Unprecedented Day/Date Launch Set for 200-Plus FIC Channels WorldwideSimultaneously with US launch
Renowned Astrophysicist/Host Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Executive Producer/Writer Ann DruyanTo Visit Four Continents For Global Promo Tour
Los Angeles/Washington D.C., February 6, 2014 -- Fox International Channels (FIC) and National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) today announced that COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY, the thrilling new 13-part series from executive producer/writer/director Ann Druyan and executive producer Seth MacFarlane (FAMILY GUY, “Ted”), will premiere on all 90 National Geographic Channels in 180 countries as well as 120 FOX-branded channels in 125 countries making this the largest global launch ever for a television series. Rolling out immediately after the highly anticipated U.S. premiere on Sunday, March 9 on FOX (9-10pm ET/PT) and Monday, March 10 on National Geographic Channels (9-10pm ET/PT), international markets will begin airing the premiere episode day and date on both FOX-branded and National Geographic Channels, concluding within one week of the U.S. premiere. The additional 12 episodes will air exclusively on National Geographic Channels.
“The vision of “COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY” inspired us to create a launch across all of our National Geographic Channels and FOX channels that will reach an unprecedented 400 million homes outside the U.S.,” said Liz Dolan, Chief Marketing Officer of FOX International Channels and National Geographic Channels International. “We have done global launches across all of our FOX entertainment channels for shows like THE WALKING DEAD. We have done global launches across all of our National Geographic Channels for shows like BRAIN GAMES. But we have never put the combined FIC power of our entertainment channels and our Nat Geo channels behind one show and premiered it day and date with the United States. We are doing that now with COSMOS. Not only will the show premiere in 400 million homes, but in many of those homes it will be on two, three or four channels.”
The new COSMOS will be supported by an extensive global marketing and publicity campaign, including a significant on-air campaign created by the FOX US creative team, adapted by FIC into 44 languages, plus major off-air advertising. Marketing teams in every participating country are localizing advertising and marketing materials as well as launching custom promotions to ensure the campaign resonates with local viewers. The digital campaign will include online advertising, and will leverage social media, including National Geographic’s 37 million Facebook fans.
Druyan and renowned astrophysicist/host Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson kick off a global, four-continent promotion tour in London on February 10, traveling to Singapore and Sydney before culminating in Mexico City on February 20. They will be participating in VIP screenings, press conferences and special events in every market.
More than three decades after the debut of “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage,” Carl Sagan’s stunning and iconic exploration of the universe as revealed by science, Seth MacFarlane teamed with Sagan’s original creative collaborators – writer/executive producer/director Druyan and co-writer, astronomer Steven Soter– to conceive the 13-part series that will serve as a successor to the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning original series.
As with the legendary original series, the new COSMOS is the saga of how we discovered the laws of nature and found our coordinates in space and time. The series brings to life never-before-told stories of the heroic quest for knowledge, transporting viewers to new worlds and across the universe for a vision of the cosmos on the grandest – and the smallest – scale.
The series invents new modes of scientific storytelling to reveal the grandeur of the universe and re-invent celebrated elements of the original series, including the Cosmic Calendar and the Ship of the Imagination. The most profound scientific concepts are presented with stunning clarity, uniting skepticism and wonder, and weaving rigorous science with the emotional and spiritual into a transcendent experience.
COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY is produced by Cosmos Studios, the Ithaca, NY-based company Ann Druyan co-founded in 2000, and Fuzzy Door Productions, MacFarlane's company. Druyan and Steven Soter are the series’ writers. Druyan, MacFarlane, Cosmos Studios President Mitchell Cannold and Brannon Braga (the “Star Trek” franchise, “24”) will executive-produce the series. Jason Clark (“TED,” “42”) will co-executive produce. “Like” COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/COSMOSonTV. Follow the series on Twitter @COSMOSonTV and join the discussion at #cosmos.
About FOX International Channels
FOX International Channels (FIC) is 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 300+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, sports, lifestyle, factual and movie channels in 44 languages across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. FIC’s core channel brands include FOX, FOX Sports, FOX Life and National Geographic Channel. FIC’s movie channels include FOX Movies, FOX Movies Premium, Star Chinese Movies and Moviecity. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high-definition extensions, reach over 1.6 billion cumulative households worldwide. FIC is dedicated to delivering high quality US content to its global viewers. We acquire, develop, produce and co-produce scripted and non-scripted programming for our linear and digital platforms including the Golden Globes nominated hit series The Walking Dead, The Bridge and Da Vinci's Demons. In the past five years FIC pioneered a global release strategy and is the first and only international TV company to release TV series in 125 countries at the same time as the US. In addition FIC owns and operates two production studios that produce hundreds of local programming hours for its wholly owned channels and third parties.