New original programming includes Deep in the Heart, Macaque Island, Enchanted Forests, Jaguar Journals with Lizzie Daly, Deep Down Under, Animals Like Us, Super Shark Highway and Beasts of the Big Blue
New slate showcases a diverse range of fascinating wildlife stories from around the world
(Washington, DC- April 11, 2023) – Love Nature, a wildlife and nature brand with linear and streaming channels available in over 145 countries, announced today its biggest slate to date of new original commissions, including eight new titles. The slate furthers Love Nature’s momentum working with world-class, natural history partners to create premium content with global appeal. The new projects include, Deep in the Heart, Macaque Island, Enchanted Forests (w/t), Jaguar Journals with Lizzie Daly (w/t), Deep Down Under (w/t), Animals Like Us, Super Shark Highway and Beasts of the Big Blue.
This fresh lineup of programming will premiere in 2023 and 2024 on Love Nature around the world and will also roll out on Sky Nature in the UK, Germany and Italy. The slate leverages Love Nature’s relationship with global distribution group, Blue Ant International, which oversees licensing opportunities for most of the new titles outside of commissioning territories.
“Our most fulsome slate yet is stacked with character-driven series that unlock access to fascinating animal behavior, while also involving humans who weave in themes of conservation and optimism in meaningful ways,” says Carlyn Staudt, Global General Manager, Love Nature. “Working with top-tier production partners around the world enables us to showcase a broad range of wildlife stories and a diverse array of global natural landscapes that Love Nature audiences keep coming back for.”
Overseen by Alison Barrat, SVP of Production & Development, Love Nature, the new slate of original series includes:
Deep in the Heart (1 x 60; UHD & HDR)
Producer: Fin and Fur Films
Narrated by international Texas-born star, Matthew McConaughey, Deep in the Heart is a one-hour version of a theatrical release that celebrates the unique landscapes and remarkable wildlife of Texas. This visually stunning documentary features wildlife species ranging from black bears to the shy Ocelot and follows society’s ever-changing relationship with the natural world. Matthew McConaughey’s love of Texas brings to life the state-of-the-art cinematography, taking audiences on a journey from the highest peaks in West Texas, through its aquifers, rivers and bays, deep into the Gulf of Mexico.
Macaque Island (3 x 60’; UHD & HDR)
Producer: Beach House Pictures
This three-part natural history series combines stunning footage shot in Singapore’s hilltop forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, with the stories of three distinct tribes of long-tailed macaques and the parallel stories of the devoted conservationists working to preserve the species. The result is a fascinating saga that takes audiences inside the complex social network of the macaques, while simultaneously investigating how they are thriving amid Singapore’s growing urban population.
Enchanted Forests (working title) (6 x 60’; UHD & HDR)
Producer: Off the Fence Productions
This six part series champions the often undersung, yet vital, woodland ecosystems that play a crucial role in supporting life on our planet. Surprising animal behaviour, captivating storytelling and poetic characterisation, bring audiences of all ages together to engage in and embrace the remarkable relationships between animals and the world’s diverse forests.
Jaguar Journals with Lizzie Daly (working title) (5 x 60; UHD & HDR)
Producer: Off the Fence Productions
This brand-new series follows expert wildlife biologist and TV personality, Lizzie Daly as she joins groundbreaking monitoring projects. Using the latest tagging-technology, Lizzie uncovers exciting new insights into animal behavior and reveals how to protect wildlife. Jaguar Journals combines emotional and dramatic storytelling with the scientific purpose of Lizzie’s mission across the series. Each episode returns to the leading cast of jaguar characters in gripping storylines that keep the audience coming back for more.
Deep Down Under (working title) (3 x 60’; UHD & HDR)
Producer: Big Wave Productions
TV personality and wildlife biologist, Lizzie Daly, takes audiences on an epic road trip across Australia to reveal fascinating insights on the continent’s diverse and charismatic marine life. From the cold shores of southern Victoria, to the tropical reefs of northern Queensland and the wild currents of Western Australia, she explores a range of wildlife from from two-inch turtle hatchlings and shape-shifting cuttlefish, to huge predatory white sharks and 24-meter blue whales. With a dynamic mix of stunning blue chip behavioral footage and scientific revelation, Deep Down Under is a celebration of the most stunning seas on Earth and the lengths marine scientists will go to help preserve them.
Animals Like Us (6 x 60’; UHD & HDR)
Producer: Pioneer Productions
This series takes a deep dive into the wondrous lives of the world’s most charismatic critters, to unpack their humanlike behaviors and marvel at a world where animals are just like us. Episodes explore how seemingly human animals can be, including how octopuses dream, elephants grieve their dead, wolves miss each other, and dolphins communicate what they want to eat.
Super Shark Highway (6 x 60’; UHD & HDR)
Producer: Breakout Productions
In a world-first research expedition, two elite teams take audiences on a journey that tracks the ocean’s greatest predator along remote and unexplored shark migration routes. The project gives scientists critical data to help unlock the mysteries of shark movements, capture never-before-seen hunting behaviors, better understand shark social hierarchies and identify breeding sanctuaries that are crucial to the survival of this fascinating species.
Beasts of the Big Blue (6 x 60’; UHD & HDR)
Producer: NHNZ Worldwide for TVNZ and Love Nature
Narrated by renowned New Zealand actor, Rachel House, this landmark series showcases stunning wildlife living in and around the South Pacific and Southern oceans. Beautiful cinematic coastal footage and compelling storytelling introduce unique marine neighborhoods, iconic underwater creatures, and surprising unsung heroes. The series follows the captivating survival methods of bus-sized oceanic manta-rays and several incredible whale species including pilot whales, false killer whales, a humpback whale and her calf, and a Bryde’s whale. Other wildlife highlighted across episodes includes New Zealand sea lions, a pod of bottlenose dolphins, orcas, stingrays, crested penguins and giant petrels.
Love Nature, headquartered in Washington D.C. with offices in Los Angeles, London and Toronto is a premium global natural history brand that delivers high-quality, captivating stories about wildlife and nature on all its platforms. Love Nature is a destination for award-winning natural history series and documentaries. It is available on top-tier pay-TV platforms and streamers reaching over 145+ countries. Engage with us at lovenature.com / Twitter / Facebook / YouTube / Instagram