• by David Goetzl , March 4, 2009

Nearly half the series on the National Geographic Channel in the 2009-10 season will be new, including several in reality TV's popular law-and-order action genre; another that could appeal to mixed martial-arts fans; and a third that carries an acronym well-known on another network.

NGC celebrated its eighth anniversary in January. And just after President Obama's inauguration, it aired the well-received documentary "On Board Air Force One," which featured a behind-the-scenes look at the new chief executive's first steps onto the vaunted aircraft.

The network is majority-owned by News Corp. as part of a co-venture with the National Geographic Society. It is carried in some 70 million homes.

As the channel moves toward the upfront, executives are eager to pitch advertisers on its continued investment in original programming. Ten of next season's 21 series will be new.

There are two upcoming shows in the law-and-order arena: "Alaska Troopers," about the state's law enforcement officials who investigate everything from drug trafficking to wildlife crime, and "Border Wars," focusing on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service.

Separately on deck is "Fight Science," which uses scientists, animators and others to break down a run of combat techniques. "Fight" could help the network attract some new viewers, notably fans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Also coming is "Jurassic CSI:," in which a famous paleontologist investigates dinosaur behavior and explains what caused their extinction. (CBS has three dramas that carry the "crime scene investigation" acronym in titles.)

In addition, there is a potential new "Hooked" franchise. The namesake "Hooked" will examine how various cultures use different fishing techniques, while "Hooked: Monster Shark" will focus on great white sharks and their behavior.

Returning to NGC is "Dog Whisperer," where more than 100 episodes have aired, and Toyota made a recent brand-integration deal. Overall, the network, which targets adults 25 to 54, says it signed up more than 100 new advertisers in the last year. In addition, 21 marketers have seven-figure deals with the channel.