National Geographic Partners
National Geographic Partners is a Disney–National Geographic Society joint venture responsible for the commercial media, publishing, travel, and consumer activities associated with the National Geographic brand.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
National Geographic Partners is the commercial enterprise built around the National Geographic brand. It was established in 2015 when the National Geographic Society reorganized its media and publishing activities with 21st Century Fox, creating a for-profit joint venture in which Fox held a 73 percent interest and the Society retained 27 percent. The arrangement brought together National Geographic magazine, international and U.S. television channels, digital publishing, books, travel businesses, maps, and related licensing activities. The venture grew out of a relationship between the Society and the original News Corporation that began with the launch of National Geographic Channel in Asia and Europe in 1997. The U.S. channel followed in 2001, and additional regional channels were subsequently created. The 2015 reorganization was intended to give the brand a broader commercial platform while preserving the Society's scientific, educational, exploration, and conservation mission. The Society continued to contribute editorial, scientific, and mission-driven expertise, while the commercial company managed revenue-generating media and consumer operations. National Geographic Partners' activities have included the flagship National Geographic magazine, local-language editions, National Geographic Kids, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic History, National Geographic Books, digital and social channels, television networks, documentary production, maps, live attractions, and National Geographic Expeditions. Its television portfolio has included the flagship National Geographic channel, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo People, Nat Geo Kids, Nat Geo Music, and other regional services. Distribution and advertising for many channels have been handled by Disney operating units, particularly after Disney acquired most of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets. The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of 21st Century Fox on March 20, 2019, thereby taking over Fox's controlling interest in National Geographic Partners. Following the acquisition, the television businesses became part of Disney's television structure, while non-television activities were progressively moved into related Disney divisions, including Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney Signature Experiences. The joint venture remained governed by a board with equal representation from Disney and the National Geographic Society, despite the different ownership percentages. National Geographic Partners positions itself around exploration, science, history, wildlife, geography, culture, and environmental awareness. Its major commercial strengths are the visual authority of the National Geographic name, a large archive of photography and documentary content, international distribution, and the ability to connect editorial storytelling with books, travel, education, experiences, and digital products. The National Geographic Society remains a separate nonprofit organization whose work includes scientific research, exploration, education, and conservation; National Geographic Partners is the commercial vehicle associated with the brand and supports the Society through its ownership relationship and business arrangements.
History
National Geographic Partners developed from the National Geographic Society's long-running effort to distribute its scientific and educational storytelling through commercial media. The Society's relationship with the original News Corporation began in 1997, when the partners launched National Geographic Channel services in Asia and Europe. A U.S. version followed in 2001. Over time, the partnership expanded into a network of regional television services and created a substantial international distribution system for documentaries, wildlife programming, science content, and factual entertainment. On September 9, 2015, the Society announced that its media properties and publications would be reorganized into National Geographic Partners, a new for-profit company majority-owned by 21st Century Fox. The venture consolidated the Society's magazines, television interests, digital publishing, books, travel activities, and related commercial rights. The Society retained a minority ownership position and continued its nonprofit scientific and educational work separately. The reorganization was designed to give the brand access to more formats, markets, and commercial capabilities, while continuing to associate the business with the Society's mission and editorial identity. The launch was accompanied by a major workforce reduction. In 2015, approximately 180 employees, or about nine percent of the workforce cited in contemporary reporting, were laid off. The company also began to integrate its U.S. and international network operations. In 2017, it announced National Geographic Documentary Films, broadening its presence in feature documentaries. Its film Free Solo later became one of the strongest examples of this strategy, receiving the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary in 2019. National Geographic Partners expanded beyond conventional media. In 2017 it acquired Global Adrenaline, a tour operator connected with National Geographic Expeditions. The company also participated in branded experiences, including National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey in New York, an immersive attraction that opened in 2017 and later closed. Its publishing operations developed children's fiction and educational lines, including the Under the Stars imprint and the Explorer Academy series. A February 2018 reorganization created NG Media as an integrated editorial organization bringing together magazines, digital products, social platforms, and other short-form content. The restructuring also combined production capabilities under National Geographic Studios and changed senior responsibilities. In September 2018, National Geographic Kids Books launched Under the Stars with Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret. A later children's title, Zeus the Mighty, was accompanied by the Greeking Out podcast. Disney's acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets was completed on March 20, 2019. Disney consequently assumed Fox's 73 percent stake in National Geographic Partners. The television channels moved into Disney's television organization, while non-television operations were transferred during 2019 into Disney-related units, including Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney Signature Experiences. The partnership's board structure remained evenly divided between Disney and the National Geographic Society, reflecting the continuing institutional relationship despite Disney's majority economic ownership. The business currently represents a broad brand ecosystem rather than a single publication or channel. Its activities encompass the National Geographic magazine and international editions, television and streaming content, documentary production, children's publishing, digital storytelling, maps, travel experiences, and licensing. The National Geographic Society remains the nonprofit scientific organization associated with exploration, conservation, and education, while National Geographic Partners manages the commercial expression of the name.
- 2019
Disney assumes control of the joint venture
[1]Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox transfers Fox's controlling stake in National Geographic Partners to Disney.
- 2018
NG Media reorganization
[1]Publishing, digital, social, photography, maps, and related editorial activities are organized into NG Media.
- 2017
National Geographic Documentary Films is created
[1]The brand establishes a feature-documentary banner.
- 2017
Global Adrenaline is acquired
[1]National Geographic Partners acquires a tour operator connected with National Geographic Expeditions.
- 2015
National Geographic Partners is announced
[1]The National Geographic Society and 21st Century Fox establish a commercial joint venture, with Fox holding 73 percent.
- 2001
U.S. National Geographic Channel launches
[1]The U.S. version of the National Geographic Channel begins broadcasting.
- 1997
First National Geographic Channel services launch
[1]The Society and the original News Corporation launch National Geographic Channel services in Asia and Europe.
Products and positioning
A globally recognized science, education, exploration, and documentary media brand that uses visual storytelling to deepen public understanding of the world and encourage care for the planet.
Magazine publishing · 1888
National Geographic magazine
The flagship monthly publication covers geography, science, history, culture, current affairs, exploration, and the natural world. Its visual identity is strongly associated with documentary photography, cartography, and long-form explanatory journalism. The magazine has been published in numerous local-language editions and serves as a core editorial and subscription product for the wider brand.
Television and factual entertainment · 2001
National Geographic television
The flagship television service presents documentaries and factual programming focused on science, wildlife, history, exploration, geography, and culture. National Geographic-branded channels operate in multiple territories, with distribution and advertising handled through Disney organizations in many markets.
Children's media · 1975
National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids adapts the brand's science, wildlife, geography, and culture storytelling for children through magazines, books, digital content, video, and television. The line originated as National Geographic World before adopting its current identity and has been published in multiple languages.
Book publishing
National Geographic Books
The book program publishes illustrated nonfiction, reference works, photography, science, history, travel, educational titles, and children's books. Its children's fiction program includes the Under the Stars imprint, launched with the Explorer Academy series.
Documentary film · 2017
National Geographic Documentary Films
Established as a feature-documentary banner, the division extends National Geographic's factual storytelling into theatrical and awards-oriented films. Its productions include Free Solo, which received major documentary awards in 2019.
Travel and expedition experiences · 1999
National Geographic Expeditions
National Geographic Expeditions offers guided land, river, and ocean journeys built around exploration, cultural interpretation, wildlife, science, and conservation themes. Trips have been delivered through internal and third-party operating partners, including cruise and tour specialists.
Maps and cartography
National Geographic Maps
National Geographic Maps produces and licenses maps, atlases, globes, trail maps, and other cartographic products. The unit extends the brand's geographic expertise into educational, recreational, travel, and reference formats.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Explorer Academy
United States · China · International markets
National Geographic Kids Books launched the Under the Stars fiction imprint with the Explorer Academy series and developed interactive entertainment partnerships around the property.
Outcome. The publishing initiative expanded the brand into serialized children's fiction, educational entertainment, and related audio content.
- 2017National Geographic Documentary Films launch
United States · International markets
National Geographic introduced a feature-documentary banner to expand its filmmaking activities beyond television and digital programming.
Outcome. The initiative produced award-recognized work, including Free Solo.
Brand decisions
2019
Transfer control to DisneyM&ABackground
The Walt Disney Company acquired most of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets.
Action taken
Upon completion of the acquisition, Disney assumed 21st Century Fox's 73 percent stake in National Geographic Partners.
Aftermath
Television operations moved into Disney's television structure, while publishing and travel-related activities were transferred into corresponding Disney businesses.
2018
Integrate editorial and production operationsStrategyBackground
National Geographic content was distributed across magazines, digital platforms, social channels, and television production units.
Action taken
The company created NG Media as a unified newsroom and reorganized production under National Geographic Studios, while eliminating several senior posts.
Aftermath
The structure was intended to coordinate content across formats and improve the use of the brand's editorial and visual assets.
2017
Acquire Global AdrenalineM&ABackground
National Geographic Expeditions used external operators for some land-based travel itineraries.
Action taken
National Geographic Partners acquired Global Adrenaline, a tour operator associated with National Geographic Expeditions.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened the brand's direct role in expedition and adventure travel operations.
2015
Create a consolidated commercial joint ventureStrategyBackground
The National Geographic Society sought to reorganize its media and publishing activities while expanding the brand's reach through a major commercial media partner.
Action taken
The Society and 21st Century Fox established National Geographic Partners, with Fox holding 73 percent and the Society holding 27 percent.
Aftermath
The venture consolidated magazines, television interests, digital media, travel, books, and related commercial activities.
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