New York, NY – The original Planet Earth series, which has captivated audiences around the world in over 130 countries, now makes its first ever US broadcast premiere on BBC AMERICA as part of a very special two-day celebration of Earth Day. The momentous event marks the first time that the landmark series will broadcast in the US in its entirety with its original narrator, world famous naturalist Sir David Attenborough. The Planet Earth marathon begins Saturday, April 21, 6:00am ET and continues through Sunday, April 22, 9:00PM ET/PT. The marathon will be followed by the world premiere of a new two-hour special, The Making of Planet Earth, at 9:00pm ET/PT.

The world’s premier wildlife filmmakers traveled all over the planet, even to the most far-flung reaches, to createPlanet Earth, one of the biggest series the BBC’s Natural History Unit has ever made. Now, go behind-the-scenes for an all-new eye-opening two-hour special, The Making of Planet Earth, which details the incredible adventures of the 21^st century explorers who risked their lives to film in some of the most dangerous and remote places on Earth. Featuring exclusive interviews with the award-winning team behind the epic eleven-part series, including director and executive producer Alastair Fothergill, who has worked alongside Sir David Attenborough for over 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the world’s top wildlife filmmakers. Producers Vanessa Berlowitz and Huw Cordey, and leading cinematographer Doug Allan are all among those who discuss the secrets behind Planet Earth’s spectacular footage.

“BBC AMERICA is honored to share with viewers the first ever US premiere of the original Planet Earth, as we celebrate Earth Day,” commented Richard De Croce, SVP of Programming, BBC AMERICA. “The Making of Planet Earth special, produced by BBC Earth, provides a unique opportunity to take a look back with the extraodinarily talented team responsible for bringing the series to life, providing viewers with entirely new insight and a timely perspective.”

Following the Earth Day weekend marathon, BBC AMERICA will air back-to-back episodes of Planet Earth at 8:00pm and 9:00pm ET/PT on Sundays beginning April 29. Following each week’s episodes, viewers can take an up close look at Planet Earth’s most amazing moments in four new specials dedicated to the world’s most fascinating wildlife. The Planet Earth series is re-imagined in these specials – portraying an astonishing range of animals in all corners of the planet and focusing on core aspects of animal behavior. The Planet Earthspecials premiere over four consecutive weeks, beginningSunday, April 29, 10:00pm ET/PT.

Also just in time for the Earth Day – BBC Home Entertainment’s Frozen Planet DVD and Blu-ray hits shelves Tuesday, April 17. This astonishing seven part UK series narrated by Sir David Attenborough is the largest BBC Earth release.

Planet Earth is co-produced by BBC/Discovery Channel/NHK in association with the CBC for BBC AMERICA

Twitter:@BBCAMERICA Hashtags: #PlanetEarthBBCA

For further media information, please contact: Tyler Zlotnick / T: 212 705 9642 / E:Tyler.Zlotnick@bbc.com

SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH BIOGRAPHY
Sir David Attenborough is one of the world’s most admired and accomplished wildlife filmmakers, with an incredible career spanning nearly five decades. Over the last 25 years, Attenborough has worked on many landmark BBC series. His first major program, Life on Earth, was watched by an estimated 500 million people around the world and in 1985 he was knighted by the Queen. Best known for writing and presenting the nine Life series, his projects with the BBC Natural History Unit are a benchmark of quality wildlife film-making and have influenced generations of documentary film-makers. Now 85, Sir David Attenborough continues to make natural history series and most recently went to the North Pole for the first time in his life, for his latest BBC series Frozen Planet.

THE MAKING OF PLANET EARTH – SYNOPSIS
The Making of Planet Earth is a new special featuring the extraordinary adventures of the award-winning team behind Planet Earth, detailing what these 21^st Century explorers went through to film the original series. We hear from the filmmakers themselves as they share their experiences of how they defied the odds and magnificently captured the story of our planet. The Making of Planet Earth features exclusive interviews with the world’s top wildlife filmmakers who made the Planet Earth series, including director and executive producer Alastair Fothergill, producers Vanessa Berlowitz and Huw Cordey, and leading cinematographer Doug Allan. The Making of Planet Earth premieres Sunday, April 22, 9:00pm ET/PT.