• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 10, 2008

The growing National Geographic Channel, now in 67 million homes, announced the coming launch of multiple new series and specials next season, as it moves into the early stages of the upfront.

The network is also upgrading its broadband site, ngcvideos.com, where it will offer six different full episodes each week. The presentations will appear on six respective channels, covering genres from "animals and nature" to "history and events." The site also will house a slew of short-form clips, including behind-the-scenes footage.

For the linear channel, NGC's upfront a year ago yielded a 43% jump in revenues and 30 new advertisers. The network targets adults ages 25 to 54, and has an upscale male skew.

New series coming next season include "Locked In," which provides a look inside a Georgia prison with some of the country's "most hardened criminals," and "Who Knew? With Marshall Brain," where an engineer delves into how everyday products are built and function.

The popular "Dog Whisperer" headlines the returning shows.

Specials coming next season include this fall's "Herod's Lost Tomb," which examines the biblical villain's tomb, and "Secret Service Files" (first quarter 2009), where cameras follow the service during the 2008 campaign and chronicle the changeover between presidents in January. "On Board Air Force One" (in the second quarter) offers an inside peek at the presidential plane and an up-close look at President Bush's recent Middle East visit, and "Drain the Ocean" next summer explores the deep.

In addition to an upgraded broadband offering, NGC continues to move aggressively into VOD, where it expects to be in 40 million homes over the next year. Its HD feed is expected to be available in some 20 million homes--a natural viewing option for its nature-based documentaries.

The channel launched in 10 million homes in 2001.