TORONTO – Blue Ant Media has greenlit the Canadian version of the hit BBC documentary series Life Below Zero.
Based on BBC’s successful format, Life Below Zero: Canada (8 x 60 minutes) is an observational documentary series about people who live off the grid in remote regions of northern Canada. The series follows a diverse group of people, including first nations, giving viewers an unfiltered glimpse into their rugged day-to-day activities that range from makeshift problem solving to traditional survival practices. From long, dark, frozen winters, to sweltering, bug-infested summers, these Canadians grapple with deadly weather and limited resources to find food, water, and shelter.
Blue Ant Media’s Saloon Media will kick off production this month, and the series will air on the Cottage Life channel in 2020. A special 30-minute, sneak peek documentary episode will premiere this April.
“Life Below Zero has been a must-watch series for Canadian viewers on Cottage Life and now we’re going to be able to give our audiences a localized version of content they love,” said Blue Ant Media’s head of original
content Sam Linton, in the news release. “Saloon Media’s track record of award-winning production on factual series makes them a perfect fit for this series.”
In the U.S., the series recently celebrated its 100th episode on the National Geographic Channel, where it is one the service’s most-watched programs.
“Our relationship with Blue Ant Media, which started with the launch of the BBC Earth Channel in 2016, continues to grow with our first format deal of Life Below Zero – the powerful original series that has been a phenomenal hit in the U.S. and in Canada,” said Michael L Smith, SVP, TV sales, co-productions & digital distribution, BBC Studios – Americas. “I look forward to seeing the success of the show in Canada.”
Photo from original Life Below Zero series courtesy of Blue Ant Media
