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DESPERATE HOURS
EP. 02. Earthquakes have always been with us, but it is really only in the last 50 years or so, that their devastating impact has been captured so vividly - not only in photographs but in moving images, broadcast around the world at first via television, and in the last 20 years or so over the internet. Some of the images that have been captured on film or tape go beyond human capacity to describe. So the earth really moves in this episode, as we take in scenes and stories from some of the most devastating of all natural cataclysms. The earthquake, in all its destructive power! Of all the natural disasters we look at in this episode, none releases more sheer destructive energy than an earthquake. After all, it takes a great deal of the Earth's energy, for two of its magnetic plates to grind against each long enough, that they go snap - and jolt the planet’s outer crust for hundreds of square miles! Most earthquakes take place within the so-called ‘Ring of Fire’ around the Pacific Ocean. At least once a year Alaska experiences a 7.0 earthquake. California alone gets about 10,000 quakes a year, but most go unnoticed except by seismographs.
OF BOATS AND MEN
EP. 07. Travelling by boat bears a priceless sense of Freedom and offers endless new vistas to all passengers. Across waterways around the world Boats are an essential tool of daily life whether they carry goods, serve as utilities or services in remote areas.
QUIRKY SCIENCE
Rubber comes from trees. South American tribes used it long before the world got to know about it. When Columbus witnessed Haitian natives playing ball he found himself mesmerized by the bouncing goo. The South American tribes also made ‘waterproof’ shoes. When Western ships and their sailors brought these back home, the rubber melted on people’s feet. And so did their profits. A stationer accidentally discovered the stuff made a pencil stripe disappear, by rubbing it, and suggested to call it ‘India Rubber’. It took decades for someone to discover how to prevent rubber from melting in heat or stiffening in cold. Charles Goodyear found out how, by dropping a lump of natural rubber on his wife’s stove. By now, chemists know that the vulcanization process links the rubber molecules like pearls on a string, making each piece of rubber one large molecule! Goodyear’s invention spurs the Industrial Revolution. Rubber becomes such a wanted good it instigated a rubber boom – turning Manaus, a remote Brazilian jungle town, into one of the richest cities on earth. This Brazilian monopoly of rubber ended with the theft of 70,000 seeds, by a British traveler named Henry Wickham. It takes decades for someone to discover synthetic rubber. While one researcher was looking for something to replace the rubber in tires – she ended up discovering a material that is so tough it can stop bullets: Kevlar, which also makes a nice vest!
WILD ONES
EP. 04. The charming kangaroo. The cuddly koala. The beautiful Butterfly. The cheerful clown fish. Or the endearing budgerigar – which is the cutest of them all? CLOWN FISH The warm tropical waters of the world's oceans are home to a dazzling array of beautiful marine life. KANGAROO Across Australia thousands upon thousands of kangaroos bound over the countryside. Their super powered legs are born to hop. MONACH BUTTERFLY The stunning Monarch butterflies that fill the skies are some of the most beautiful and delicate of all of the world's insects. BUDGERIGAR Wild budgerigars or "Budgies" are social nomadic little parrots that come together in their hundreds to fly in lively undulating flocks. KOALA he adorable soft-furred cuddly koala is one of the world's most well loved little creatures and one of Australia’s favorite residents.
TRAVEL QUEST
BRAZIL. Bill Ball breaks the rules and stereo types of travel shows as he ventures beyond the highlights. What do you do after you’ve lead groups to over 140 countries and all 7 continents? Welcome to Bill’s bucket list on steroids... Travel Quest. This new, fast-paced series chases Bill around the globe as he seeks out anything but the mundane and ordinary—coming face-to-face with the largest crocodiles in the world, snorkeling with thousands of jellyfish, walking on the rim of an exploding volcano, feeding a group of sharks without a cage, bicycling across the Serengeti... this is not your typical travel show!
TRAVEL QUEST
ANTARCTICA. Bill Ball breaks the rules and stereo types of travel shows as he ventures beyond the highlights. What do you do after you’ve lead groups to over 140 countries and all 7 continents? Welcome to Bill’s bucket list on steroids... Travel Quest. This new, fast-paced series chases Bill around the globe as he seeks out anything but the mundane and ordinary—coming face-to-face with the largest crocodiles in the world, snorkeling with thousands of jellyfish, walking on the rim of an exploding volcano, feeding a group of sharks without a cage, bicycling across the Serengeti... this is not your typical travel show!
THE SPECIES RETURN - (1)
With a little helping hand, Mother Nature possesses magnificent vital energy. It is up to us to understand that energy. This series examine various species that have made a comeback among our European landscapes, providing "close to home" examples. We are now fully aware that every coming year brings about a reduction in our planet's biodiversity. One in eight species of bird, one in four mammals, and one in three amphibians are threatened with extinction by the end of the 21st century. But this is not necessarily a lost cause. With a little helping hand, Mother Nature possesses magnificent vital energy. Even in our immediate surroundings, in a highly urbanised and industrialised Europe, some species of wildlife, which had been virtually wiped out, are reappearing. There are various reasons for this wildlife.
MINDWORKS
VISUAL PERCEPTION. Understanding how we think and see by playing games with our brains. This factual entertainment series explores the way we see and interpret the world around us with engaging tests, activities, demonstrations and explanations. In each episode we experience visual and audio illusions, sensory puzzles and brain tricks from the worlds of art, science, nature and psychology and learn why they baffle our senses.
MINDWORKS
VISUAL DECEPTIONS. Understanding how we think and see by playing games with our brains. This factual entertainment series explores the way we see and interpret the world around us with engaging tests, activities, demonstrations and explanations. In each episode we experience visual and audio illusions, sensory puzzles and brain tricks from the worlds of art, science, nature and psychology and learn why they baffle our senses.
NEW FRONTIER
CUBESATS. Cubesats the tiny Satellites are growing in main stream popularity, they have even been sent to Mars with the Insight Mission.
MUSIC VOYAGER - (29)
Music Voyager is a music and travel broadcast series (television/cable, broadband, in-flight and mobile) that invites viewers to discover the exciting sounds of the planet. The host is Jacob Edgar, an explorer who does not search for lost cities or ancient ruins. He's on the quest for a different kind of treasure…music. As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, Edgar travels the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and he suffers through some of the worst…so you don’t have to. Along the way, he's rewarded with a backstage pass to concert halls, street festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. With local musicians as his guide, Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away to amazing concerts at hidden venues that only the locals know. Join music voyager for unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic, mystery and music of far off lands.
THE ISLANDERS
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Discovering some the world’s hidden treasures by revealing the hidden face of life and the inhabitants of the islands. Island folk are generally proud of their insularity and their distinct sense of identity. A rich cocktail of history, customs, cuisine and economic resources distinguishes the island people and the nature and beaches that surround them. Our documentaries explore the varied and often little known lifestyles and peculiarities on the twenty featured islands. The approach so effectively used during our series on beaches and coastal areas, is here recreated, each program a mix of stunning visuals and interviews, which together highlight the exotic and uncommon events of daily life with a backdrop of spectacular island scenery. The aim of this unique series is as always to surprise, amuse and inform the viewer.
RIP FILES
S02 EP. 08 - PRISONERS IN TIME. A former jail, complete with gallows, gives the team a scare.
CHINA UNCOVERED
THE OLD-WORD WONDERS. Despite the constant looming threat of globalization, some beloved old traditions, like the Szechuan chili and hotpots are still mainstays in Chinese culture. But while some traditions thrive, some face big challenges. A rare look at the enigma of Tibet shows a culture approaching a crossroads. Even the iconic pandas are dwindling if not for the aggressive breeding programs. Will old traditions stand a chance against the steam-rolling speeds and force of the new world?
SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
ARCHIPELAGO IN ISOLATION. 360° GEO - Report shows the people from St. Pierre and Miquelon, a French overseas collectivity, in their struggle between self-preservation and responsibility against nature.Saint Pierre and Miquelon - directly in front of Newfoundland's coast lays a French archipelago forgotten from the far motherland. For centuries, the codfish brought prosperity to the group of islands, until a French-Canadian agreement prohibited catching it due to overfishing.Today, even the rough beauty of the island nature is threatened - because environmentalists are powerless against the frustration and indifference of the island's inhabitants. The environmental activist and passionate naturalist Roger Etcheberry lives on St. Pierre and Miquelon since childhood.Together with a Parisian botanist he explores the few pristine places on the archipelago and fights for their conservation.
MUSIC VOYAGER - (19)
Music Voyager is a music and travel broadcast series (television/cable, broadband, in-flight and mobile) that invites viewers to discover the exciting sounds of the planet. The host is Jacob Edgar, an explorer who does not search for lost cities or ancient ruins. He's on the quest for a different kind of treasure…music. As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, Edgar travels the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and he suffers through some of the worst…so you don’t have to. Along the way, he's rewarded with a backstage pass to concert halls, street festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. With local musicians as his guide, Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away to amazing concerts at hidden venues that only the locals know. Join music voyager for unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic, mystery and music of far off lands.
MUSIC VOYAGER - (20)
Music Voyager is a music and travel broadcast series (television/cable, broadband, in-flight and mobile) that invites viewers to discover the exciting sounds of the planet. The host is Jacob Edgar, an explorer who does not search for lost cities or ancient ruins. He's on the quest for a different kind of treasure…music. As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, Edgar travels the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and he suffers through some of the worst…so you don’t have to. Along the way, he's rewarded with a backstage pass to concert halls, street festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. With local musicians as his guide, Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away to amazing concerts at hidden venues that only the locals know. Join music voyager for unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic, mystery and music of far off lands.
THE GOOD MAN OF PAKISTAN
Pakistan is frequently in the news for Muslim fundamentalism, sectarian violence, and political instability. But one man seems to be working toward a new vision of Pakistan. Abdul Sattar Edhi is the head of the country's largest humanitarian organization. Over the last 60 years or more, he has given homes to 50,000 orphans, rescued 20,000 abandoned babies and trained over 40,000 nurses. Now, at almost 90 years of age, although he still works every day, he and his wife Bilquis, are starting to pass the foundation on to their children.
SPAIN'S LAST LYNXES
10 years ago, Europe almost witnessed the first dying out of a predatory cat since the sabre-toothed tiger when only about a hundred Iberian Lynxes remained in existance. Still today, the Iberian Lynx is one of the most threatened species of predatory cat in the world. The documentary accompanies animal rights activists in their struggle to preserve and resettle the world's last lynxes. The current plan is to move the cats to safety.
BIG FIVE CHALLENGE
Today’s mission is to track and locate buffalo, get within 50 meters on foot and stay in that range for 10 minutes to qualify. The best buffalo photograph of the day will be judged by wildlife photographer, Kimi Stewart. Extra points can also be accumulated by identifying as many antelope species as possible. There are 16 different types in the reserve and lots of points for the taking. Devil and Prada strike early again and stalk up to a nervous herd of buffalos drinking. They take a number of great photographs and decide to frighten the herd off to make it difficult for the other 2 teams! The antelope seem to be putting on a great show today as team terminator and the Invincibles tick them off the list. By the time the afternoon session comes, team Terminator and the Invincibles concentrate on trying to get the perfect buffalo photograph but don’t realize they are both working on the same buffalo herd that keeps running away from one team to another. The Terminators choose to hide up in trees in order to get close up photographs as buffalos run below. Will this provide the winning shot? Kimi Stewart chooses the best buffalo photograph of the day and also the best photograph of the entire challenge for a whopping 50 points. Who finally wins the ultimate 5 star 7 day luxury safari prize for 4 people? You have to watch it!
NEW FRONTIER
MARTIAN ATTRACTIONS. The Latest in Martian exploration from orbit and on the ground, new sources of water and planetary dust storms are a few of the stories unfolding on to the Red Planet.
TRAVEL THRU HISTORY
KEY WEST. It’s island living in the Keys on this episode of TTH. We learn about the islands treasure hunting history at the Mel Fisher Museum. Then we’ll explore Fort Jefferson, an isolated fort in the Gulf of Mexico that defended the islands. American literature enthusiasts will enjoy a look at Ernest Hemingway’s Key West home, where some of his most famous works were penned.
SECRETS OF THE THRACIAN KING
In August 2004 in Bulgaria, archaeologist Georgi Kitov made a spectacular discovery in the valley of the Thracian Kings, a valley where about twenty temples and royal tombs are located. Kitov accessed a still-intact ancient tomb, which housed incredible wealth, dating back to the 4th century B.C., when Thracian culture was at its height. In front of the gigantic mausoleum, archaeologists found a magnificent, life-sized bronze head, one of the period's finest specimens ever found, and possessing an unsettlingly modern style. Who was this king and what does his tomb tell us about Thracian culture? Was he buried according to the Thracian custom of Orphic rites, and what do we know today about these secret rites that promised eternal life? Research into the deceased's identity revealed the tomb belonged to King Seuthes III. With the help of archaeologists and historians, who decipher the king's vestiges, the film pieces together the puzzle of Seuthes III's life. He was a modern king, who was open to Hellenisation, a warrior king, who was opposed to Macedonian authority, and a priest king, who was committed to preserving Thracian cultural rites.
WHAT IN THE WORLD - (1)
Presented by Peadar King, this series illustrates the human consequences of global economic inequalities and human rights violations, by focusing on how people encounter these issues on a daily basis. At the heart of Africa, the Congo for many people will always be associated with Joseph Conrad’s early twentieth-century novel the Heart of Darkness, a title that has become a by-word for the country. And for Benjamin and David, two former child soldiers, and Funaha held as a sex slave by one of the many militias that continue to terrorise the country, that metaphor remains a daily reality. The film explores how this seemingly never-ending conflict impacts on the people of North Kivu.
WHAT IN THE WORLD - (2)
For over 24 years, East Timor (now known as Timor Leste) endured a crushing occupation inflicted on them by neighbouring Indonesia on the pretext of the fight against communism. The war was brought to a controversial conclusion in 1999. However, trauma from that period lives on as evidenced by the testimonies of Nelson Belo, Gregorio Saldanha and Pascal Oliveira, survivors of the infamous 1991 Santa Cruz Massacre. This film recalls the trauma of Timor Leste in this the tenth anniversary of its independence.
LES ACORES, LE SORT DES BALEINES
There is a goldmine atmosphere in the Azores: in the crystal-clear water live 21 species of whales and dolphins. Their instinct for play and their empathy for humans make them a fantastic source of capital. Several whale-watching companies have been founded in recent years – and swimming with dolphins has become one of the most sought-after tourist attractions. But there are also critical voices, such as the biologist Maria de Cruz, who is attempting to find out how much stress it causes the marine mammals.
BLUE REALM
HUMPBACKS: FROM TONGA TO ANTARCTICA. The Blue Realm is a stunning and engrossing TV series featuring amazing undersea animals and marine life. Utilizing superb HD imagery, engaging stories and the world's leading scientists, the series takes viewers on extraordinary underwater journeys of discovery.
TRAVEL QUEST - (7)
Bill Ball breaks the rules and stereo types of travel shows as he ventures beyond the highlights. What do you do after you’ve lead groups to over 140 countries and all 7 continents? Welcome to Bill’s bucket list on steroids... Travel Quest. This new, fast-paced series chases Bill around the globe as he seeks out anything but the mundane and ordinary—coming face-to-face with the largest crocodiles in the world, snorkeling with thousands of jellyfish, walking on the rim of an exploding volcano, feeding a group of sharks without a cage, bicycling across the Serengeti... this is not your typical travel show!
TRAVEL QUEST
WILD INDONESIA. Bill Ball breaks the rules and stereo types of travel shows as he ventures beyond the highlights. What do you do after you’ve lead groups to over 140 countries and all 7 continents? Welcome to Bill’s bucket list on steroids... Travel Quest. This new, fast-paced series chases Bill around the globe as he seeks out anything but the mundane and ordinary—coming face-to-face with the largest crocodiles in the world, snorkeling with thousands of jellyfish, walking on the rim of an exploding volcano, feeding a group of sharks without a cage, bicycling across the Serengeti... this is not your typical travel show!
"SHOW ME WHERE YOU LIVE
JAPAN. Show me where you live is a documentary series that aims to answer the following question: How can human beings claim ownership to a space so that they can live safely within it, function as a society, and above all be in harmony with the environment around them? As we discover cultures and emblematic populations, we follow Philippe Simay who is at the heart of Inhabiting the World and represents its identity and originality. Philippe takes us on an epic adventure around the Human Habitat and sets the tone for the journey. As a humanist and philosopher, Philippe is a tireless surveyor of the city, and an explorer of living spaces. Determined to travel around the world, Philippe unveils how the populations that he encounters claim the space they occupy, shapes it and adjust to it. In this series of 20 films, of 26 minutes each, the habitat will be a major showcase revealing our capacity to adapt ourselves at a time where we need to find solutions in order to address immense changes.
SHOW ME WHERE YOU LIVE
NETHERLANDS: THE FLOATING HOUSES OF IJBURG. Show me where you live is a documentary series that aims to answer the following question: How can human beings claim ownership to a space so that they can live safely within it, function as a society, and above all be in harmony with the environment around them? As we discover cultures and emblematic populations, we follow Philippe Simay who is at the heart of Inhabiting the World and represents its identity and originality. Philippe takes us on an epic adventure around the Human Habitat and sets the tone for the journey. As a humanist and philosopher, Philippe is a tireless surveyor of the city, and an explorer of living spaces. Determined to travel around the world, Philippe unveils how the populations that he encounters claim the space they occupy, shapes it and adjust to it. In this series of 20 films, of 26 minutes each, the habitat will be a major showcase revealing our capacity to adapt ourselves at a time where we need to find solutions in order to address immense changes.
THE GOOD MAN OF PAKISTAN
Pakistan is frequently in the news for Muslim fundamentalism, sectarian violence, and political instability. But one man seems to be working toward a new vision of Pakistan. Abdul Sattar Edhi is the head of the country's largest humanitarian organization. Over the last 60 years or more, he has given homes to 50,000 orphans, rescued 20,000 abandoned babies and trained over 40,000 nurses. Now, at almost 90 years of age, although he still works every day, he and his wife Bilquis, are starting to pass the foundation on to their children.
SHOW ME WHERE YOU LIVE
TULOUS: CHINESE FORTRESSES. Show me where you live is a documentary series that aims to answer the following question: How can human beings claim ownership to a space so that they can live safely within it, function as a society, and above all be in harmony with the environment around them? As we discover cultures and emblematic populations, we follow Philippe Simay who is at the heart of Inhabiting the World and represents its identity and originality. Philippe takes us on an epic adventure around the Human Habitat and sets the tone for the journey. As a humanist and philosopher, Philippe is a tireless surveyor of the city, and an explorer of living spaces. Determined to travel around the world, Philippe unveils how the populations that he encounters claim the space they occupy, shapes it and adjust to it. In this series of 20 films, of 26 minutes each, the habitat will be a major showcase revealing our capacity to adapt ourselves at a time where we need to find solutions in order to address immense changes.
THE TREE-CLIMBERS FROM CALIFORNIA
Rick Dirks is one of the best tree climbers in California. He is able to climb 100-meter tall (328-foot) redwood trees with skill and courage and do so at breathtaking speed. He even ties himself to the crown of these giant trees in a sleeping bag for the night. In addition to trimming the trees and installing measuring tools, Rick collects the tree’s cones and seeds at dizzying heights – because the redwoods can only continue to survive if they are cultivated. In California, these giant trees are still cut down for timber.
IN THE SEA
About 71% of our planet’s surface is covered by water, and about 97% of it is in the oceans. The sea also produces most of the oxygen we breathe. Thus, stimulating conservation and learning about also produces most of the oxygen we breathe. Thus, stimulating conservation and learning about the marine environment is fundamental to our very existence. This series follows scientists who work in five projects in the Petrobras Socio-environmental Program.
TRAVEL THRU HISTORY
SAVANNAH. We visit the old south and enjoy some sweet tea in Savannah. On this episode, we’ll stroll the city’s beautiful squares, as well as visit it’s civil war past at Old Fort Jackson. Then, we head up the stairs of the famous Tybee Island lighthouse and visit the Savannah Railroad museum.
THE HIGHLAND GAMES
The mountains in the north of Scotland do not just provide the location for the Queen's summer residence, they are also home to the famous Highland Games Her Majesty, the Queen of England, goes to Braemar personally every year to attend the final of this highly singular event. The sporting events, such as tossing the caber and Scottish dancing to the music of bagpipes and other instruments, also serve as gatherings for the Scottish clans. For clan members who are today scattered all over the world, these gatherings provide an annual opportunity to meet up. 360°- Geo met Captain Alwyne Farquharson, the Chief of Clan Farquharson, at his ancient Invercauld castle, where the games and the gathering take place.
TRAVEL QUEST
BRAZIL. Bill Ball breaks the rules and stereo types of travel shows as he ventures beyond the highlights. What do you do after you’ve lead groups to over 140 countries and all 7 continents? Welcome to Bill’s bucket list on steroids... Travel Quest. This new, fast-paced series chases Bill around the globe as he seeks out anything but the mundane and ordinary—coming face-to-face with the largest crocodiles in the world, snorkeling with thousands of jellyfish, walking on the rim of an exploding volcano, feeding a group of sharks without a cage, bicycling across the Serengeti... this is not your typical travel show!
TRAVEL QUEST
ANTARCTICA. Bill Ball breaks the rules and stereo types of travel shows as he ventures beyond the highlights. What do you do after you’ve lead groups to over 140 countries and all 7 continents? Welcome to Bill’s bucket list on steroids... Travel Quest. This new, fast-paced series chases Bill around the globe as he seeks out anything but the mundane and ordinary—coming face-to-face with the largest crocodiles in the world, snorkeling with thousands of jellyfish, walking on the rim of an exploding volcano, feeding a group of sharks without a cage, bicycling across the Serengeti... this is not your typical travel show!
A YEAR IN THE WILD
EP.4. It is April, and large groups of blacktip and tiger sharks are gathering off the South African Coast. They are waiting for the onset of one of nature’s most spectacular mass migrations: the annual sardine run. Like the cold ocean current that gives rise to the extraordinary numbers of African pilchards and their predators during the Sardine Run, the frigid Benguela current that runs northwards along the arid coastline of Namibia also supports a remarkable diversity of life. Monk parakeets are highly sociable, quirky South American parrots, but unlike all other parrots, they build complex nesting structures that can reach the size of a car, with individual compartments for each nesting pair. South American parakeets aren’t the only birds turned architects: the social weaver birds of southern Africa also construct permanent nests on trees, large enough to house dozens of bird families, often stretching across several generations at a time. Like the weaverbirds, bats, too, tend to roost in large numbers. At this time of year, mothers and their young form part of the colony, with the young clinging closely to the front of their mothers until there are weaned at 6 months of age. In the Thong Pha Phoom National Park in Thailand, a pair of greater coucals have built a nest and laid a clutch of 4 eggs. By now, massive shoals of around 10 million Southern African Pilchards have gathered in the coastal waters of South Africa and begun their migration northwards. Like the dolphins during the Sardine Run, lions tend to work in teams when hunting large prey like buffalo. And right now, the need for the Xakanaxa pride to hunt and provide for their expanding family is greater than ever: they have new cubs to feed. A group of meerkats in South Africa is also busily caring for their growing family. Most of the clan has already left the family burrow to forage for insects and other small prey. In the Okavango Delta’s grassland, a pair of puff adders is engaged in a lengthy mating ritual.
ANCIENT CULTURE - (21)
Claudio Iturra takes viewers on a journey to the world’s most astonishing areas. Each episode of this fascinating documentary series shows a new place, which has amazed people since ancient times.
GALLA WALLAH: THE SEARCH FOR THE BEST
The valleys of Nepal, around the Himalayan Mountains - the highest in the world - are the home of a special group of people callled the Ghurkhas. Because of the discipline and endurance they exhibit in their daily fight for survival, they are employed in the elite battalion of the British Army. For more than 200 years, the Ghurkhas have served the crown. Every year, more than 25,000 people apply for a position as a Ghurkhas, with only a few lucky ones chosen. For the chosen ones, it feels as though they have hit the jackpot. For the others, it is considered to be the worst defeat of their life.
THE LEOPARDS NEW SPOTS
The Leopard’s New Spots is a documentary film about one man’s mission to halt the alarming decline in southern Africa’s leopard populations due to a widespread skin trade. Traditionally, only the Zulu royals have been allowed to wear leopard skins. However, in the last three decades the Shembe Church, a four million strong religious group, has adopted the skins into their ceremonial costume. The demand for leopard skins is now astronomical. Because the use of skins is so wide spread and culturally entrenched, law enforcement seems helpless to police this trade in a protected species. It has become, in one researchers words, 'a major conservation blind spot’. Leopard researcher Tristan Dickerson believes that you can’t save the leopard without the support of the Shembe people. The film follows Dickerson as he travels from the heart of leopard country to the heart of Shembe and Zulu culture in an effort to discover a solution that benefits all parties. His best solution turns out to be fake fur. Bad fakes are commonly used by church members while they save for the expensive real thing. Dickerson believes that if he can produce a high quality, affordable fake fur, and gain the endorsement of the powerful leader of the Church he can turn the tables in favour of the leopard.
MUSIC VOYAGER - (31)
Music Voyager is a music and travel broadcast series (television/cable, broadband, in-flight and mobile) that invites viewers to discover the exciting sounds of the planet. The host is Jacob Edgar, an explorer who does not search for lost cities or ancient ruins. He's on the quest for a different kind of treasure…music. As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, Edgar travels the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and he suffers through some of the worst…so you don’t have to. Along the way, he's rewarded with a backstage pass to concert halls, street festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. With local musicians as his guide, Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away to amazing concerts at hidden venues that only the locals know. Join music voyager for unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic, mystery and music of far off lands.
TRAVEL QUEST - (7)
Bill Ball breaks the rules and stereo types of travel shows as he ventures beyond the highlights. What do you do after you’ve lead groups to over 140 countries and all 7 continents? Welcome to Bill’s bucket list on steroids... Travel Quest. This new, fast-paced series chases Bill around the globe as he seeks out anything but the mundane and ordinary—coming face-to-face with the largest crocodiles in the world, snorkeling with thousands of jellyfish, walking on the rim of an exploding volcano, feeding a group of sharks without a cage, bicycling across the Serengeti... this is not your typical travel show!