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‘Man Vs Wild with Bear Grylls & Prime Minister Modi’ emerges as the TV show of the year
MUMBAI: The special edition of Discovery’s iconic and hugely popular franchise ‘Man Vs Wild’ featuring Prime Minister Modi with world-renowned survivalist and adventurer, Bear Grylls, lived up to its billing to emerge as the TV show of the year. The premiere on Discovery Network (across 12 Discovery channels) created history by garnering highest slot viewership (on active channels) with 3.69 million impressions overtaking GEC leader Star Plus with 3.67 million impressions1. The premiere also delivered the highest ever slot reach for the infotainment genre with 6.1 million tune-in on Discovery Channel which is 15 times more as compared to the last 4 weeks average of the same slot2. The premiere slot performance grew an astonishing 50 times giving an unprecedented 93% channel share to Discovery channel amongst the infotainment genre3. Discovery Channel emerged as the third ranked channel with 3.05 million impressions behind Star Plus (3.67 million impressions) and Zee (3.3 million impressions)1. The show kept the viewers on the hook delivering an impressive average TSV of 29.2 minutes4.
The premiere delivered the highest ever sampling in the infotainment genre with 15.6 million tune-ins5. The premiere of the show on Aug 12 on Discovery Channel rewrote the rules of the infotainment genre emerging as the highest ever rated show in the history of genre in India garnering 6.9 million impressions6.
The cumulative reach for the show across Discovery network, originals & repeat included, & DD National was an imposing 42.7 million7. The special edition of Man Vs Wild with Bear Grylls & Prime Minister Modi is also being showcased on Discovery network of channels across 179 countries.
“The historic edition of Man Vs Wild made a larger point about importance of wildlife conservation and sensitized people about environmental change. In that sense, it was much more than a TV show,” said, Megha Tata, Managing Director – South Asia, Discovery. “We are the undisputed leaders in infotainment genre; our aim is to extend the leadership further with pathbreaking programming. We will go Bigger, Bolder and Better!”
In celebration of the show’s success, Discovery India will make a generous donation for the cause of Tiger conservation in India in alignment with the PM’s message of committing to wildlife conservation. As part of our global Project C.A.T – Conserving Acres for Tigers, Discovery has partnered with World Wildlife Fund to ensure healthy habitats for future generations of Tigers by helping conserve nearly six million acres of biodiversity rich areas across four countries. With this contribution, Discovery India will extend support to Tiger conservation program at Corbett Landscape & Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve in partnership with WWF India.
Man Vs Wild With Bear Grylls and PM Modi is produced for Discovery India by Bear Grylls Ventures & Electus a Propagate company, where Bear Grylls, Delbert Shoopman, Rob Buchta and Elizabeth Schulze are executive producers and Ben Simms is co-executive producer.
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National Geographic launches ‘Postcards from Hong Kong’ with Ridhi Dogra
New series explores the city’s hidden gems and vibrant contrasts, premiering 28 March.
MUMBAI: Ridhi Dogra just sent a postcard from Hong Kong that’s worth framing because when a bustling metropolis reveals its quiet trails and timeless traditions, even the skyline takes a back seat. National Geographic has unveiled Postcards from Hong Kong, a refreshing travel series hosted and curated by actor Ridhi Dogra. Produced by National Geographic Creative Works in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the show offers an intimate, Indian traveller’s perspective on one of Asia’s most iconic cities, moving beyond its glittering harbour and skyscrapers to uncover serene beaches, scenic hiking trails and deep cultural traditions.
Across three visually rich episodes, Ridhi journeys through contrasting sides of Hong Kong. The first episode takes her on a quieter path of self-discovery to places like Sai Kung, Big Wave Bay, Dragon’s Back, Tai O, Ngong Ping, Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha. The second episode dives into the city’s energetic side, from the bustling streets of Causeway Bay to Happy Valley Racecourse, Michelin-starred spots and luxury shopping at Landmark.
Ridhi Dogra said, “Being part of Postcards from Hong Kong with Nat Geo was a deeply enriching experience. What I love about this journey is that it goes beyond the obvious; it’s not just about the skyline or the speed of the city but about the stories that live in its quieter corners.”
A National Geographic India spokesperson added, “With Postcards from Hong Kong, we set out to go beyond the familiar and explore the city through a more intimate, human lens.”
Hong Kong Tourism Board director of South Asia Puneet Kumar noted, “Postcards from Hong Kong is a reflection of meaningful storytelling that brings the city to life in an immersive way. It beautifully captures the diversity and spirit that define Hong Kong.”
Blending travel, culture and personal storytelling, the series celebrates Hong Kong as a city of contrasts where modern life meets tradition and every corner holds a story waiting to be discovered. It premieres on 28 March at 8 pm on the National Geographic Channel and will also stream on JioHotstar.
In a world of hurried travel reels, Postcards from Hong Kong slows things down just enough to let viewers truly see the city not just its lights, but its layers, proving that the best souvenirs are the stories you bring home.
