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As home to some of the top production labels in the business, ITV Studios has a reputation for pioneering, award-winning natural history programming – and is now attracting new audiences via streaming and digital innovations
With 160-plus owned and operated channels, delivering more than 10 billion views in 2024, ITV Studios is certainly no stranger to nature. With decades of quality programme-making under its belt, it produces a carefully curated natural history slate that includes hit shows like Magical Land Of Oz, Secrets Of The Elephants, A Real Bug’s Life and A Year On Planet Earth, to name just a few.
It is home to some of the best labels in the business, including Plimsoll Productions, the world’s leading independent producer of natural history TV. Speaking about its unique approach, Grant Mansfield, chief executive of Plimsoll, emphasises its commitment to innovation in the field.
“We at Plimsoll have built a reputation for our modern take on natural history,” he says. “We pride ourselves on finding new and unique entry points to the natural world and then crafting compelling cinematic narratives around them.”
Included in its compelling portfolio are acclaimed series such as Super/Natural, with James Cameron as executive producer and Benedict Cumberbatch as narrator; and A Year On Planet Earth, which was sold to more than 150 territories worldwide.
Innovative series
On top of that, there is A Real Bug’s Life. Narrated by Awkwafina and winner of multiple Emmys, it has been named one of the most ambitious and innovative natural history series ever made. Mansfield says: “With A Real Bug’s Life, we flipped the script and took the often overlooked ‘little guy’ and put him front and centre, which is no easy feat. The team uses cutting-edge technology to capture the daily duties and struggles of these tiny creatures, allowing viewers to be fully immersed and transported into their world.” Series two launched on Disney+ in January 2025.
Expanding on its innovative programming, Plimsoll introduces Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters for ITV. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the movie Jaws, the show will dare a group of ocean-phobic celebrities to go nose-to-nose with the likes of hammerheads, bull and tiger sharks in the Bahamas, coming to appreciate their valuable place in the food chain and ecosystem in the process.
In addition to the thrilling underwater adventures, Plimsoll Productions is bringing Secret Garden to the BBC – a new series showcasing British wildlife through advanced low-light, aerial and macro technology. The show emphasises the critical role of gardens in supporting wildlife, illustrating how our gardening efforts can provide vital lifelines for nature and enhance our own lives.
Another gem within the ITV Studios family is Oxford Scientific Films (OSF), the small label with a big reputation. Dating back to 1968, OSF is not only the oldest independent production company in the UK, it is also one of the most respected, delivering international hit after hit.
Its acclaimed works include Magical Land Of Oz, which secured an Australian Academy Award for cinematography and a Gold Medal for Documentary at the NY Festivals TV & Film Awards, plus Secrets Of The Elephants, recipient of The Critics’ Choice Award for Best Science/Nature Documentary and two Primetime Emmy nominations.
Cinematic appeal
Coming soon is the much-anticipated Meerkat Manor movie. Warner Brothers Pictures Animation has brought together an Oscar-winning team to bring OSF’s hit TV series to the big screen.
The groundbreaking, Emmy-nominated docusoap first aired in 2005, reaching 204 million households across five seasons in more than 160 countries on the Animal Planet platform alone. Having returned in 2021 in Meerkat Manor: Rise Of The Dynasty, the Whiskers clan are now set for their biggest adventure to date – through the use of photorealistic animation in the spirit of the Happy Feet franchise.
OSF’s creative director and Meerkat Manor creator Caroline Hawkins sums up the excitement when she says: “Bringing Meerkat Manor to the big screen in animated form marks another new chapter in OSF’s 57-year history. Not only is it exciting to make a production of this scale in a new genre but it introduces the joy of meerkats to a whole new generation.”
OSF’s commitment to unveiling the natural world continues with My Otter Diary, a brand new, captivating documentary on Indian otters, beautifully captured by wildlife filmmaker Sugandhi Gadadhar. This film delves into the playful and resilient nature of smooth-coated otters navigating one of India’s swiftly evolving waterways.
Hawkins shares her enthusiasm, stating: “It has been an absolute pleasure supporting talented filmmakers Sugandhi Gadadhar and Rana Belur in bringing their stunning portrayal of Indian otters to a worldwide audience. We are excited about future collaborations with them on additional projects.”
“We are proud to be at the heart of distributing world-class content from incredible indies and labels”
Julie Meldal-Johnsen, EVP, global content, ITV Studios
ITV Studios continues to push boundaries in global content, with its Global Partnerships division playing a key role in ensuring that impactful and compelling stories reach audiences worldwide.
Julie Meldal-Johnsen, EVP of global content at ITV Studios, says: “We are proud to be at the heart of distributing world-class content, collaborating with incredible indies and labels to bring these stories to a global audience. The relevance of these documentaries is one of their greatest strengths, allowing them to remain significant for years to come to all audiences.”
A major driver in reaching new audiences has been ITV Studios’ investment in digital platforms, notably launching the Zoo 55 label in January. Zoo 55 operates two dedicated digital documentary channels, engaging new audiences of nature programming through contemporary storytelling.
One of the biggest success stories is the Our World YouTube channel, which has drawn millions of viewers with standout docs such as OSF’s Extraordinary Animals, which has garnered 7.8 million views, and Extreme Planet Earth, set to hit the channel next year. Additionally, the River Monsters YouTube channel continues to grow, having attracted 14 million views in 2024 alone.
Successful partnerships
Outside of these digital platforms, Global Partnerships maintains strong relationships with leading broadcasters, including Nat Geo, ABC, PBS, Arte, ARD Group and Tencent, positioning itself as the go-to partner for independent producers. Its collaborations include Pernel Media’s Jaguar Rising, True to Nature’s Gangs Of Baboon Falls, Maramedia’s Scotland’s Wild Heart and Northern Pictures’ Ages Of Ice.
With a dedicated acquisitions team and a presence at major markets, ITV Studios is continuously expanding its partnerships and portfolio. Additionally, it leverages multiple distribution windows for nature content to drive sustained revenue.
As the demand for high-quality, globally accessible content grows, ITV Studios is leading the transformation of documentary storytelling for a new generation of audiences, across traditional broadcast, streaming platforms and digital innovations, for now and the next 70 years.
