• by Alex Weprin , April 1, 2019

Discovery Inc. and BBC Studios have signed a 10-year content partnership, in a deal that will create a new global streaming service focusing on factual and natural-history programming.

Discovery and the BBC have had a long relationship developing natural history programming, going all the way back to 1985. It was elevated to a different level in 2007, with the nature series “Planet Earth,” which became the most-watched programming event in U.S. cable TV history.

“Planet Earth” spurred a number of sequels and followups, which have aired on Discovery, BBC America and Netflix.

Now, all of those natural-history specials, as well as all future specials developed over the next 10 years, will be exclusive to Discovery outside of the U.K., Ireland and greater China.

Discovery has also acquired hundreds of hours of additional BBC programming to fill out its streaming ambitions.

The streaming service is targeting a 2020 launch and will combine the BBC programming with library programming from Discovery. Pricing and sponsorship opportunities have not been announced, although Discovery is slated to host its upfront presentation in New York next week. 

The deal also includes a linear TV element, with Discovery assuming control of the BBC lifestyle channels Really, Good Food and Home. The BBC retains control of its seven remaining channels.

BBC Studios will pay £173 million to Discovery, including the channel's acquisition and the assumption of £70 million of debt financed by Discovery.

The new service is a shot across the bow to Netflix, which has hired many from the team behind the BBC’s natural-history series to produce “Our Planet” for the streaming service. Netflix used its Super Bowl ad spot to promote the upcoming release of “Our Planet.”

The Discovery-BBC deal also appears designed to aggressively compete with CuriosityStream, the factual streaming service launched by Discovery founder John Hendricks.

To date, Discovery has focused its streaming efforts on sports, with a Eurosport service in Europe and a global golf-focused service on the way. The BBC deal suggests it has grander ambitions in the streaming space.