Viasat Nature

Viasat Nature is a television channel operated by Viasat World Ltd and distributed across parts of Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Its programming is centered on the natural world, with a particular emphasis on wildlife documentaries, animal behavior, animals and their owners, veterinary and emergency-rescue stories, parks, sanctuaries and other factual programming related to conservation and the environment. The channel acquires content from international distributors and production companies rather than relying exclusively on a single in-house production system. The service developed from TV6, a Swedish channel launched by Kinnevik in 1994 as a television service aimed at women. TV6 initially carried general entertainment, including programs such as Ricki Lake and Dynasty, while a shopping service, TVG, used the same channel capacity during parts of the day. The channel also shared capacity with Sportkanalen after that sports service was introduced in 1996. These early arrangements reflected the more fragmented and timeshared structure of Scandinavian multichannel television before the expansion of dedicated 24-hour pay-TV services. In 1998, the service was reshaped as a pan-Nordic pay channel. Its evening schedule was divided into a nature-oriented strand called TV6 Nature World, which showed nature documentaries from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and an action-oriented strand called TV6 Action World, which followed from 9 p.m. to midnight. This created the programming identity that ultimately led to Viasat Nature. In 2002, the channel was renamed Viasat Nature, while the action component became Viasat Action. The action service gradually moved toward crime drama and procedural programming, including Law & Order and CSI. It was subsequently renamed Viasat Crime on 1 October 2005. For a period, Viasat Nature and Viasat Crime continued to share a channel and broadcast for limited portions of the day. From 1 February 2007, Viasat Nature expanded its schedule to run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., after which Viasat Crime occupied the channel until midnight. The channel had previously shared capacity with TVG, Sportkanalen, Playboy TV and Nickelodeon Scandinavia at different times, illustrating its evolution from a timeshared service into a substantially longer-running nature channel. Viasat Nature's brand proposition is built around accessible factual entertainment rather than a narrow scientific-documentary remit. Its subject matter spans iconic wildlife films, animal-care and veterinary stories, rescue operations, domestic animals, protected areas and sanctuary work. The brand is therefore positioned as a specialist factual television service for viewers interested in animals and the environment, delivered through a regional pay-TV and distribution network.

Viasat Nature traces its origins to TV6, a Swedish television service established by Kinnevik in 1994. TV6 was initially designed as a channel for women and carried general entertainment programs, while other services used the same transmission capacity at different times. TVG, a shopping channel, occupied substantial daytime hours in the early period, and Sportkanalen later used the channel during weekends after its launch in 1996. The arrangement illustrates the timesharing model that characterized parts of the Nordic television market during the early expansion of multichannel broadcasting. In 1998, TV6 was transformed into a pan-Nordic pay-TV service. The schedule introduced two distinct programming strands: TV6 Nature World, which aired nature documentaries during the early evening, and TV6 Action World, which followed with action films and series. The nature strand became the basis for the later Viasat Nature identity. In 2002, the service adopted the Viasat Nature name, while the action component was renamed Viasat Action. The two services continued to develop in different editorial directions. Viasat Nature concentrated on factual programming about wildlife and the natural world. Viasat Action increasingly carried crime-oriented series, including internationally distributed programs such as Law & Order and CSI. This editorial shift led to the rebranding of the action service as Viasat Crime on 1 October 2005. For several years, Viasat Nature and Viasat Crime shared a channel and broadcast only during designated portions of the day. The service had also shared capacity with TVG, Sportkanalen, Playboy TV and Nickelodeon Scandinavia at various stages. On 1 February 2007, Viasat Nature's broadcast window was extended to run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Viasat Crime then used the channel until midnight. This change gave the nature brand a substantially longer daily presence and marked an important step away from its earlier limited-hour schedule. Viasat Nature is owned by Viasat World Ltd. It operates as a regional international television brand rather than as a national terrestrial broadcaster. Its distribution footprint has included Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The channel obtains programming from international distributors and production companies, allowing it to assemble a schedule around wildlife documentaries, animal-focused factual entertainment, veterinary and emergency-rescue stories, conservation subjects, parks and sanctuaries, and other coverage of the natural world. The brand's development therefore combines two histories: the operational history of a Swedish timeshared channel and the editorial consolidation of a specialist nature service. From a general-interest women's channel, it became a pan-Nordic pay-TV service and eventually a dedicated nature-focused brand within the Viasat World portfolio. Its core proposition remains factual television about animals, wildlife and the environment, presented for audiences across multiple regional markets.

• 2007

  Nature broadcasting hours are extended

  [1]Viasat Natureen.wikipedia.org

  From 1 February, Viasat Nature broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with Viasat Crime occupying the shared service afterward.

• 2005

  Viasat Action becomes Viasat Crime

  [1]Viasat Natureen.wikipedia.org

  The action strand is rebranded on 1 October after its schedule shifts toward crime series.

• 2002

  The Viasat Nature brand is established

  [1]Viasat Natureen.wikipedia.org

  The nature service is renamed Viasat Nature, while the related action strand becomes Viasat Action.

• 1998

  TV6 Nature World is introduced

  [1]Viasat Natureen.wikipedia.org

  TV6 is reshaped as a pan-Nordic pay channel, with TV6 Nature World carrying nature documentaries from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• 1996

  Sportkanalen begins sharing the channel

  [1]Viasat Natureen.wikipedia.org

  Kinnevik introduces Sportkanalen, which uses the same channel capacity as TV6 during weekends.

• 1994

  TV6 launches in Sweden

  [1]Viasat Natureen.wikipedia.org

  Kinnevik launches TV6 as a Swedish channel aimed at women. The service later provides the operational and brand lineage for Viasat Nature.

A specialist factual television brand focused on wildlife, animals, nature, rescue, conservation and the natural world, distributed as a regional pay-TV channel.

• Television channel · 2002

  Viasat Nature

  Viasat Nature is a specialist factual television channel focused on wildlife, animals, the natural world, conservation, parks and sanctuaries. Its schedule also includes animal-rescue, veterinary and emergency-response programming, as well as content about animals and their owners. The channel operates across a regional international footprint and acquires programs from distributors and production companies. It developed from the nature strand of TV6 and became a named Viasat service in 2002.

• 2007

  Extension of Viasat Nature's broadcast windowOther

  Background

  Viasat Nature had previously operated for limited hours while sharing capacity with other services.

  Action taken

  Beginning 1 February, Viasat Nature was scheduled from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with Viasat Crime taking the channel until midnight.

  Aftermath

  The change increased the daily availability of the nature brand while preserving the shared-channel arrangement with Viasat Crime.

  Source

• 2005

  Rebranding of the action strand as Viasat CrimeStrategy

  Background

  The action schedule increasingly emphasized crime series rather than a broad action-movie and action-series mix.

  Action taken

  Viasat Action was renamed Viasat Crime on 1 October.

  Aftermath

  The shared service paired Viasat Nature's wildlife programming with a more specifically crime-oriented companion schedule.

  Source

• 2002

  Adoption of the Viasat Nature nameStrategy

  Background

  The nature and action strands had developed into distinct programming propositions within the shared service.

  Action taken

  The nature service was renamed Viasat Nature and the action service was renamed Viasat Action.

  Aftermath

  Viasat Nature became the continuing brand for the nature-focused channel service.

  Source

• 1998

  Conversion into a pan-Nordic pay channelStrategy

  Background

  The earlier TV6 service operated alongside other services on shared channel capacity. The 1998 restructuring introduced a more clearly segmented pay-TV schedule, including a dedicated nature documentary strand.

  Action taken

  The channel was reorganized as a pan-Nordic pay service using the TV6 Nature World and TV6 Action World programming strands.

  Aftermath

  The nature strand became the direct editorial predecessor of Viasat Nature.

  Source

1. 1Viasat Natureen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Viasat Nature official information pageviasat.sk