Nat Geo Content Boss Says Slew of Disney Plus Orders ‘In No Way Diminishes’ Commitment to Linear

variety.com:

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterNational Geographic announced a slate of more than a dozen upcoming original programs Monday, all of which are produced by the brand but will debut exclusively on Disney Plus — not on the Nat Geo cable channel.

But despite the shift, Nat Geo content president Courteney Monroe promised that it’s not a sign that the Disney-owned brand has completely moved away from linear content.“I realize that all of my announcements today were for Disney Plus originals, but that in no way diminishes our focus and investment in National Geographic programming for the linear channel,” Monroe told reporters Monday during Nat Geo’s virtual presentation at the Television Critics Association winter press tour. “We just so happened to have greenlit a lot of really big, exciting shows for Disney Plus over the last few months, and today, TCA was a perfect opportunity to share them with you.

And obviously, Disney Plus is a very important strategic focus for us. But the linear platform, the linear channels around the world are also a very important platform.” While Monroe noted “the lion’s share” of Nat Geo-produced content is unscripted, “fact-based, premium scripted drama is really an important part of our premium programing mix,” like the “Genius” franchise — which is moving to Disney Plus, as previously announced.

The fourth season of “Genius” will focus on Martin Luther King, Jr. and, per Monroe, will not be ready to air in 2022.Also not coming this year — or probably ever — is a second season of “The Right Stuff,” which was canceled at Disney Plus in April 2021.“We have no plans for a second season of ‘The Right Stuff’ right now,” Monroe said. “I have a lot of heart for that series.