National Geographic Partners

Last updated

National Geographic Partners, LLC
Company type Joint venture
FoundedSeptember 9, 2015;8 years ago (2015-09-09)
Headquarters1145 17th St NW,
Washington, DC 20036
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Brands
Owners
Divisions
Website nationalgeographicpartners.com

National Geographic Partners, LLC is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (which owns 73% of shares) and the namesake non-profit scientific organization National Geographic Society (which owns 27%). The company oversees all commercial activities related to the Society, including magazine publications and television channels. The company's board of managers is evenly divided between the Society and Disney. [1]

Contents

The enterprise was originally established by 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society. Following the completion of Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox on March 20, 2019, Disney assumed 21CF's 73% share in the joint venture.

Background

National Geographic Society's relationship with 21st Century Fox goes as far back as 1997, when the original News Corporation (to which 21st Century Fox is one of the successors) launched National Geographic Channel (now simply branded as National Geographic) in Asia and Europe, in partnership with the Society. [1] The original American version of the channel was launched in 2001. Additional National Geographic channels in other parts of the world were also launched under the original joint venture. [1]

History

On September 9, 2015, the Society announced that it would reorganize its media properties and publications into a new company known as National Geographic Partners, which would be 73% owned by 21st Century Fox. This new, for-profit, corporation would own National Geographic and other magazines, as well as its affiliated television networks—most of which were already owned in joint ventures with Fox. [1] At the time of the deal's announcement, James Murdoch, the CEO of 21st Century Fox, was quoted in remarks to National Geographic that the pact created "an expanded canvas for the National Geographic brand to grow and reach customers in new ways, and to reach new customers." [2] [3] On November 2, 2015, roughly two weeks before the closing of the expanded joint venture deal, [3] National Geographic and 21st Century Fox announced that 9 percent of National Geographic's 2,000 employees, approximately 180 people, would be laid off, constituting the biggest staff reduction in the Society's history. [2] In November 2015, National Geographic Channels International CEO Ward Platt was promoted to National Geographic Partners, while the channel international and US were united under National Geographic Channels U.S. CEO Courteney Monroe as National Geographic Global Networks. [4]

National Geographic Networks announced the production of four feature documentaries and reentry of NatGeo back into documentaries. Soon thereafter in January 2017, the network announced National Geographic Documentary Films banner for the four features. [5]

In May 2017, the company acquired Global Adrenaline tour operator, a provider of National Geographic Expeditions for some its land-based itineraries and was founded in 2001 by CEO Nancy Schumacher. [6]

In New York City in October 2017, the National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey attraction opened by SPE Partners under license. SPE brought on Falcon's Creative Group, Pixomondo, Mirada Studios, and composer David Kahne for the attraction's creative aspects. Ocean Odyssey was a 90 minutes timed ticketed walk-through attraction with retail space plus private event space managed by The Shubert Organization. [7] The attraction had closed by 2021. [8]

Declan Moore was succeeded by Gary E. Knell as CEO of Nat Geo Partners in February 2018. In July, Moore reorganized the company including eliminating three top executive posts. Global network CEO would oversee a combine long and short form production company, National Geographic Studios. NG Media, as a one newsroom for content on all platforms, was formed bring digital, magazines and other short form content together. CFO Marcela Martin added the chief administrative officer (CAO) post leading the new Operating Council coordinating support functions. [9]

National Geographic Kids Books launched its fiction imprint, Under the Stars, in September 2018. A partnership with Ultimate Explorer, a Chinese company, was made for interactive entertainment spaces based on the series in China and the U.S. [10] With its second series published in October 2019, the kids book unit launched a companion podcast. [11]

As a part of the acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets, The Walt Disney Company took over 21CF's controlling stake in the joint venture. Following the acquisition, National Geographic Partners' television channels became part of the Walt Disney Television unit, with the president of the National Geographic Partners reporting directly to the Walt Disney Television chairman. [12] Disney officially closed the deal on March 20, 2019. [13] [14] By August 2019, National Geographic Partners' non-TV operations were transferred into its Disney counterpart. [15]

Businesses

NG Media

NG Media is the publishing arm of the partnership and operates within Disney Publishing Worldwide [15] handling National Geographic's magazines, digital, social channels, Nat Geo Kids, book publishing and live events. [16]

National Geographic Adventure was launched in March 1999. [17] The society's magazine group discontinued its Adventure magazine in December 2009 while attempting to continue the brand in other media like books and online. [17]

While under development since 2014, National Geographic Kids Books launched its fiction imprint, Under the Stars, in September 2018 with the publication of Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret, first of a seven part series. The imprint refers to large domed lobby painted with the night sky at the society's headquarters. A partnership with Ultimate Explorer, a Chinese company, was made for interactive entertainment spaces based on the series in China and the U.S. [10] With its second series, Zeus the Mighty, published in October 2019, the kids book unit launched a companion podcast, Greeking Out, with Kids Place Live. [11]

NG Media was formed in February 2018 reorganization bring together as a one newsroom for content on all platform. National Geographic Editor-in-chief was name editor director of NG Media with David Miller, general manager of ditigal, became general manager of NG Media overseeing subscriptions and membership plus NG Creative, Maps and Photography units. [9]

Disney transferred NG Media into Disney Publishing Worldwide by August 2019. NG Media also discontinued Traveler magazine's US edition. [15]

Magazines published by NG Media:

National Geographic Books: a nonfiction book publisher

Television

The National Geographic-branded television channels and TV production company are operated as a part of this venture, but Disney's companies (Walt Disney Television in the United States, Fox Networks Group outside the United States) handle distribution and advertisement sales of the channels. In most cases internationally, the National Geographic and Disney channels cross-promote each other. In some territories, the versions of National Geographic channels are directly operated by Disney.

National Geographic Travel

National Geographic Travel is the travel and tour division of National Geographic Partners offering National Geographic tours through various third-party partners and its internal tour operator.

National Geographic Expeditions was founded in 1999 by the National Geographic Society to fulfill one of its mission and for the proceeds to go towards its mission. [20] In 2004, the division made a partnership with Lindblad Expeditions cruise line and white label tour operator, Global Adrenaline. [21]

In September 2013, National Geographic Society formed the National Geographic Travel group by bringing its travel assets together including National Geographic Traveler magazine, National Geographic Expeditions, its travel books, digital travel content, maps, apps and travel community. Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler, was named senior vice president of the group. [22] Bellows was the editor-in-chief until October 2014. [23] With the appointment of his permanent replacement.

A hotel marketing collection, National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, and a new independent travel planning division, Private Expeditions, were launched in January 2015. Private Expeditions incorporate in most cases one of these lodges. The initial 24 boutique hotels met collection standards for sustainability, guest experience, and property quality. [24] Nat Geo Travel was moved in September 2015 into a joint venture, National Geographic Partners, with 21st Century Fox. [1]

In May 2017, National Geographic Partners purchased Global Adrenaline. [21] With Lindblad, their agreement was expanded to include new destinations in Latin America and Canada, while bringing in additional luxury expedition line partners Compagnie du Ponant and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. [25] Disney migrated National Geographic Travel operations into Disney Signature Experiences by August 2019. [15]

TypeBrandPartnerTime period
Small ship cruise line (NA, LA, CA)Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions 2004– [21]
Tour operatorNational Geographic ExpeditionsGlobal Adrenaline
(purchased)		2004–2017 [21]
Private jet vacations TCS World Travel [26]
Land tourNational Geographic JourneysG Adventures [21]
Luxury expedition line (NZ, AU, Pacific) Ponant 2018– [25]
River cruisingNational Geographic River CruiseScenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Hotel collectionNational Geographic Unique Lodges of the Worldvarious hotels2015– [24]
Private travel toursPrivate ExpeditionsVirtuoso

National Geographic Maps

National Geographic Maps is the commercial map publishing division of National Geographic Partners, within Disney Publishing Worldwide.

Awards

In 2019, National Geographic's documentary Free Solo won Best Documentary Feature at the 91st Academy Awards, [27] and won the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary at the 72nd British Academy Film Awards. [28] The film was the second-highest grossing documentary of 2018. [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Geographic Society</span> American non-profit scientific and educational institution

The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.

National Geographic is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by the National Geographic Global Networks unit of Disney Entertainment and National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%), with the operational management handled by Disney Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Italia</span> Italian satellite pay-television platform

Sky Italia S.r.l. is an Italian satellite television platform owned by the American media conglomerate Comcast. Sky Italia also broadcasts three national free-to-air television channels: TV8, Cielo and Sky TG24.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A&E Networks</span> American media company

A&E Television Networks, LLC, stylized as A+E NETWORKS, is an American multinational broadcasting company that is a 50–50 joint venture between Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company through its Entertainment division. The company owns several non-fiction and entertainment-based television brands, including its namesake A&E, History, Lifetime, FYI, and their associated sister channels, and holds stakes in or licenses their international branches.

Adventures by Disney (ABD) provides group guided family vacations to various domestic and international destinations. The company is a subsidiary of Disney Experiences's Signature Experiences division. Disney experiences is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.

Disney General Entertainment Content (DGEC), formerly ABC Group, Disney–ABC Television Group and the second incarnation of Walt Disney Television, is part of Disney Entertainment, a division of The Walt Disney Company that oversees its owned-and-operated television content, assets and sub-divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nat Geo People</span> Global pay television channel

Nat Geo People is an international pay television channel owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). Targeted at female audiences, with programming focusing on people and cultures, the channel is available in 50 countries in both linear and non-linear formats.

<i>National Geographic Traveler</i> Travel magazine

National Geographic Traveler is a magazine published by NG Media in Armenia, Belgium, the Netherlands, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Latin America, Israel, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and the UK. The US edition was published from 1984 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nat Geo Wild</span> Global television channel focused on wildlife programming of National Geographic

National Geographic Wild is a global pay television network owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). The channel primarily focuses on wildlife and natural history non-fiction programming. It is a sister network to National Geographic TV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Networks Group</span> International television networks division of 21st Century Fox (1993–2024)

Fox Networks Group (FNG) was the international division of 21st Century Fox. The division oversaw the production and broadcasting of the Fox brands in the United States and internationally. These brands included Fox, Fox Sports, National Geographic, and BabyTV, as well producing and distributing more than 300 entertainment, film, sports and factual channels in 45 languages across Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Africa and Asia, using several brands in those regions. Among their non-linear brands were Fox Play and Fox Plus. These brands reached over 1.725 billion households around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox (Italian TV channel)</span> Italian TV channel

Fox was an Italian television channel, owned by Fox Networks Group Italy and broadcast in Italy by Sky Italia on Channel 112. Launched on 31 July 2003, coinciding with the launch of Sky Italy, it broadcast its programs in Italian and English. In 2009, it started broadcasting in HD.

Nat Geo Music was a television music channel operated as a part of National Geographic Global Networks, which is a business unit of National Geographic Partners. The channel works in conjunction with the Society's music division National Geographic Music and Radio (NGMR).

National Geographic was a pan-Asian subscription television channel owned by Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific. The channel featured non-fiction, factual programming involving nature, science, culture and history, produced by the National Geographic Society, just like History and Discovery Channel.

National Geographic was a South Korean documentary television channel operated by the Asian operations of National Geographic Global Networks. The channel broadcast non-fiction television programmes, with most of shows coming from the National Geographic Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Geographic Wild (European TV channel)</span> Pan-European pay television channel

National Geographic Wild is a Pan-European pay television channel that features documentaries produced by the National Geographic Society. It features documentaries about nature, wildlife, natural phenomenon, and earth. The channel replaced Adventure One in Europe on 1 March 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">21st Century Fox</span> American multinational mass media corporation (2013–2019)

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., which did business as 21st Century Fox (21CF), also known simply as Fox, was an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was one of the two companies formed on June 28, 2013, following a spin-off of the publishing assets of the old News Corporation as News Corp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nat Geo Kids (Latin American TV channel)</span> Television channel

Nat Geo Kids was a Latin American pay television channel targeting children ages 3 to 11, owned by Disney Channels Worldwide and National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and National Geographic Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nat Geo Kids Abu Dhabi</span> Emirati television channel

Nat Geo Kids Abu Dhabi was an Emirati free-to-air Arabic language documentary channel for children, owned by National Geographic Society/The Walt Disney Company EMEA and the Abu Dhabi Media Foundation. Launched on 20 November 2017, the channel was freely available through Nilesat. The channel also dealt with scientific, geographic and natural science documentaries.

National Geographic Global Networks is a business unit within National Geographic Partners and Disney Entertainment that oversees the National Geographic-branded television channels: National Geographic, Nat Geo Kids, Nat Geo Music, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo Wild and National Geographic Studios. The unit itself was a joint operation between 21st Century Fox (21CF) and the Society, but it was later integrated into the new joint venture National Geographic Partners which they formed in 2015. On March 20, 2019, 21CF's share in National Geographic Partners was assumed by Disney, following its acquisition of most 21CF businesses.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Farhi, Paul (September 9, 2015). "National Geographic gives Fox control of media assets in $725 million deal". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Paul Farhi (November 3, 2015). "National Geographic Society sets biggest layoff in its history". The Washington Post.
  3. 1 2 Mahita Gajanan. "National Geographic lays off staff following 21st Century Fox merger". The Guardian.
  4. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (November 16, 2015). "Courteney Monroe Promoted to Lead National Geographic Global Networks". Variety. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  5. ↑ Birnbaum, Debra (January 13, 2017). "National Geographic Unveils New Banner to Produce Feature Documentaries (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  6. ↑ Karantzavelou, Vicky (May 4, 2017). "National Geographic Expeditions acquires Global Adrenaline". TravelDailyNews International. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  7. ↑ "National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey attraction coming to Times Square in October 2017". Attractions Magazine. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Kushner Likely Walking Away from Times Square Retail as Foreclosure Progresses". Forbes. March 12, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Holloway, Daniel (July 31, 2018). "National Geographic Execs Rachel Webber, Rosa Zeegers, Laura Nichols Exit in Reorganization (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 Green, Alex (February 22, 2018). "National Geographic's New Fiction Imprint to Cover Everything 'Under the Stars'". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  11. 1 2 Foster, Elizabeth (October 29, 2019). "By Zeus! Nat Geo expands fiction" . Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  12. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (October 8, 2018). "Disney Unveils Top TV Executive Structure Post Fox Acquisition: Peter Rice, Dana Walden, John Landgraf, Gary Knell Joining". Deadline. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  13. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (March 19, 2019). "Disney Closes $71 Billion 21st Century Fox Deal". Variety. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  14. ↑ Lakritz, Talia (January 28, 2020). "14 companies you didn't realize Disney owns". Insider. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Steinberg, Brian (August 29, 2019). "Disney Layoffs Affect National Geographic". Variety. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  16. ↑ "David Miller". National Geographic. National Geographic Partner. January 23, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 Fell, Jason (December 3, 2009). "UPDATE: National Geographic Kills Print Edition of Adventure". Folio. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  18. ↑ "National Geographic History Magazine U.S Delivery". National Geographic Store. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016.
  19. ↑ Room, National Geographic Press (April 4, 2016). "National Geographic and MM Publications Ltd. Introduce Local-Language Edition of National Geographic Kids Magazine in India – National Geographic Partners Press Room". Archived from the original on April 4, 2016.
  20. ↑ "National Geographic Expeditions: Travel Weekly". travelweekly.com. Norhtstar Travel Group. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "National Geographic Expeditions Buys Tour Operator to Enter Land Vacation Market". Skift. May 5, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  22. ↑ Schaal, Dennis (September 4, 2013). "National Geographic Forms Travel Group and Keeps Print Central to Strategy". Skift. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Bellows leaves National Geographic Traveler, as another consumer editor moves on". Travel Weekly.
  24. 1 2 Clampet, Jason (January 5, 2015). "National Geographic Launches Unique Lodges Collection". Skift. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  25. 1 2 Sampson, Hannah (August 24, 2018). "National Geographic's Travel Arm Expands Ahead of Disney Takeover". Skift. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  26. ↑ Sheivachman, Andrew (December 17, 2015). "The Company Behind the New Crop of Branded Private Jet Vacations". Skift. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  27. ↑ Patten, Dominic (February 24, 2019). "'Free Solo' Wins Best Documentary Feature, Gets First Bleep Of Oscars 2019". Deadline. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  28. ↑ Sheehan, Paul (February 10, 2019). "2019 BAFTA Awards: 'Roma' wins Best Picture and Director, 'The Favourite' takes 7". Gold Derby. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  29. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (February 3, 2019). "Box Office: 'Free Solo' Becomes Second-Biggest Documentary of 2018". Variety. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
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