National Geographic Channel is betting on tuna to boost ratings
“Wicked Tuna,†a new series from the cable network -which is part of a joint venture between Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and the National Geographic Society- will debut this spring. It follows the lives of commercial tuna fishermen in Gloucester, Mass.
Shows about people with unusual or difficult jobs can be ratings gold for cable channels. Discovery found success with “Deadliest Catch,†about Alaskan crabbing boats, and the History channel has a big hit with its series “Ice Road Truckers.â€
National Geographic Channel also plans to launch “Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?†- a competition show between adults and Boy Scouts.
In addition, the network has acquired the rights to Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly's book “Killing Lincoln†and has signed directors Ridley and Tony Scott's Scott Free Productions to turn it into a two-hour documentary, complete with re-enactments.
The two new series are the first since the arrival of Howard Owens, who joined the network last fall as its president after leaving the production company Reveille.
“Wicked Tuna†is something of a passion project for Owens, who said he was driven to do the series in part because of his love of the movie “The Perfect Storm,†about a crew of fishermen -also from Gloucester, Mass.- who perish tragically on the high seas.
