MUMBAI: Silver Spring-based Discovery Channel US and Discovery Networks International are shelling out big dollars for producers to come up with new, cutting edge programming.

The two have launched a $500,000 Global Landmark Development Fund, seeking groundbreaking programming ideas from producers around the world.

"This is an exciting challenge for producers to bring us ideas as ambitious and innovative as 'Planet Earth' and 'North America'," said Luis Silberwasser, executive vice president and chief content officer, referring to two of its most successful programming series.

"By working on a global scale, we have a unique opportunity to enlist the world's best production companies to make their most ambitious ideas a reality."

'North America', with episodes covering various geographical regions of the continent, is Discovery's first independently-produced natural history series.