'David Attenborough: Ocean' to Debut on Disney+/Hulu in 2025

Since the streaming wars took off, cable channels have been in dire straits. Basic cable still has a floor, but all those higher tertiary channels are zombie channels, playing to an audience share of 0.0. BBC America (very much not basic cable) was already in trouble before that reality hit, losing Top Gear to Amazon, Doctor Who to Disney, and most of its best library shows to BritBox. As of 2024, BBC America only had David Attenborough's nature specials and Graham Norton to tether it to its original concept. Unfortunately, for 2025, it will only be Graham Norton, as Attenborough's next project, David Attenborough: Ocean, will debut on Disney+ and Hulu.

Produced by Silverback Pictures, Ocean is Attentborough's first nature special that will focus specifically on the effects of climate change on a massive and vital part of our natural habitat. It is also unusual because it was made as a stand-alone feature film with National Geographic. First and perhaps most importantly, this meant Attenborough would not be beholden to the BBC, which has openly tried to censor his more strident diatribes against those who refuse to acknowledge climate change.

Second, and perhaps just as vitally, this means National Geographic's parent company, Disney, can release the special in theaters, especially IMAX theaters. (Those who are museum geeks and have watched the specially made short IMAX films about our oceans know.) This may not seem like a big deal, but it will get the project more exposure globally, and with Attenborough hitting 99 years old in April 2025, it is a heck of a birthday gift.