National Geographic (Asian TV channel)

National Geographic (Nat Geo Asia, formerly NBC Asia and National Geographic Channel and also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo or Nat Geo TV) was a pan-Asian subscription television channel owned by Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific (through NGC Network Asia, LLC). 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
CountryChina
Broadcast areaAsia
HeadquartersHong Kong SAR, China
Programming
Language(s)English
Chinese
Japanese
Picture format1080i HDTV
Ownership
OwnerNGC Network Asia, LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
Sister channelsNat Geo Wild
History
LaunchedJanuary 1, 1994 (January 1, 1994)
Closed
  • January 1, 2022 (2022-01-01) (SD feed, Vietnam)
  • September 30, 2023 (2023-09-30) at 11:59:59pm Hong Kong Time (Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, South Korea and CHT MOD in Taiwan feed)
  • December 31, 2023 (2023-12-31) at 11:59:59pm Taiwan Time (Cable feed, Taiwan)
Replaced byTechstorm (Unifi TV)
Global Trekker (Astro)
Former names
  • NBC Asia (1994–1998)
  • National Geographic Channel (1998–2016)
Links
Websitenatgeotv.com/asia

It was launched on 1 January 1994 as NBC Asia. As of 2008, the Asian version of National Geographic Channel is available in over 56 million homes. NGC Asia has had six different channels of feeds.

History

NBC Asia (1994–1998)

On 1 January 1994, the channel was officially launched as NBC Asia. It featured mostly NBC programs as well as the NBC Nightly News, The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live and Late Night. Like its European counterpart, it could not broadcast United States-produced primetime shows due to rights restrictions. It did, however, also air some NBC Sports output. During weekday evenings, NBC Asia had a regional evening news program. It occasionally simulcast some programs from CNBC Asia and MSNBC.

National Geographic Asia (1998–2023)

On 1 July 1998, NBC Asia was rebranded as the National Geographic Channel. The NBC programming moved to CNBC Asia.

On 4 February 2008, the Nat Geo Junior programming block of two non-contingent hours, late morning and late afternoon, was launched on the channel. I Didn't Know That, Mad Labs and Wild Detectives were the initial shows on the block.[1]

Closure

National Geographic and its sister channel Nat Geo Wild remained on the air. However, the majority of National Geographic's libraries, including their documentary films, have been included on Disney+ (or Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand) content hub following Disney's partial ownership of National Geographic Global Networks. This would lead to selected cable platforms in Southeast Asia dropping out or replacing their channels following the recent news of closing down Disney/Fox channels sans the National Geographics.

Along with Nat Geo Wild, National Geographic officially ceased broadcasting in Malaysia on 1 February 2023 on Astro.[2]

On 13 June 2023, after almost 30 years of broadcasting, Disney announced that it would close down National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and South Korea by September in favor of Disney+ rollouts. It officially closedown in Taiwan on New Year's Eve 2023 at 11:59:59pm,[3][4] thus the channel space originally created by NBC Asia in 1994 subsequently folded and ceased to exist.

National Geographic along with Nat Geo Wild ceased its transmission in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, and CHT MOD (Taiwan) on 30 September 2023 at 11:59:59pm after very and last program that aired on the channel was the documentary such as Buried Secrets of World War II before the screen card appeared stating with system telecommunication information satellite earth station This channel is no longer available. Thank you for watching..[5][6] The channel continued to be available on some cable providers in Taiwan through their local feed until 31 December 2023. Also, as they weren't part of the announcement, the Middle Eastern and Indian sub-continent feeds were unaffected, with the Middle Eastern feed began aligned with European/African feeds and to matching with other Disney EMEA channels.

Feeds
Original National Geographic Channel logo (2005–2016)
  • National Geographic Asia – Broadcasts in both English and Cantonese via two audio tracks‚ as well as a Cantonese subtitles tracks.
  • National Geographic India – It was aimed at India and neighbouring countries. The channel was aired in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Bengali via five different audio tracks.
  • National Geographic Middle East – It simulcasts the Asian from 11:00pm to 5:00am Hong Kong time. Arabic subtitles are available as well.
  • National Geographic Japan – includes Japanese dubbing.
  • National Geographic Taiwan – includes Chinese subtitles.
  • National Geographic Hong Kong – featured two audio tracks airing English and Cantonese programming, as well as a Chinese subtitles track.
  • National Geographic Malaysia and Singapore – the US HD feed was distributed instead of the Asian one. US ads are replaced with Malaysian or Singaporean ads and they switch some latest episodes to older ones. Subtitles were available in English, Malay and Mandarin via all TV broadcasters.
  • National Geographic Thailand – It simulcasts the Asian from 11:00pm to 5:00am Hong Kong time. Thai subtitles were available as well.

See also

References
  1. "Nat Geo blocks target Asian kids". C21media. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  2. "Astro Dedicated Esports Channel Is No More: EGG Network Are Now Under Arena - Lowyat.NET". 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  3. Frater, Patrick (2023-06-14). "Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea". Variety. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  4. "BABY TV, NAT GEO, NAT GEO WILD, SCM, SCC END OF BROADCAST". Sky. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  5. Magsambol, Bonz (October 1, 2023). "Disney ends broadcasting TV channels, including National Geographic, in Southeast Asia". Rappler. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  6. (HD) National Geographic Asia (Philippine Feed) Shutdown - 11:59-12:00 AM PHT Sept 30-Oct 1, 2023, retrieved 2023-10-13
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