National Geographic Channels International’s CEO Hernan Lopez has announced the creation of a programme commissions and content hub in the UK.
Following the appointment in March of Hamish Mykura as EVO and head of international content, NGCI will be recruiting a commissioning team reporting to Mykura and based in the London office.
“Moving our international programming to London under the leadership of Hamish Mykura is part of our continuing expansion and commitment to increasing international production of high-quality programming that resonates with audiences across the globe,” said Lopez.
The London office will now be the main hub for the commissioning of series and single shows, which are for broadcast primarily on National Geographic Channel (NGC) outside of the US in 172 countries and to over 335 million homes.
“NGCI’s London commissioning hub is a massive vote of confidence in the UK production sector. The independent production community in the UK is a world leader in factual television and locating our commissioning and programming here is the ideal way to capitalise on it,” said Hamish Mykura.
Mykura’s programming vision includes a balance of compelling topics with a combination of epic specials and strong series that leverage the strength and breadth of the brand as well as focusing on character-led series with a factual-entertainment sensibility. “If we generate international hits they will also play on the channel in the US. We are ambitious to make bigger series and more entertaining programmes and we want producers to bring their best ideas to National Geographic Channel as the first port of call,” said Mykura.
The creation of the UK hub follows on the heels of the recent announcement by National Geographic Channels US extending development teams in New York and Los Angeles alongside Washington, DC. The new London team will also have an important role in feeding new ideas and information back to the team in the US under both David Lyle, CEO of National Geographic Channels US & Howard Owens, President, NGC US.
