NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GREENLIGHTS SECOND SEASON OF "LIFE BELOW ZERO: FIRST ALASKANS" AHEAD OF ITS SERIES PREMIERE ON MONDAY, MAY 30, AT 8/7c

Produced by BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions, the Series Is a Spinoff of Fan-Favorite and Emmy(R) Award-Winning Franchise LIFE BELOW ZERO and Follows Indigenous Alaska Natives

LIFE BELOW ZERO: FIRST ALASKANS, the First Non-Fiction Series Focused on a Cast of Alaskan Natives, Airs Tuesdays at 8/7c Beginning on May 31

(Washington D.C. - Thursday, May 26, 2022) National Geographic announced today the greenlight of a second season of the new franchise spinoff LIFE BELOW ZERO: FIRST ALASKANS ahead of the series premiere on May 30 at 8/7c, with back-to-back episodes on National Geographic before it moves to Tuesdays at 8/7c beginning on May 31.

A spinoff of the fan-favorite and multiple Emmy Award-winning franchise LIFE BELOW ZERO, LIFE BELOW ZERO: FIRST ALASKANS brings viewers to the unforgiving Alaskan landscape, giving them the unique opportunity to enter a world that Indigenous Alaskans have inhabited for thousands of years but one which is rapidly changing every day. LIFE BELOW ZERO: FIRST ALASKANS follows new Alaska Natives as they use sophisticated techniques and methods passed down from generation to generation to thrive in some of the most brutal environments. Indigenous Alaskans walk in two worlds: one of traditional ways and one of 21st-century challenges.

"The heart of the LIFE BELOW ZERO franchise has always been the ingenuity, resilience and spirit of the individuals who survive and thrive in one of the harshest and most beautiful environments in the world, which Alaska Natives have been doing for thousands of years," says Alan Eyres, senior vice president of Production and Development, National Geographic. "With this second season of LIFE BELOW ZERO: FIRST ALASKANS, we are honored to have been given the opportunity to capture more of the daily lives, cultures, customs and traditions of our Alaska Native cast members and allow our audience to hear more of their stories."

"With our commitment to honoring the traditions of the Natives peoples and communities who have trusted us to share their stories, FIRST ALASKANS represents an important new chapter in our LIFE BELOW ZERO franchise, known for capturing the majesty of the Alaskan wilderness and chronicling the lives of those who call it home," said Valerie Bruce, General Manager, BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions. "This season 2 greenlight affirms the strength of the LIFE BELOW ZERO franchise we have built over the past decade with our supportive partners at National Geographic and reflects our shared belief in the brand and what it stands for."

LIFE BELOW ZERO: FIRST ALASKANS is the first nonfiction series on the network with a cast of Alaska Natives at its focus as the crew and cameras are granted access into a whole new world of storytelling, cultures and customs. The series not only features Indigenous peoples on camera but also prioritizes diversity within the production and is partnering with a variety of cultural consultants and language translators to help bring these incredible stories to light in each episode. The core production team includes Native field and post producers as well as Native graphic designers, musicians and storytellers to create a cohesive and authentic feel that highlights multiple rich and historic cultures.

LIFE BELOW ZERO: FIRST ALASKANS marks the latest expansion of the long-term production partnership on the LIFE BELOW ZERO franchise between National Geographic and BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions. Joseph Litzinger executive produces the series. For BBC Studios LA Productions, Krystal Whitney is vice president of current programming, and Valerie Bruce is general manager. For National Geographic, Kevin Tao Mohs is executive producer, and Alan Eyres is senior vice president of production and development. Since its debut, LIFE BELOW ZERO has filmed more than 200 episodes and has earned seven Emmy Awards.

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About National Geographic Partners LLC:

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 133 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers ... and reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

About BBC Studios:

BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions and programs and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programs made by the business are internationally recognized across a broad range of genres and specializations, with brands like Dancing with the Stars/Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear, and Doctor Who. BBC.com, BBC Studios' global digital news platform, provides up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features to more than 139 million unique browsers each month. BBC Studios has offices in 20 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2,000 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Netflix, and Migu, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK's independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment, and international distribution for program titles. In the U.S, BBC Studios operates both a distribution business and one of its major production units. The production unit, based in Los Angeles, creates and produces adaptations of UK programs, as well as all new original programs, for linear and digital platforms in the U.S. This production unit is responsible for the phenomenally successful, Emmy(R)-winning Dancing with the Stars, the multi-award-winning Life Below Zero franchise, the revved up Top Gear America, and the popular reboot of the classic quiz show Weakest Link, among others. In scripted, the team has achieved success adapting British hits, including Call Me Kat (based on the UK format Miranda), Welcome to Flatch (This Country in the UK), and Ghosts for top U.S. broadcast networks. Follow us on Twitter: @BBCStudiosUSPR | BBC Studios Press Room