• by David Goetzl , March 30, 2010

Nat Geo Wild, the spinoff with more of a focus on the animal kingdom, has commitments to be in about 40 million homes, which would preserve 80% of the distribution of its forerunner. News Corp. is swapping Wild with the Fox Reality Channel in its portfolio.

It was hoping the new network would simply take over Reality's spot on the dial in about 50 million homes.

But while most distributors cut deals to that effect, negotiations are continuing with DirecTV and Mediacom about executing the switch. However, NGW has received a commitment from Cablevision, a top-five cable operator that doesn't carry the Reality Channel.

It's unclear how many homes NGW launched in when the switch was flipped Monday, but if the 40-million figure is used, that appears to place it just behind the 2009 launch of the MLB Network for most largely distributed launch.

The National Geographic Channel sister was helped by Reality's beachhead, but MLB -- which debuted in 50 million homes -- benefited from a group of satellite and cable distributors holding ownership stakes.

A Fox Cable spokesman said NGW's distribution "demonstrates the tremendous drawing power of the National Geographic brand and its content."

As discussions continue with DirecTV and Mediacom to carry the new channel, the two are still carrying a feed of Fox Reality, which is eventually going away. A vault of some of its original series is now on Hulu.

NGW's U.S. debut comes four years after it took flight in Hong Kong. It has since found a home in multiple other countries, from Australia to Scandinavia.

A series "Rebel Monkeys," about a species in India whose easygoing life takes on new challenges, debuts Wednesday evening. "Caught in the Act," with up-close footage of animals in the wild and commentary from experts, started Tuesday.

The National Geographic Channel launched in 2001 and is in some 70 million homes. It offers its share of wildlife programming, but also up-close and behind-the-scenes-type series about prison life and Alaska state troopers, which moves away from the National Geographic brand's roots.

One of its best-known shows is "Dog Whisperer," featuring a trainer trying to help owners with their dogs.