‘Dog Whisperer' Moves to Nat Geo Wild

Popular series to provide launch pad for new shows in 2012

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/11/2011 2:06:48 AM

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Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan will move to Nat Geo Wild with 10 new episodes to air in early 2012. The series previously ran on sister network National Geographic Channel.

The existing 141-episode library will also move to Wild starting this April, with Dog Whisperer continuing to air on NGC through the third quarter. The series will also be reformatted to center episodes around themes like dogs with phobias, home wrecker dogs and dogs of military families to widen the appeal of the series.

The addition of the popular series will help heighten the profile of the young cable network (Wild launched in March 2010) and provide it a launch pad for new programming.

"What we want are people that have the ability to connect with audiences, who bring authenticity," says Geoff Daniels, SVP, Nat Geo Wild of Milan's move to the network. "We thought the fit there was really strong."

Among Wild's six new series in production are Bush Cowboy with Matt Wright, about an Aussie who helps rescue dangerous animals in the outback, America the Wild with Casey Anderson, about a naturalist exploring the national parks, and the special Animal Superpowers (hosted by Patrick Stewart) exploring the science behind animal mutants.

Three series will return to the schedule next season -- Swamp Men, Dangerous Encounters and Caught in the Act. Wild will also present its second annual Big Cat Week primetime-programming block, which seeks to raise awareness for endangered felines.