Legendary wildlife host Jack “Jungle Jack” Hanna’s TV franchise library, including 400 episodes of “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild” and “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown” has been acquired by Hearst Media Production Group.
Hearst is the longtime distributor of Hanna’s series, previously owned by Into The Wild, LLC, and already held ownership of “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures” and in 2021 launched the Jack Hanna Channel, a Fast channel showcasing hundreds of episodes of Hanna’s adventures in the wild.
Financial terms of the deal to acquire the libraries for “Into the Wild” and “Wild Countdown” were not disclosed.
Nominated for 15 Emmys and winning five, Hanna’s decades-long career in wildlife programming spurred from his background as a conservationist and his position at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio. A frequent TV guest of David Letterman, Hanna’s also authored several books, won many awards, and received multiple honorary doctorates.
Hearst is the longtime distributor of Hanna’s series, previously owned by Into The Wild, LLC, and already held ownership of “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures” and in 2021 launched the Jack Hanna Channel, a Fast channel showcasing hundreds of episodes of Hanna’s adventures in the wild.
Financial terms of the deal to acquire the libraries for “Into the Wild” and “Wild Countdown” were not disclosed.
Nominated for 15 Emmys and winning five, Hanna’s decades-long career in wildlife programming spurred from his background as a conservationist and his position at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio. A frequent TV guest of David Letterman, Hanna’s also authored several books, won many awards, and received multiple honorary doctorates.
- 12/19/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
The faces on camera have changed, but not the mission of the granddaddy of wildlife shows. Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild, as it’s now called, returns Saturday, October 7 to a network where it first aired 60 years ago, now as part of NBC’s Saturday-morning educational programming. The show’s aim is to introduce a new generation to the wonders of the animal kingdom. As the fresh subtitle indicates, the focus of these 26 episodes is on creature conservation. Wildlife authority Peter Gros, who appeared on the original series beginning in 1985, and ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, who was born in 1985, are leading the charge across North America, from California to Maine, above ground and underwater. In the premiere they journey to the Mojave Desert to find out what’s being done to boost the population of desert tortoises threatened by loss of habitat and preying ravens. For other installments,...
- 10/6/2023
- TV Insider
Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom gets a reboot and a spot on NBC’s fall 2023 lineup with Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild. The reboot’s co-hosted by wildlife ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant and veteran wildlife expert Peter Gros and will premiere on Saturday, October 7, 2023, 60 years after the original show debuted on the network.
The original series averaged 34 million U.S. viewers and ran for 26 seasons. Over its run, the unscripted conservation series earned four Emmy Awards, including Achievements in Daytime Programming (1967), Program and Individual Achievements in Daytime Programming (1967), Special Classification Achievements (1969), and Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievements (1970).
Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant co-host ‘Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild’ (Photo Courtesy of NBC and Mutual of Omaha)
NBC and Mutual of Omaha offered this description of the new series:
“Wild Kingdom pioneered the nature adventure genre, setting the...
The original series averaged 34 million U.S. viewers and ran for 26 seasons. Over its run, the unscripted conservation series earned four Emmy Awards, including Achievements in Daytime Programming (1967), Program and Individual Achievements in Daytime Programming (1967), Special Classification Achievements (1969), and Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievements (1970).
Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant co-host ‘Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild’ (Photo Courtesy of NBC and Mutual of Omaha)
NBC and Mutual of Omaha offered this description of the new series:
“Wild Kingdom pioneered the nature adventure genre, setting the...
- 9/5/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Wild Kingdom is returning to NBC. The peacock network has revealed that it is reviving the wildlife series for a fall premiere on Saturday mornings. Now titled Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, the series will be hosted by Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. Gros co-hosted an earlier version of the series alongside Jim Fowler.
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- 6/18/2023
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
NBC is revisiting Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom with a new iteration of the iconic wildlife show set for premiere this fall.
More than 60 years after its original debut on broadcast television, NBC has greenlighted a new version of the series, which will be produced by Hearst Media Production Group in an exclusive partnership with Mutual of Omaha.
Peter Gros
Hosted by veteran wildlife expert and former host of the original Wild Kingdom series, Peter Gros, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild premieres Saturday, October 7 on NBC’s “The More You Know” programming block, and will also be available on NBC.com and NBC VOD.
Gros first appeared on Wild Kingdom in 1985 as co-host with Jim Fowler, who succeeded legendary zoologist and show founder Marlin Perkins. He’ll be joined by wildlife ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, a National Geographic Explorer and research faculty member at Uc Santa Barbara.
More than 60 years after its original debut on broadcast television, NBC has greenlighted a new version of the series, which will be produced by Hearst Media Production Group in an exclusive partnership with Mutual of Omaha.
Peter Gros
Hosted by veteran wildlife expert and former host of the original Wild Kingdom series, Peter Gros, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild premieres Saturday, October 7 on NBC’s “The More You Know” programming block, and will also be available on NBC.com and NBC VOD.
Gros first appeared on Wild Kingdom in 1985 as co-host with Jim Fowler, who succeeded legendary zoologist and show founder Marlin Perkins. He’ll be joined by wildlife ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, a National Geographic Explorer and research faculty member at Uc Santa Barbara.
- 6/15/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
NBC is venturing back into the Wild Kingdom.
It was announced on Thursday morning that a new iteration of the iconic nature series Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom will air on NBC this fall by way of an exclusive partnership with Hearst Media Production Group (Hmpg).
More from TVLineNBC Comedy St. Denis Medical, Starring Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier, Lands Series OrderYoung Rock and Grand Crew Both Cancelled at NBCChuck Todd Exiting Meet the Press; Kristen Welker Named New Host
The Og Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, hosted by Marlin Perkins, premiered on the network back in 1963, where it averaged 34 million viewers.
It was announced on Thursday morning that a new iteration of the iconic nature series Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom will air on NBC this fall by way of an exclusive partnership with Hearst Media Production Group (Hmpg).
More from TVLineNBC Comedy St. Denis Medical, Starring Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier, Lands Series OrderYoung Rock and Grand Crew Both Cancelled at NBCChuck Todd Exiting Meet the Press; Kristen Welker Named New Host
The Og Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, hosted by Marlin Perkins, premiered on the network back in 1963, where it averaged 34 million viewers.
- 6/15/2023
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
“Wild Kingdom” is roaring its way back onto NBC more than 60 years after it first debuted on the broadcast network. The iconic wildlife show will return to the Comcast-owned broadcaster this fall in a new iteration produced by Hearst Media Production Group in partnership with the original show’s sponsor, Mutual of Omaha.
Titled “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild,” the new version will be hosted by wildlife expert and “Wild Kingdom” alum Peter Gros, who first appeared on a version of the series in 1985 alongside then-host Jim Fowler. Fowler was the second expert to host “Wild Kingdom,” taking over for the show’s original narrator, zoologist Marlin Perkins, after acting as Perkins’ sidekick from the start.
For NBC’s new “Wild Kingdom,” Gros will be joined by wildlife ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, a National Geographic Explorer and research faculty member at the University of California,...
Titled “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild,” the new version will be hosted by wildlife expert and “Wild Kingdom” alum Peter Gros, who first appeared on a version of the series in 1985 alongside then-host Jim Fowler. Fowler was the second expert to host “Wild Kingdom,” taking over for the show’s original narrator, zoologist Marlin Perkins, after acting as Perkins’ sidekick from the start.
For NBC’s new “Wild Kingdom,” Gros will be joined by wildlife ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, a National Geographic Explorer and research faculty member at the University of California,...
- 6/15/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
E! announced the return of its nightly entertainment news program “E! News,” with TV personality Adrienne Bailon-Houghton and E! News’ Justin Sylvester tapped to serve as the show’s co-hosts. The nightly broadcast is set to return on Monday, November 14 at 11:30 p.m. Et/Pt.
Veteran television producers John Redmann, who has produced CBS’ “The Talk” for a decade, and John Pascarella, who co-executive produced “Maury,” are set to executive produce the broadcast.
The show initially went on pause in March 2020 due to the pandemic, and was canceled in August 2020 before returning back to its original format and time slot.
“’E! News’ has a long history of entertainment news excellence, and we are excited to bring the show back and continue its legacy,” said Tracie Wilson, executive VP, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios and E! News. “John Redmann and John Pascarella are strategic, respected executive producers with stellar reputations and Justin and Adrienne are charismatic,...
Veteran television producers John Redmann, who has produced CBS’ “The Talk” for a decade, and John Pascarella, who co-executive produced “Maury,” are set to executive produce the broadcast.
The show initially went on pause in March 2020 due to the pandemic, and was canceled in August 2020 before returning back to its original format and time slot.
“’E! News’ has a long history of entertainment news excellence, and we are excited to bring the show back and continue its legacy,” said Tracie Wilson, executive VP, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios and E! News. “John Redmann and John Pascarella are strategic, respected executive producers with stellar reputations and Justin and Adrienne are charismatic,...
- 10/21/2022
- by EJ Panaligan
- Variety Film + TV
A screaming hairy armadillo gave Kelly Ripa headlines this morning at the expense of her soon-to-be-ex co-host Michael Strahan – and, of course, the armadillo – on Live with Kelly and Michael. Wildlife pitchman Peter Gros trotted out the little animal, who began to shriek, which we know from that time National Wildlife Federation rep David Mizejewski took one to entertain Conan O’Brien’s late-night audience, is something they only do when they are “really really freaked…...
- 4/28/2016
- Deadline TV
Hmmm, what are you insinuating, Kelly Ripa? The Live! With Kelly and Michael star injected what appeared to be a not-so-inside joke relating to her and co-host Michael Strahan's recent drama during an animal segment on the show Thursday. Wildlife expert Peter Gros from the Animal Planet show Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom brought some unusual friends with him, including a screaming hairy armadillo, who shrieked throughout the show. "The reason he's screaming is he is small," he told Ripa and Strahan. "He has no defense, no teeth. When a predator comes along, he squares it away with his scream." "He's about to scare me away, I tell you...
- 4/28/2016
- E! Online
Did a screaming, hairy armadillo just amble into the middle of reported tensions between Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan?
Toward the end of Thursday’s Live With Kelly and Michael, Mutual of Omaha’s Peter Gros brought out the mammal as part of an animal segment, noting its size and lack of teeth forces it to scare off predators by shrieking. “He’s about to scare me away!” chimed in Strahan, as the creature continued its noisy protests.
RelatedKelly Ripa Returns to Live, Addresses Strahan Exit Dustup: ‘Our National Nightmare Is Over’ — Watch Video
Seconds later, Ripa declared that...
Toward the end of Thursday’s Live With Kelly and Michael, Mutual of Omaha’s Peter Gros brought out the mammal as part of an animal segment, noting its size and lack of teeth forces it to scare off predators by shrieking. “He’s about to scare me away!” chimed in Strahan, as the creature continued its noisy protests.
RelatedKelly Ripa Returns to Live, Addresses Strahan Exit Dustup: ‘Our National Nightmare Is Over’ — Watch Video
Seconds later, Ripa declared that...
- 4/28/2016
- TVLine.com
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