BBC Studios has announced the upcoming launch of its premium factual channel, BBC Earth, in French for the first time in Africa, set to debut on CANAL+ this April.
This initiative aims to provide world-class natural history programming and exceptional factual storytelling to a broader audience across 22 French-speaking countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, enabling access to the channel.
The introduction of the French-language feed will expand BBC Studios’ award-winning factual content to millions more viewers, showcasing the wonders of the natural world, groundbreaking scientific documentaries, and remarkable human narratives.
At launch, BBC Earth will feature a remarkable lineup of landmark natural history series and compelling documentaries from BBC Studios’ distinguished factual library. Viewers can look forward to acclaimed productions from the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, including Seven Worlds, One Planet, The Green Planet, Frozen Planet II, and Blue Planet II, all narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough.
Additionally, the channel will present a diverse array of wildlife documentaries, such as Natural World: Giraffes – Africa’s Gentle Giants, My Congo, Cheetah Family and Me, and Natural World: Cheetahs Growing Up Fast, offering intimate insights into the lives of extraordinary species and the dedicated individuals committed to their conservation. Global series such as Africa, Earth, Universe, and The Planets will also be accessible, offering unique perspectives on the natural environment.
Exploration and adventure are key themes of the programming, featuring titles like Where the Wild Men Are, Life Below Zero, Arctic with Bruce Parry, and Steve Backshall’s Extreme River Challenge, which transport viewers to some of the most remote and challenging terrains on the planet.
All programming will be dubbed in French, with thoughtfully curated schedules tailored to the preferences and viewing habits of Francophone audiences.
Pierre Cloete, Vice President for Africa at BBC Studios, expressed his enthusiasm: “The French launch of BBC Earth on CANAL+ is a significant step in BBC Studios’ mission to make exceptional factual content accessible to audiences around the globe in their native language. We are excited to extend BBC Earth’s reach through our partnership with CANAL+. African audiences have a profound appreciation for documentary storytelling, and we are proud to share the best of BBC Studios’ natural history, science, and factual content with even more viewers.”
Fabrice Faux, Channels & Content Director for French-Speaking Africa, added, “CANAL+ is delighted to offer its subscribers high-quality factual entertainment from BBC Earth, which will complement our discovery-focused vertical. Educational programming plays a vital role in CANAL+’s offerings in Africa, and BBC Earth is a valuable addition in this regard.”
