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NHNZ’s Moving Images gets world first archive agreement with National Geographic

When it comes to wildly impressive imagery, it doesn’t get much better than National Geographic, and National History New Zealand’s (NHNZ) Moving Images knows all about it. The stock library has been selected by National Geographic Channels (NGC)  Worldwide as the first and only footage sales agent for more than 20 years of accumulated footage from its blue-chip factual programming library, including hundreds of hours of HD footage.

NHNZ Moving Images manager Caroline Cook says that the deal has been roughly two years in the making.

“We know the players and we already have a history with National Geographic.”

Both NHNZ and National Geographic are part of the FOX group, and Moving Images has been producing programming for NGC for years. Cook says that the deal was so appealing due to the clutter of stock footage that is available from usual image sourcing websites (Getty, BBC, etc).

“The best thing about it is that this is brand new material.”

The new deal opens up plenty of new opportunities for Moving Images. With sole access to thousands of hours of high quality and HD footage, NHNZ plans to improve on (if not overhaul) much of their programming.

“The NGC collection contains a huge variety of stunning footage. Unique animal behaviours, amazing establishing shots, aerials, time-lapse, CGI and slow motion shots—you name it and you’ll find it in this collection. It’s great to have access to such a range of footage for some of our staple shows, whether they’re nature, engineering or docu-dramas.”

Cook adds that a vast majority of the footage will be used on the NHNZ website.

“It’s a keystone to the website having this, and we’ll be adding to that as well. People can have a good look online and see the thousands of new clips going up every month.”

But it’s not just your classic polar bear running over a frozen lake they’ll be using. Cook says they’ve been working outside of the national history field for some time, dabbling in their own CGI material and slo-mo. An unnamed company in Korea is also in talks with Moving Images to use footage for 3D development.

The accumulated footage from NGC will add to the already 200,000 hours-plus footage NHNZ has.

“I’m very proud of this deal. We have a stunning relationship with National Geographic, proven by the fact they have agreed to unlock this footage,” says Cook. “They’ve been producing for over 20 years, and this is the first time someone has had access to these programmes.”

 

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