France TV boards BBC-PBS wildlife doc ‘An Hour on Earth’
Fremantle secures a France TV presale for An Hour on Earth, a four-part wildlife documentary launching in 2027
France Télévisions joined the upcoming natural history documentary series An Hour on Earth, a four-part production commissioned by the BBC and PBS that is scheduled to premiere in 2027.
Deadline reported that the French public broadcaster has boarded the project through a presale agreement secured by Fremantle, which is handling international distribution for the series produced by Offspring Films.
Wildlife Series Focuses on Nature’s Critical Moments
An Hour on Earth will explore brief but crucial periods of activity in the natural world, using advanced filming techniques to capture what producers describe as nature’s “magic hours.”
The series will spotlight moments such as dawn in the Kalahari Desert, the period immediately following rainfall in the Amazon rainforest, and low tide on Australia’s coral reefs, when animal activity intensifies.
Across four episodes, the documentary will move between different locations around the globe to show how ecosystems and wildlife are shaped by these short but significant windows of time.
France TV Becomes Third Major Public Broadcaster Attached
With France Télévisions joining the project, An Hour on Earth now has backing from three major public broadcasters, alongside the BBC and PBS.
Fremantle is presenting the series to international buyers at industry events, including the Sunny Side of the Doc marketplace, as it seeks additional distribution partners ahead of the show's launch.
Producers Highlight Global Appeal
Al De Azpiazu, Senior Vice President of Distribution at Fremantle, said the series combines premium natural-history storytelling with a distinctive concept centred on time-sensitive events in nature.
France Télévisions executive Caroline Behar described the documentary as a visually ambitious project that aims to immerse viewers in the natural world while raising awareness of environmental issues.
Set for 2027 Premiere
The series was commissioned by BBC specialist factual and natural history executives and is being produced by Offspring Films, a company known for wildlife and factual programming.
An Hour on Earth is expected to debut on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and PBS in 2027, with France Télévisions set to air the documentary in France as part of its international factual programming lineup.