Sky 3D announce two major new projects with David Attenborough and Colossus

(26 May 2013) SKY 3D announce today the continuation of its successful partnership with natural history broadcaster David Attenborough and Atlantic Productions, with the commission of two new projects; DAVID ATTENBOROUGH’S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ADVENTURE (W/T, 1x 90’) which will premiere on Sky 3D in December 2013; and an extraordinary newmini-series CONQUEST OF THE SKIES (W/T, 2x 90’) topremiere in 2014.

 Both projects will be written and presented by David Attenboroughand produced by Colossus Productions, a partnership set up between Sky 3D and Atlantic Productions to develop original 3D programming for both UK and international audiences. The new shows will mark the sixth and seventh Attenborough programmes forAtlantic Productions and Sky 3D.

In DAVID ATTENBOROUGH’S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ADVENTURE (W/T), Britain’s best-loved broadcasterwill explore the museum after hours, as his favourite ancient creatures come to life in a compelling tale of discovery, adventure and magic for broadcast on Sky 3D this Christmas.

Featuring ground-breaking 3D technology and spectacular CGI effects from the BAFTA® award-winning team behind FLYING MONSTERS 3D, DAVID ATTENBOROUGH’S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ADVENTURE (W/T) will offer viewers a unique opportunity to discover one of the world’s greatest natural history collection with David Attenborough’s extraordinary insight into how these ancient creatures once roamed the planet.

David Attenborough commented: “The Natural History Museum has always been a special place for me. I’m excited to make a filmusing new 3D technology which will take the viewer on a journey through one of my favourite museums and look at it – and its inhabitants - in ways never seen before”.

Dr Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum, commented: “Sharing the wonders of our world-class collections and our scientific expertise is at the heart of what we do at the Natural History Museum. This collaboration gives a fresh take on some of the fascinating inhabitants of the collections, which I hopewill inspire and surprise viewers.”

Details on the second commission, due for broadcast in late 2014, will be announced in due course.  The commissioning of these two new project marks the continuation of the successful partnership between David Attenborough and Colossus Productions which has to date produced the BAFTA®, Wildscreen Panda and Jackson Hole Award-winning FLYING MONSTERS 3D, THE BACHELOR KING 3D, the BAFTA® Craft Award-nominated KINGDOM OF PLANTS 3D, GALAPAGOS 3D and the soon to premiere MICRO MONSTERS 3D mini-series.

Sky’s Director of 3D John Cassy commented: “With a long-term commitment to developing innovative, original 3D programming, we’re thrilled to announce the continuation of the successful partnership between Colossus Productions and David Attenborough and our next two projects.  Once again we’ll combine David’smaster storytelling with fascinating subject matter and ground-breaking 3D and CGI techniques to deliver the spectacular, immersive viewing experiences we know our customers love.”

Anthony Geffen, Executive Producer and CEO of Atlantic Productions and Creative Director of Colossus Productions adds:“We’re delighted to continue our very exciting creative collaboration with Sky3D and David Attenborough. David is very excited about both these projects, because they will allow us to push the boundaries in terms of 3D in terms of story-telling and technology.”

Commissioned by Celia Taylor, Sky’s Head of Factual and Features, these two new projects form part of Sky’s commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years.  By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels.

Since launching Sky 3D in October 2010 Sky has broken new ground across a range of genres, including natural history, live music, the arts, sports and movies.  Highlights have included previous David Attenborough 3D projects Flying Monsters 3D, The Bachelor King 3D, Kingdom of Plants 3D and Galapagos 3D as well as live 3D broadcasts of a number of musical and dance performances including the Got To Dance Live Final and Kylie Minogue Live From The O2, the 3D TV world premieres of Avatar, Alice in Wonderland and the Toy Story Trilogy as well as more than 150 live sports broadcast spanning a range of domestic and international sports. 

For further information please contact

Megan MacLeod - Publicist, Sky Movies HD, Sky Atlantic HD
T:
E: megan.macleod@bskyb.com

Notes to editor

About Colossus Productions:

 

Colossus Productions is the production company formed by Sky and Atlantic Productions in 2011. The joint venture was created to develop and make high-end 3D programming for UK and International audiences, including the rapidly growing number of Sky 3D homes.  Emerging from Atlantic Production’s record in producing the BAFTA-award winning Flying Monsters 3D and the theatrically-released The Bachelor King 3D, Colossus has alreadyproduced Galapagos 3D series, which was one of the highest rated factual programmes on Sky 3D and Sky1, and the soon to be completed series Micro Monsters 3D.  

 

About Sky:

 

Sky entertains and excites more than 10.4 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland.  Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK's only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in High Definition and on-demand.

 

Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the ground-breaking Sky Go service.  Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service.  Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK's fastest-growing home communications provider.

 

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.

 

About Atlantic Productions:

Atlantic Productions is one of the world’s leading factual production companies. It recently won a BAFTA, three Emmy’s and best IMAX award for three different productions in one year.

Atlantic Productions has produced several of the last two decades’ landmark television programmes and series. These include: triple Emmy-winning David Attenborough’s First Life; The Emmy-winning Jerusalem – City of Heaven; BAFTA-nominated Munich: Mossad’s Revenge; the triple Emmy-nominated The Promised Landfive-part series, narrated by Morgan Freeman, and the award-winning three-part series, Prohibition. The Emmy-nominated Nefertiti Resurrected, The Link, Predator X and the multi-part series; Egypt unwrapped, Rome Unwrapped, and the Greeks: Crucible of Civilisation.

Recent 3D and theatrical film highlights include the BAFTA-winning FLYING MONSTERS 3D WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH now showing in IMAX cinemas worldwide.  This film also won the Best 3D film at The Jackson Hole and Wildscreen. , The Wildest Dream – Conquest of Everest, narrated by Liam Neeson, won Best IMAX award. ; RTS-winning THE BACHELOR KING 3D is currently airing around the world.  The three-part Bafta-nominated series KINGDOM OF PLANTS 3D WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH aired in the summer of 2012, and GALAPAGOS 3D WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH airedon New Year’s Day 2013. All these productions have been complemented using apps and other digital platforms.

Amongst Atlantic’s current 2D productions are TOUCHING THE PAST (W/T) a six-part series for PBS and National Geographic, andRISE OF ANIMALS with David Attenborough for BBC and PBS.