36-399: Oxford Scientific Films ( OSF ) is a British company that produces natural history and documentary programmes. Founded as an independent company on 8 July 1968, by documentary filmmaker Gerald Thompson , it broke new ground in the world of documentaries, using new filming techniques and capturing footage of never before filmed activities of its various subjects. In 1996, Oxford Scientific Films
72-587: A core division of Southern Star Entertainment. On 4 December 2003, Oxford Scientific's extensive libraries of over 350,000 still images and over 2,000 of film footage libraries were acquired by Photolibrary. The acquisition was done as a share exchange, with Photolibrary acquiring shares in Oxford Scientific Films Limited, and Southern Star paying A$ 1 million to purchase a 46.46% equity in Photolibrary. Photolibrary retained existing employees of
108-483: A family audience. In 2008, Animal Planet rebranded with a more mature programming direction, with a greater emphasis on aggressive and predatory portrayals of animals, as well as an increase in reality series following personalities involved in animal-related occupations and investigations. Animal Planet rebranded again in October 2018, pivoting away from its more aggressive branding. As of November 2023 , Animal Planet
144-430: A licensing agreement to develop Animal Planet-branded pet products. On February 3, 2008, amidst declining average viewership, Animal Planet underwent a major revamp in its programming and branding. The new lineup placed a larger focus on series portraying animals as "characters" in their own right, and more "aggressive" and story-based entertainment series targeting mature viewers 13-49 (such as Escape to Chimp Eden and
180-629: A minority interest in Animal Planet Japan and Animal Planet Canada until November 15, 2010, when BBC Worldwide sold 50% interest in Animal Planet and Liv to Discovery Communications for $ 156 million. Animal Planet is additionally an associate member of the Caribbean Cable Cooperative. During the late 2000s, Genius Products announced a U.S. distribution agreement involving Animal Planet and TLC . Jakks Pacific also entered into
216-630: A multi-million dollar expansion, the National Aquarium in Baltimore opened an exhibit called "Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extreme". Animal Planet and the National Aquarium in Baltimore announced a multi-year partnership the year prior, which produced an original orientation film that gives Aquarium visitors background on the Australian area which inspired the new exhibit and a dedicated area inside
252-657: A result of Advance Entertainment Corporation selling the satellite transponder slot belonging to the WWOR EMI Service (a national superstation feed of Secaucus, New Jersey /New York City's WWOR-TV , that was implemented following the 1989 passage of the Syndication Exclusivity Rights Rule by the Federal Communications Commission ) to Discovery Communications, replacing the feed with Animal Planet outright. In late 2005, as part of
288-506: Is also well known for the Puppy Bowl , an annual special featuring puppies at play inside a football -themed setting. The special airs on the afternoon prior to the NFL 's Super Bowl , and was originally narrated by commentator and NFL Films narrator Harry Kalas before his death. On October 29, 2022, months after the merger of Discovery, Inc. and WarnerMedia into Warner Bros. Discovery, it
324-520: Is an American multinational pay television channel, and associated AnimalPlanet.com website content, owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery . First established on June 1, 1996, the channel is primarily devoted to series and documentaries about wild animals and domestic pets. The channel was originally a joint venture with BBC Worldwide , and primarily focused on nature documentaries surrounding wildlife, targeting
360-485: Is available to approximately 70,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2011 peak of 98,000,000 households. Discovery has also established or licensed international versions of the channel in various regions. Animal Planet was launched on June 1, 1996; it was created by Discovery Communications in cooperation with BBC Worldwide . On January 1, 1997, Animal Planet's distribution grew as
396-825: The BBC 's long-running series The Natural World and WNET Nature, won seven industry awards. Heroes of the High Frontier , produced as a National Geographic Special, won four awards and was a finalist for the Best of the Show Grand Award Trophy at the New York Festivals. In 2005, the company launched Meerkat Manor , a docu-drama commissioned for Animal Planet . The series has since become Animal Planet's highest rated series, and has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards , two Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Awards and
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#1733116361000432-645: The Hamlyn Group, and in 1979, Balnaves was promoted to managing director of the entire Hamlyn Group. In 1983, James Hardie Industries and Hanna-Barbera corporate parent Taft Broadcasting reorganised the division as Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd. In 1984, the company established a division in Los Angeles known as Southern Star Productions, founded and headed by Buzz Potamkin . Programs produced by this division would be animated at Hanna-Barbera's studios in Sydney, and carried
468-554: The Oxford Scientific Films division, using the OSF name for specialist documentaries, and "Southern Star Factual" for its features and entertainment style documentaries. When Southern Star was sold to Endemol, Oxford Scientific Films was retained by parent company Fairfax Media . In 2011, Boom Pictures Productions obtained a controlling 70% share of the company. In 1967, Gerald Thompson, a film maker and Oxford University lecturer,
504-461: The United Kingdom. The magazine's first issue was published on February 16, 2011. Southern Star Group Endemol Australia , formerly known as Southern Star Group , Southern Star Productions , Southern Star/Hanna-Barbera Australia and Taft-Hardie Group Pty Ltd , was a major Australian independent television production, distribution, and syndication company. On 26 July 2015, the company
540-455: The company as Southern Star Group. The home video division was renamed to Southern Star Video in 1989. The Sydney animation facilities were also sold, while the Los Angeles division continued to operate until 1991 when it was sold to Turner Broadcasting System . In January 2000, Endemol formed a joined venture with Southern Star Group called Endemol Southern Star . In April 2004, the company
576-580: The existing Oxford Scientific Films name being used for its "specialist factual programmes", while the Southern Star Factual brand will be used for "features and factual entertainment shows." Some time later, Oxford Scientific Films became part of the Twofour Group , which was acquired on 24 June 2015 by ITV Studios . Oxford Scientific Films has produced numerous award-winning programmes and films. In 1998, its film "The Forbidden Fruit" produced for
612-549: The expansion where visitors can learn about Animal Planet's conservation efforts and other programming. The partnership also allowed the possibility of future productions of television programs about the National Aquarium in Baltimore's research and exhibits. In 2006, BBC Worldwide sold its 20% interest in the flagship Animal Planet U.S. network back to Discovery Communications. The BBC maintained its 50% ownership in Animal Planet's European, Asian and Latin American channels, as well as
648-399: The film loops for Ealing. Thompson resigned from the university on 2 September 1969, to work at Oxford Scientific Films full-time. The company focused initially on filming nature at a microscopic level, including insect and aquatic wildlife. Using specialised equipment and camera techniques the developed themselves, the company gained fame for its ability to record never before seen footage of
684-419: The home for the new building. They formed Oxford Scientific Films, taking part of the name from Parks' existing company Oxford Biological Films. Thompson, Parks, Morris, Paling, and Thompson's son David, headed the new company, which began operating on 8 July 1968. Thompson remained at his position at Oxford University while the company building was being completed, while the other four travelled to America to make
720-463: The library divisions, and continues using the names "Oxford Scientific" and "OSF" in promoting the libraries. Southern Star retained full control of Oxford Scientific Films production unit, and through that unit, continues supplying images and footage to the Photolibrary. In March 2008, parent company Southern Star Group merged its Sydney-based "factual business unit" into the Oxford Scientific Films division. The merged company now uses two brands, with
756-400: The name Southern Star/Hanna-Barbera Australia. It co-owned CIC Video's Australian video unit called CIC-Taft Video and launched a video label, THG Video, in 1984, then renamed to Taft Video in 1987. In 1987, it made a $ 42 million bid for Communications and Entertainment Limited, but it never realised. In 1988, Neil Balnaves led an A$ 11 million management buyout of Taft-Hardie, reorganising
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#1733116361000792-495: The natural world. Its cinematographers became experts in micro, macro, snorkel, slow-motion and time-lapse photography . As the company grew, it expanded into other innovative filming and post-production techniques, and moved from creating short loops to creating television programmes and series, commercials, and feature films. In September 1996, Oxford Scientific Films was purchased by film and television rights company Circle Communications for £3.9 million. £3.85 million of
828-526: The original logo. The new branding symbolizes a new mission of "keeping the childhood joy and wonder of animals alive by bringing people up close in every way." The new branding coincided with the October 28 premieres of Crikey! It's the Irwins (a new series following the family of Steve Irwin ) and Amanda to the Rescue , and the premiere of Big Cat Stories the following night. On January 23, 2019, Animal Planet
864-482: The purchase price was paid in cash, with the rest paid through a stock exchange. Less than a year later, in May 1997, Australia-based Southern Star Entertainment made a £8.3 million take over bid for Circle Communications, due to its distribution business, strong catalogue, and the company's drama and factual production business. Oxford Scientific Films, which had retained its own identity under Circle Communications, became
900-399: The reality documentary series Whale Wars ), as opposed to traditional nature documentaries and family viewing. The network also adopted a new logo, replacing its previous "elephant and globe" emblem with a stylized wordmark , and the new slogan "Same Planet, Different World". Network president Marjorie Kaplan explained that Animal Planet had been too "soft" and family-oriented, and that it
936-510: The rollout by February 2014. The change was brought about by Chief Executive Officer , Janeen Faithfull. On 15 November 2016, Mark and Carl Fennessy were appointed joint CEOs of Endemol Australia as well as its parent company, Endemol Shine Australia . Southern Star Group's founder Neil Balnaves died in a boating accident on 21 February 2022. Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd (Australia)'s founder Kevin Weldon passed away peacefully 'content to have lived
972-417: The two companies to show their work. At the end of the meeting, they told the head of the company about their desire to open their own company and, impressed with the films he'd seen, he offered to finance them for the first three years and give them the funds to build a place to work. When they returned to the United Kingdom, Thompson sold them a quarter acre of his garden, at a steeply discounted price, to be
1008-437: Was a finalist at the 2006 Wildscreen Festival It won multiple awards at the 2006 Omni Awards and 2006 and 2007 New York Festivals Award Gala. The series is also noted for capturing never before seen aspects of the lives of meerkats , being the first to capture meerkat infanticide on film, and for expanding the boundaries of the documentary genre. Animal Planet Animal Planet (stylized in all lowercase since 2018)
1044-437: Was acquired by Southern Cross Broadcasting and in 2007 by Fairfax Media . In January 2009, Endemol acquired Southern Star Factual from Fairfax Media in a transaction worth A$ 75 million, effective shuttering Endemol Southern Star. Southern Star Productions's founder Buzz Potamkin died from pancreatic cancer on 22 April 2012. On 11 December 2013, Southern Star announced it would rebrand as Endemol Australia, completing
1080-483: Was aiming to be "more aggressive and tapping into the instinctual nature of compelling animal content." In April 2010, Animal Planet introduced a new slogan and marketing campaign, "Surprisingly Human," as an evolution of the 2008 rebranding. The slogan reflected Animal Planet's increasing number of personality-based series following animal-related investigations and occupations, such as River Monsters . In April 2012, Animal Planet's entertainment-oriented direction
1116-503: Was announced that Pit Bulls & Parolees would air its final season, while other shows like Lone Star Law and Louisiana Law moved to Discovery Channel. With the exception of Puppy Bowl XIX that aired on the network February 12, 2023, the latest programming moves left Animal Planet to air reruns of the network's programming as well as other shows from other Discovery properties pre-WBD merger. D.C. Thomson & Co. partnered with Discovery to publish Animal Planet Magazine in
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1152-656: Was approached by the Ealing Corporation of Harvard University about expanding their catalogue of educational short films. Universal Education and Visual Arts, a New York City company, was also interested in talking with Thompson. Thompson and five of his associates and former students (Peter Parks, who worked with plankton ; John Paling, a fish specialist who worked with Parks; recent Oxford graduate Sean Morris; zoologist John Cooke; and Eric Skinner, who assisted Thompson with his films) wanted to form an independent film company. Thompson and Parks travelled to America to meet with
1188-407: Was criticized after it broadcast Mermaids: The Body Found —a fictional documentary suggesting that mermaids were real. Despite its fictitious content, the documentary was widely viewed, and a follow-up entitled Mermaids: The New Evidence set an all-time ratings record for the channel. On October 15, 2018, Animal Planet unveiled a new logo, featuring a symbol of a jumping elephant resembling
1224-575: Was launched in France, along with Discovery Turbo, Discovery World and TLC. Additions to the channel in the late 2000s, such as Meerkat Manor and Orangutan Island , reflected its shift toward "predation programming" and more immersive storytelling. Animal Planet intended the new direction to help revitalize stagnating ratings, after primetime viewership of the network dropped by 9% in 2007. Animal Planet added pseudo-scientific documentary, reality television, and sitcom shows to its line-up. Animal Planet
1260-430: Was merged with Shine Australia to succeed it as Endemol Shine Australia . The company began in 1972 as Hanna-Barbera Pty Ltd (Australia), an Australian division of Hanna-Barbera (which was founded by Kevin Weldon ). In 1974, the Hamlyn Group's Australian division managed by Kevin Weldon acquired 50% of Hanna-Barbera Australia and appointed Neil Balnaves as managing director. In 1978, James Hardie Industries acquired
1296-495: Was sold to Circle Communications, where it retained its own identity as a division within the company. The following year, Circle Communications was taken over by Southern Star Entertainment UK. Under the new ownership, Oxford Scientific Films produced multiple award-winning programmes and films, including the Animal Planet series Meerkat Manor . In March 2008, Southern Star merged its Sydney-based factual business division into
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