Nationwide Free Preview Event Across T+E, Cottage Life, Makeful, BBC Earth, Love Nature and Smithsonian Channel Canada Offers Audiences a Source of Escape During the COVID-19 Crisis
(Toronto, ON – March 30, 2020) – For Canadians coast-to-coast looking for ways to get their minds off alarming headlines, spend time away from social media and seeking out new shows to share with friends and family while self-isolating, Blue Ant Media has pulled together a list of distracting and binge-worthy TV shows to watch across its channels during its free preview event. From TV shows that explore natural wonders and animal behaviour to inspiring DIY home decor themes and otherworldly ghost stories, T+E, Cottage Life, Makeful, BBC Earth, Love Nature and Smithsonian Channel Canada offer something for everyone to enjoy.
Makeful, BBC Earth, Love Nature and Smithsonian Channel Canada are running in free preview until April 30, while T+E and Cottage Life’s free preview runs until May 3. Audiences can also watch BBC Earth, Love Nature and Smithsonian Channel Canada through Amazon Prime.
Zomboat!
For viewers who love a good British apocalyptic comedy, like Shaun of the Dead, look no further than Zomboat!. Packed with dry wit and dark humour, the series follows a group of friends who escape by boat – a very, very slow canal boat – after a zombie outbreak in Birmingham. The entire series of Zomboat! will air back-to-back on Friday, April 24 starting at 9:00 pm on T+E as a three-hour TV event during the channel’s nationwide free preview.
See the full T+E programming schedule here.
Life Below Zero: Canada
Based on the popular BBC Studios format and multi-Emmy® Award-winning reality series, Life Below Zero, Cottage Life TV’s original Canadian adaptation, Life Below Zero: Canada is a show about self-isolation at its best. The series follows a diverse group of individuals from different cultural backgrounds and gives viewers an unfiltered glimpse into how they survive living off-the-grid in the coldest and most remote regions of Northern Canada. Life Below Zero: Canada airs Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Cottage Life during the channel’s nationwide free preview event.
See the full Cottage Life programming schedule here.
Handmade Hotels, Season 2
Stuck at home and looking for a little escapism? Handmade Hotels’ second season takes DIY lovers inside Canada’s most creative, inspiring and thoughtfully designed short-term rentals. Hosted by renovation specialist and design enthusiast, Katie Herbert, the Makeful original series follows ambitious homeowners who harness their creativity and DIY skills to revamp spaces for short-term rentals. Season 2 of Handmade Hotels airs Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Makeful during the channel’s nationwide free preview event.
See the full Makeful programming schedule here.
David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities
There is nothing more calming than Sir David Attenborough’s soothing voice during times of stress. David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities reveals the most intriguing animals he’s met during his incomparable career. Each episode features two species connected by a distinctive evolutionary quirk.
Combining nature, scientific discovery and history together with stunning footage of animal behaviour, the series reveals yet another collection of fascinating natural curiosities. Back-to-back episodes of David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities air Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BBC Earth during the channel’s nationwide free preview event. BBC Earth is also available on Amazon Channels.
See the full BBC Earth programming schedule here.
Malawi Wildlife Rescue
For viewers in need of some heart-warming stories, Malawi Wildlife Rescue is the perfect escape, especially for parents looking for co-viewing experiences the whole family can enjoy together. The docuseries follows the work of head veterinarian Dr. Amanda Salb and her international team of wildlife experts as they rescue and rehabilitate hundreds of animals each year at the East African wildlife center, including large game. Malawi Wildlife Rescue airs Sundays at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT on Love Nature during the channel’s nationwide free preview event, please check your cable or satellite television provider for further details. Love Nature is also available on Amazon Channels.
See the full Love Nature programming schedule here.
Building Giants
Prepare to be inspired as Building Giants takes viewers on an in-depth tour of how giant superstructures are built. The series highlights technological innovations and architectural wonders, from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with its spectacular eight-part retractable roof to an ambitious circular subway system underneath the historic city centre of Copenhagen and the world’s longest suspension bridge ever built in the Arctic Circle. Building Giants airs Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel Canada during its nationwide free preview event. Smithsonian Channel Canada is also available on Amazon Channels.
See the full Smithsonian Channel Canada programming schedule here.
Blue Ant Media is an international producer, distributor, channel operator and gaming video content company. We own and operate numerous production companies in North America and Asia-Pacific under the Blue Ant Studios banner, creating content for broadcasters and streaming platforms in multiple genres including factual entertainment, natural history, documentary, adult animation and drama. Our distribution business, Blue Ant International, offers a substantial catalogue of content, including one of the world’s largest 4K natural history offerings. Blue Ant Media operates channels on multiple continents under 14 brands including Love Nature, Smithsonian Channel Canada, BBC Earth (Canada), ZooMoo, Arcade Cloud and more. Omnia Media, our gaming video content company, has the largest gamer talent network in the world. It creates and distributes gaming video content and podcast shows across digital and OTT platforms such as YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, and more. Blue Ant Media is headquartered in Toronto, with eight international offices in Los Angeles, Singapore, London, Dunedin, Washington DC, Sydney, Beijing and Taipei. Blueantmedia.com.
-30-