Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP) today announced 16 new local productions commissioned out of Southeast Asia for the network’s flagship brand Discovery Channel as well as leading travel and lifestyle channel TLC across both linear and digital platforms.
Discovery has collaborated with local creators and storytellers to co-create content that caters to the diverse viewership that is Southeast Asia.
Rohit Tharani, Director of Content Curation, Discovery Southeast Asia said, “For over 20 years, Discovery has had a great track record in innovative and immersive storytelling. Based on data-driven insights, we understand the power of telling homegrown stories. In 2017, we are taking the lead and investing in more local content than ever before, bolstering our flagship channels and broadening the appeal for the millennial generation. We are well positioned to take risks and be experimental with the content we are curating across platforms. This presents a unique opportunity to deepen our connection with existing and new audiences across Southeast Asia.”
Kicking off Discovery’s 2017 production slate is FRONTIER BORNEO, which follows the cast of Borneo’s unsung heroes as they uncover and protect Borneo’s stunning tropical landscape and rich biodiversity. From rescue missions, to wrangling deadly creatures across unchartered territories, the action-packed series reveals not only the beauty of the island but also the reality of frontier living. The series is produced by Beach House Pictures and Kyanite TV with the support of the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Perbadan Kemajuan Filem Nasional Malaysia (FINAS).
Also produced out of Malaysia by Matavia Reka is SURVIVING BORNEO. The series follows local television host and influencer Henry Golding, as the descendant of the once feared Iban tribe of Sarawak. Before marital bliss, Henry goes on a personal mission to discover his tribal roots through the unfamiliar and unforgiving jungles of his homeland to attain his “Bejalai”, an Iban rites of passage.
The internet is ridden with clips featuring home-made inventions, human guinea pigs, nature-obsessed thrillers and pure adrenaline junkies. Fronted by science enthusiasts Ramon Bautista, Jun Sabayton, Lourd De Veyra, Ra Rivera, and Angel Rivero, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ASIA by Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc. deconstructs the science behind the experiments and exactly why it shouldn’t be attempted at home.
Produced by Montero Productions, WORST VACATION EVER follows Filipino celebrity brothers KC and Troy Montero as the duo boldly relives the worst, and most unbelievable holiday anecdotes to ever grace the internet.
Famous for diving into the rivers after fish and braving rapids for snagged gear, Oz Chanarat, aka BANGKOK HOOKER, is armed with a whole lot of bait and is on a mission to experience the weirdest and wildest fishing adventures Thailand has to offer. The series is produced by InFocus Asia from Singapore.
Global hit franchise SAY YES TO THE DRESS is coming to Asia on TLC. Produced by Endemol Shine Group, SAY YES TO THE DRESS ASIA showcases the colours and diversity of Asian weddings. Expect bridezilla meltdowns and intimate love stories behind choosing the perfect wedding dress.
TLC takes you on an intimate and inspirational journey into the relationship of businessman, car connoisseur, and transgender woman Angelina Mead King and her model-host wife Joey Mead King. In their debut television appearance, THE KINGS takes you behind the scenes for the candid highs and lows that come with being one of the most progressive couples in Asia. The series is produced by Active TV.
Following the success of WOK WITH US, a digital collaboration with Singapore foodies The Meatmen, 2017 will also see the premiere of eight short-form films from JumpCut Asia. Stemming from Discovery’s inaugural creative workshop in 2016 as part of the year-long partnership with IMDA to enable Singapore’s media talent to tell stories using new production technologies, JumpCut Asia will bring together the most heartwarming and surprising stories from Southeast Asia on Discovery’s digital platforms. These stories span from the bizarre world of chicken beauty pageants, amateur wrestlers struggling to attain superstardom, to a village where those with dementia live and play.
The slate of local productions further reinforces Discovery’s commitment to accelerate in-market growth opportunities while delivering local, compelling stories that uncover the insights into the people, cultures, and passions points of the region through the lens of larger than life characters and adaptable formats.
