countries, reaching nearly 40 million households. Just think - you can now laugh and point at the funny genitals of pygmies at nearly all your friends' houses.
National Geographic's traditional role has been as a magazine publisher and producer of documentaries. But lately National Geographic has been branching out in an effort to expand the horizons for its profit driven production arm (the National Geographic Society, which publishes the magazine, is non-profit). NG recently released its first feature film, Mysteries of Egypt (playing in IMAX theaters), and has been increasing its online presence.
Rick Allen, president of National Geographic Ventures said that he hopes the new venture will quench the world's "thirst for authenticity, depth and thoughtfulness." "What our viewers expect is the same level of reliability and engagement, and we've provided that in every medium we've operated in."
We don't doubt it one bit. Just one question: Does cable mean live exotic nudity?
