资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

NERC science helps to shape BBC nature documentaries that drive public policy and change the way people choose to live their lives - extraordinary, award-winning programmes watched by millions and exported worldwide.

Why it matters

Raising awareness, informing attitudes, challenging preconceptions - television remains a massively influential medium. The BBC's hugely popular nature documentaries are perfect examples of beautifully made programmes that create a lasting impression. Iconic series such as Blue Planet II, Planet Earth II and Frozen Planet have delivered a dramatic wake-up call to the world on key environmental issues, from climate change to plastic pollution of the oceans. To be effective, programmes like these have to harness the very best, very latest environmental research and the incredible new insights it generates.

Actions and outputs

NERC's long-term support for world-class science, training, infrastructure and innovation has played a pivotal role in ensuring these documentaries provide authoritative, captivating television.

For example:

• NERC's British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has a long-term relationship with the Natural History Unit. Involved in all of the recent blockbusters, BAS staff have contributed to programme development, facilitated access to the polar regions, appeared onscreen, and worked with camera crews to apply new technology and techniques to capture ground-breaking footage.

• Frozen Planet and Blue Planet II were both co-productions between the BBC's Natural History Unit and The Open University (OU), with NERC-supported researchers at the OU playing a crucial role as series advisors.

• All three academic consultants working on Blue Planet II, who were based at the universities of Exeter, Oxford and York, were NERC-funded researchers. In total, NERC had supported 95% of all UK-based science advisors that contributed to the series, through research grants, studentships and institutional funding.

88%
of Blue Planet II viewers said the series inspired them to change their behaviour

78%
of Blue Planet II viewers said they now tried to buy less single-use plastic

£300m
to be paid by the Discovery Channel to include BBC natural history shows on its new global streaming service

Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Impacts and benefits

• Inspiring vital environmental action: In total, over a billion people worldwide saw Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II, while Frozen Planet - the first prime-time BBC1 show to devote an entire hour to the effects of climate change on polar regions - was the UK's most-watched natural history programme for a decade. The impact of the BBC's nature documentaries is correspondingly huge. Blue Planet II, for example, catapulted plastic pollution up the public agenda in the UK and internationally, changing perceptions and behaviour, and has been cited repeatedly in policy announcements and calls for action, including a high-profile speech by the Prime Minister in January 2018.

• Generating valuable export income: Blue Planet II was BBC Worldwide's most popular programme of 2017-18, selling to 234 territories by year-end, while a £300 million deal between the BBC and the Discovery Channel for natural history programmes, represents "the largest content deal the BBC has ever done" according to the BBC's Director General.

• Boosting British influence worldwide: The documentaries add to the UK's 'soft power' by projecting a compelling image of the UK as a global leader in the production of high-quality, high-impact TV and in environmental science that delivers profound real-world benefits. In the US, Blue Planet II became the most watched advertising-supported nature documentary in nearly eight years and the same series amassed over 250 million views on China's Tencent video-on-demand service.

Future view

NERC-funded scientists are already hard at work helping the BBC deliver its "biggest ever commitment to natural history" in the shape of new landmark programmes such as Perfect Planet, Frozen Planet II and Planet Earth III.

We simply couldn't make programmes like Blue Planet II without the insight and support of the UK environmental science community. We look forward to strengthening these close collaborations in the future.

- James Honeyborne, Executive Producer, Blue Planet II

Evidence sources for this case study are listed in the PDF version, available in the downloads section.