How a five-year production gamble redefined the nature documentary for the high-definition era
In short: Commissioned in 2002 after the success of The Blue Planet, the 2006 series Planet Earth was a massive, five-year undertaking. It became the first nature documentary filmed entirely in high definition, setting a new global standard for cinematic wildlife storytelling and spawning a highly profitable international media franchise.
Conceived by executive producer Alastair Fothergill, Planet Earth was designed to replicate the winning formula of the 2001 series The Blue Planet on a global scale. Commissioned by Lorraine Heggessey, then Controller of BBC One, the project required five years of intensive production. It was a pioneering effort in television technology, serving as the BBC's trial for high-definition broadcasting. The series premiered on 5 March 2006, featuring eleven fifty-minute episodes that explored diverse biomes, each accompanied by a ten-minute behind-the-scenes featurette.
The series achieved immense critical and commercial success, winning four Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. Its impact was felt globally, reaching 130 countries and generating significant merchandise sales. In the United States, the series became a landmark for the Discovery Channel, with the high-definition disc release selling over 3 million units by the end of 2007. The production was so influential that it prompted a feature film version, Earth, which grossed over $108 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time.
Beyond its technical achievements, Planet Earth was noted for its epic scale and innovative camera work. While David Attenborough narrated the original British version, international markets sometimes opted for different narrators, such as Sigourney Weaver for the U.S. broadcast, to increase local appeal. The series also sparked a lasting legacy, with sequels Planet Earth II and Planet Earth III following in 2016 and 2023, respectively. It remains a benchmark for the genre, consistently ranking among the top television shows on platforms like IMDb.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Planet Earth (2006 TV series)
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