National Geographic Partners

What National Geographic Partners does

National Geographic Partners is a privately held media company wholly owned by The Walt Disney Company, formed in 2015 as a joint venture between 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society and brought under Disney's control after Disney's 2019 acquisition of Fox's entertainment assets. The company produces premium documentary films, docuseries, and magazine content spanning natural history, science, exploration, travel, and cultural programming, and distributes this content across the National Geographic cable channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney+, and Hulu, with theatrical releases coordinated through partners such as Abramorama. Its product portfolio includes flagship franchises such as SHARKFEST (entering its 14th year in 2026), the Emmy-winning 'Secrets of' series, 'Best of the World,' National Geographic Documentary Films, and the National Geographic Explorer Program supporting scientists and storytellers.

The company's underlying technology centers on cinematic documentary filmmaking, immersive visual storytelling, and bespoke imaging hardware, exemplified by the specially designed ultracompact cameras and audio systems being equipped to NASA Artemis II astronauts under a nonreimbursable Space Act Agreement. Recent marquee projects include 'Pole to Pole with Will Smith,' 'Ghost Elephants' (narrated by Werner Herzog), 'Time and Water' (directed by Academy Award-nominated Sara Dosa), 'Secrets of the Bees,' 'Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston,' and 'Best of the World with Antoni Porowski.' Business model revenue is generated through content licensing to Disney's streaming and linear platforms, advertising and brand partnerships (including NASA), theatrical documentary releases, and the iconic National Geographic Magazine; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company monetizes against a global audience of 800+ million social media followers and operates within Disney's broader media ecosystem as a core branded content pillar.

Name

National Geographic Partners

Legal name

National Geographic Partners

Website

https://nationalgeographicpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

National Geographic Partners is a Disney-owned, multi-platform media company producing premium documentary films, docuseries, and magazine content distributed through National Geographic channels, Disney+, Hulu, and theatrical partners for global consumers, schools, and streaming audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary Media and Content

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Nature, Science & Wildlife Documentaries (MPADADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Travel & Adventure Documentaries (MPADADAM), International TV Broadcasters (Free-to-Air/Satellite/Cable) (MPABAEAJ), International TV Program Distribution (Sales/Output Deals) (MPABAMAD)

Keywords

• Documentary content production
• Television broadcasting
• Streaming media distribution
• Feature documentary films
• Exploration media brand

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Television and streaming content licensing: Distribution of documentary and docuseries content through National Geographic channel, Disney+, Hulu, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney Channel, and Disney XD. Content premieres across multiple platforms simultaneously to maximize viewership and licensing value.
2. Theatrical documentary releases: Feature-length documentaries like Ghost Elephants and Time and Water receive theatrical releases through partnerships with companies like Abramorama, generating box office and licensing revenue before streaming availability.
3. Brand partnerships and content sponsorship: Branded content collaborations with partners like NASA for Artemis II coverage, and integration partnerships across Disney's media ecosystem.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

National Geographic Partners produces and distributes premium documentary content, including television documentaries, docuseries, and feature-length documentary films spanning natural history, science, exploration, and culture. The company operates the National Geographic Channel cable network, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, the National Geographic Documentary Films division, and the National Geographic Magazine, with content distributed across Disney+, Hulu, and theatrical partners.

Product overview

National Geographic Partners operates as a multi-platform media company producing documentary films, docuseries, and magazine content across broadcast, streaming, and theatrical channels. The portfolio centers on the National Geographic Documentary Films division and flagship channel, supplemented by sub-brands Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo Mundo, and franchises including 'Secrets of', 'Best of the World', and annual events like SHARKFEST. Content distributes through Disney+ and Hulu under the Disney partnership, the National Geographic cable channel, and theatrical releases. The Explorer Program supports creators whose work aligns with National Geographic's science and exploration mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SHARKFEST: Annual summer programming event featuring shark-themed documentary content.
• Best of the World
• Secrets of
• National Geographic Documentary Films

Products and services

• National Geographic Documentary Films Film production division producing feature-length documentaries and documentary series for theatrical, broadcast, and streaming release, including Academy Award-nominated feature films.
• SHARKFEST Annual summer programming event featuring shark-themed documentaries and specials combining encounters with groundbreaking science and expert-led storytelling about shark behavior, power and conservation.
• Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston Three-part docudrama series combining scripted drama with investigative documentary storytelling about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, hosted by Tom Hiddleston and produced by Plimsoll Productions.
• Best of the World with Antoni Porowski Four-part travel docuseries premiering June 7 on National Geographic and streaming June 8 on Disney+ and Hulu, hosted by Emmy winner Antoni Porowski.
• Secrets of the Bees Documentary special in the Emmy-winning 'Secrets of' franchise, hosted by National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory, featuring groundbreaking filming technology and entomologist Dr. Samuel Ramsey.
• Time and Water Documentary film from Academy Award-nominated director Sara Dosa, following Icelandic poet Andri Snær Magnason as he constructs a time capsule amid the melting of his homeland's glacial ice.
• Ghost Elephants Documentary special directed, written and narrated by Werner Herzog, following National Geographic Explorer Steve Boyes on an elephant-tracking journey in southern Africa.
• National Geographic Channel Flagship cable and satellite television channel airing documentary programming, docuseries, and documentary films 24 hours a day.
• National Geographic Magazine Iconic print and digital publication covering science, exploration, geography, and photography, with a global readership and editorial credibility spanning 135+ years.
• Nat Geo WILD Cable channel dedicated to wildlife programming and nature documentaries targeting animal-focused audiences.
• Nat Geo Mundo Spanish-language cable channel offering National Geographic programming to Hispanic audiences in the United States and Latin America.
• National Geographic Explorer Program Program supporting scientists, conservationists, filmmakers, and storytellers whose work contributes to National Geographic's mission of exploration and protection of the natural world.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• NASAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026National Geographic and ABC News collaboration with NASA under a nonreimbursable Space Act Agreement for Artemis II lunar mission coverage. NASA is equipping astronauts with specially designed cameras and audio systems to document the mission, with content distributed across Nat Geo's social media, digital hub, magazine, and a documentary special.
• AbramoramacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 February 2026Partnership for theatrical distribution of feature-length documentaries. Abramorama hosts one-night-only nationwide theatrical simulcast screenings (e.g., Ghost Elephants premiere with Q&A panel) and coordinates theatrical release logistics.
• Plimsoll ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company behind Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston docudrama series. Plimsoll Productions produces the three-part series combining scripted drama with investigative documentary storytelling.
• ABC NewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with ABC News to deliver comprehensive Artemis II coverage, pairing National Geographic's exploration brand with ABC News' news reporting capabilities for the historic lunar mission.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Disneynature: Disneynature is a Disney-owned film label producing nature documentaries theatrically and for Disney+. Operates within the same parent company and shares Disney distribution advantages, representing an internal sibling brand with overlapping content mission.

Direct peers

• PBS Nature: PBS produces long-running nature documentary programming and shares similar genre focus with National Geographic. Both serve educational and general audiences with high-quality nature content, though PBS is non-commercial and US-focused.
• Smithsonian Channel: Smithsonian Channel produces documentary content focused on science, history, and culture with similar editorial mission to National Geographic. A direct competitor in the documentary cable/streaming space with comparable brand heritage.
• Discovery (Warner Bros. Discovery): Warner Bros. Discovery operates Discovery Channel and other nature/science-focused cable networks streaming platforms. Both companies operate premium documentary brands with multi-platform distribution, focused on nature, science, and exploration content to overlapping audiences.
• BBC Studios (Natural History Unit): BBC Studios produces Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and other flagship natural history documentaries. Direct head-to-head competitor in nature/science documentary production and global distribution, with comparable production quality and brand prestige.

Emerging players

• MagellanTV: MagellanTV is a niche streaming service focused on documentary content including nature, science, and history. A smaller, more specialized competitor targeting documentary enthusiasts with overlapping content categories.
• CuriosityStream: CuriosityStream is a streaming-first documentary platform offering science, nature, and history content. Represents a smaller, more focused competitor in the SVOD documentary space with overlapping content categories.
• IMAX Documentaries: IMAX produces and distributes large-format documentary films for theatrical exhibition. Competes in the premium documentary theatrical release space with similar high-production-value nature and science content.

Broad incumbents

• Apple TV+ Documentaries: Apple TV+ has invested heavily in premium documentary content including nature and science programming. A technology-company-backed streamer competing for high-end documentary viewership and talent.
• Netflix Documentaries: Netflix has become a major documentary producer and acquirer, competing directly for premium documentary audiences and filmmakers. Represents a much larger streaming incumbent with deep production budgets and global reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NatGeo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/nationalgeographic
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalgeographic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-geographic-partners
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalgeographic
• TikToktiktok.com/@natgeo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Geographic Partners