EPIC NATURAL HISTORY SERIES "AFRICA'S WILD YEAR" COMES TO BBC AMERICA AND AMC+ ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 6

NEW YORK - July 27, 2022 - BBC AMERICA today announced that the cinematic and stunning natural history series Africa's Wild Year premieres on Saturday, August 6 at 8pm ET/7pm C on BBC AMERICA and AMC+.

The series is set over the course of a single year in Africa. Each of the four episodes - "Spring," "Summer," "Autumn" and "Winter" - focuses on one of the seasons, revealing the vastly different conditions they bring. As temperatures change, rains sweep across the continent and light and heat fluctuate, every animal adapts accordingly.

Spring brings a burst of new life and replenishes the continent. This is the season of learning, as Africa's youngsters master the arts of swimming, hunting, and flying, in time to face the challenges of independence. Summer is a season of severity that separates the weak from the strong. For some, it's a time to feast but for others, summer pushes their survival instincts to the limit. Giants visit, ocean wanderers emerge, and predator and prey are forced closer together. Autumn is a time to prepare. Falling temperatures and sporadic rains herald a drastically changing world, as each animal is locked in a state of flux, bracing for the difficulties ahead while trying to make the most of new opportunities. And, finally, Winter: a season as unforgiving as it is unpredictable. This time of the year is both feast and famine. Drought hits large areas of the savannah, turning it into a battleground. All caught in the cold embrace must battle both the elements, and the other animals, if they are to make it to the end of the year.

Filmed in stunning detail, Africa's Wild Year is a 12-month epic spanning breath-taking vistas, powerful oceans, and awe-inspiring mountains. The life stories of this cast of creatures captivate while introducing some of Africa's many hidden wonders. Each animal's adventure is weaved together into a grand portrait of life in some of the wildest places on planet earth.

As a part of BBC AMERICA's Wonderstruck programming slate, Africa's Wild Year is produced by Merx International for Love Nature, and it's distributed by Blue Ant International. It's written, directed and executive produced by Sherene Kingma (The Great Elephant Tale). Puleng Stewart (Umva) serves as narrator.

EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS

Episode One - "Spring" - Premieres Saturday, August 6 at 8pm ET/7pm C on BBCA and AMC+

Spring in Africa is like nowhere else on earth. Days become longer, light and warmth return and new life transforms the continent on land and in the cold waters along the rugged coasts. This is the season of learning, as Africa's youngsters master the arts of swimming, hunting, and flying, in time to face the challenges of independence. Flowers and insects rekindle an ancient relationship, and young animals learn the difference between friend and foe. Each year the arrival of spring replenishes the continent, and the chance to flourish during Africa's Wild Year.

Episode Two - "Summer" - Premieres Saturday, August 13 at 8pm ET/7pm C on BBCA and AMC+

Summer in Africa is a season of extremes, it separates the weak from the strong. For many it's a time to feast. Offshore, fuelled by sunlight, life flourishes. This is the season when giants visit and ocean wanderers emerge. But for others, summer will test their survival instincts and skills to the limit as they search for food and water. Summer brings new challenges and new opportunities for the creatures living through Africa's Wild Year.

Episode Three - "Autumn" - Premieres Saturday, August 20 at 8pm ET/7pm C on BBCA and AMC+

Autumn in Africa brings new opportunities. For some, rain offers relief and a chance to escape summer's heat. On the ocean floor, falling temperatures signal a time to feast, while along the coast, giants hunt. As the days grow shorter, predators cash in - deep in the undergrowth, tiny warriors emerge, and on the savannah the competition to breed heats up. Autumn is a season of mammoth migrations and miniature love affairs. As this short window of opportunity closes, the dry season sweeps across large swathes of Southern Africa. The new season will challenge those living through Africa's Wild Year.

Episode Four - "Winter" - Premieres Saturday, August 27 at 8pm ET/7pm C on BBCA and AMC+

Winter in Southern Africa brings drought, ice and storms. This is the season of death and resurrection as the animals that live here must compete with the weather, the land and each other. The short days mean hardship for some, and a time of plenty for others. Predators take advantage of favorable conditions, while the vulnerable must weather the storm. From these pressures, come stories of companionship and ingenuity, and new life emerges from winter's grip. Across the savannah, rains finally end the dry season and trigger a burst of life. As Spring breaks Winter's grasp, the extraordinary cycle of Africa's Wild Year begins again.

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About BBC AMERICA

BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming including the Peabody Award-winning series Killing Eve starring Golden Globe(R) and SAG(R) Award-winner Sandra Oh and Emmy(R) Award-winner Jodie Comer. The network is the definitive television home and co-producer of the most iconic natural history series and franchises including Planet Earth, Blue Planet, Dynasties, Eden: Untamed Planet, Frozen Planet and Seven Worlds, One Planet. BBCA transforms every Saturday into Wonderstruck, a weekly destination for wildlife and wonder. A joint venture between AMC Networks and BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC), BBCA's influential shows such as Doctor Who, Orphan Black, Luther and The Graham Norton Show have attracted critical acclaim and earned Emmy(R) Awards, Golden Globes(R), Peabody Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, NAACP Image Awards, TCA Awards and more. BBC AMERICA is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. Find out more by visiting press.amcnetworks.com. BBCA on social: YouTube - Twitter - Instagram - Facebook - Tumblr

About AMC+

AMC+ is the company's new premium streaming bundle featuring an extensive lineup of popular and critically acclaimed original programming from AMC, BBC America, IFC, and SundanceTV and full access to targeted streaming services Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited, which feature content such as A Discovery of Witches, Creepshow, and Boyhood. The service features a continually refreshed library of commercial-free content, including fan favorites Mad Men, Halt & Catch Fire, Turn: Washington's Spies, Hell on Wheels, NOS4A2, Rectify, Orphan Black, Portlandia, and series from The Walking Dead Universe, among many others. The service also offers a growing slate of original and exclusive series including Gangs of London, Kin, The North Water, Ragdoll, The Beast Must Die, Too Close, The Salisbury Poisonings, Cold Courage, Spy City, Ultra City Smiths, Anna, Anne Boleyn, Firebite, La Fortuna and upcoming That Dirty Black Bag. AMC+ recently launched in Canada and Australia, and is available in the U.S. through AMCPlus.com, the AMC+ app, and a number of digital and cable partners.

About Wonderstruck:

Wonderstruck is BBC AMERICA's weekly 24-hour Saturday destination for wildlife and wonder, showcasing BBCA's most iconic landmark natural history programming including Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, Dynasties, Seven Worlds, One Planet and the return of the Emmy(R)-winning series Frozen Planet II and Planet Earth III. To experience Wonderstruck at any time or day of the week, please visit WonderstruckTV.com, a free digital companion site featuring a robust library of short-form nature content, optimized for mobile or desktop. You can search by mood, animal or geographic location to access an immediate burst of wonder.

About Blue Ant International:

Blue Ant International is a leading worldwide distributor of high-quality, creative content that engages audiences worldwide and across multiple platforms. The company offers a full-service approach to production partners with sales operations in the U.S., the UK and Canada. Blue Ant International has a growing slate of over 4,000 hours of premium content, including distinctive series and formats in five key genres including factual entertainment, specialist factual, high-impact documentaries, kids and family, and scripted. Blue Ant International also has one of the world's largest offerings of 4K natural history content. Blue Ant International is a division of Blue Ant Media.