The BMW i8, a hybrid sports car with gull-wing doors and a carbon fibre body, gives us a glimpse into the future of the world’s biggest premium car manufacturer.
The Bavarian Motor Works started out in 1916 as a small producer of aircraft engines. Yes, its origins lie in the air. The asset that BMW is best-known for today is actually the last product to be added to its portfolio. It was only in the 30s that BMW built its first car. Since then, the company’s 100-year history has seen technological innovations, racing victories and also severe crises.
The documentary shows exclusive films and documents from the founding years through to the present day – including the story of the Elvis Presley BMW, which has never been shown before. Historians, contemporary witnesses, race drivers and fans talk about the background and the fascination that have made BMW a global player.
March 11 2011, 2:46 pm. One of the largest earthquakes in Japanese history hits the East of Japan. A gigantic tsunami caused by this earthquake later triggered a complete power outage at the nuclear power station in Fukushima, which led to three simultaneous meltdowns. Eighty-eight hours later, on March 15, 7 am, a large amount of radioactive material was released from reactor No.2, resulting in a Level 7 nuclear accident, the highest class. Five years have passed since the accident, and details of the situation at that time have now emerged through various investigations and exclusive interviews with more than 500 people who were involved. What actually happened at ground zero? Through re-enactments and interviews, viewers will witness for the first time the complete picture of the nuclear accident in Fukushima during those fateful first 88 hours.
The world of paleontology is currently experiencing a golden age: more fossil species have been unearthed in the past decade than in the last two hundred years when this science first emerged. Thanks to new technologies combining genetics, ethology, geology, and even particle physics, paleontologists can now recreate some of the missing branches from the tree of life. Assumptions have been shattered and all the rules are changing.
Now, paleontologists can finally answer three vital questions:
– Where do insects come from?
– Where do birds come from?
– Where do mammals come from?
This series, based on ultra-realistic 3D computer graphics, and supported by the world’s leading international scientists will bring these forgotten creatures to the screen and explore the ideological controversies or frauds that accompany their discovery.
During summer, the Atlantic coast between northeastern United States and southeastern Canada attracts large sea creatures such as whales, sharks that feed on the dense aggregations of plankton. To help reveal the secrets of these creatures’ underwater hunting and behavior, the documentary film crew attached special cameras to 13-meter-long basking sharks and to leatherback sea turtles, which as the world’s largest reptile can grow to weigh over one ton. This episode takes a look at the shadowy lives of these giant creatures as the North American waters change from spring to summer.
Australia’s Christmas Island is an isolated tropical island in the open waters of the Indian Ocean. In this isolated rainforest-covered island, red crabs have multiplied in great numbers. At the beginning of the rainy season, 50 million of these crabs march from the forest to the beach. This procession resembles a red carpet moving through the island. The purpose of this mass exodus is breeding. Arriving after a long arduous journey, the beach is covered as far as one can see by females with eggs. Meanwhile, in the ocean the world’s largest fish, a whale shark, lurks hoping to feed on the newly hatched baby crabs!
This episode shows the amazing drama of survival of these crimson-colored crabs.
The large-scale documentary series Aerial China showcases China’s history, culture, geology, and economic and social growth from a bird’s-eye view. Covering 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions, a total of 34 episodes will be shot over five years entirely from the air. Aerial China (Season I) includes Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Shanghai, Jiangxi, and Hainan.
Each episode selects the most representative features of the region to display China’s historical, cultural, societal, and natural landscapes. As the striking visual story unfolds, the audience follows the flight route of the camera to uncover a vision of China that is at once fresh and familiar; a rich, beautiful, living and breathing China.
Africa seen and described through the eyes of a wildlife photographer who has always been fascinated by the unique atmosphere of this extraordinary continent. A tale of the sensation of breathing the air of Africa, admiring its fiery skies and observing the daily activities of its animals, frequently caught in unusual poses. A story that shuns the spectacle of animals suffering and dying in favour of striking colours and the light, smells, and landscapes unique to this continent. A story that describes the cause of his longing for Africa, the sweetest sadness.
The South Island of New Zealand, known as a penguin paradise, is home to the largest number of penguin species. In fact, the island is believed to be where the very first penguins appeared. Little penguins, which at night slightly lean forward when walking back and forth between their nest and the sea, share features associated with early penguins, and forest-dwelling Fiordland crested penguins are believed to have gradually learned to breed in caves to avoid predators. This episode takes a look at the penguins’ lives and reveals the secrets of how the island turned from being their birthplace to becoming their paradise.
Surviving for almost 1000 years Angkor Wat, “the City of Temples,” is steeped in mystery and myth, which was lost to the world for centuries, and rediscovered in 1860 by French explorers. From the stone temples at Angkor, covered with 1850 baroque sculptures of the dancing, flying singing angels called Apsaras to the cobra like images bearing 11 heads of Naga, this recreation of Mount Meru or heaven for Buddhist and Hindu’s is a true Wonder of the World. Our team will take their 4K UHD cameras to chronicle and explore this vast exquisite ruins. Join us as we venture through the jungles of Cambodia to bring face to face with the cryptic mysteries of the temples of Angkor Wat.
The 3-part series features both, charismatic animals such as puma or condor, and unique behavior of the rarest animals of the continent. You will experience how the most demanding environments, from mystical forests down to majestic valleys formed the wildlife inhabiting this dynamic mountain chain.
The Andes is not just the longest chain of mountains on the planet, it is the most dynamic. Its relatively recent and sudden rise has been like a giant geological shock. Nature has had to respond, and as this spectacular mountain kingdom continues to rise, it pushes animals to ever-extraordinary limits: Monkeys snuggled in thick woolly coats against the lofty cold; scimitar-billed hummingbirds specialized to court and survive in remote, knife-sharp valleys; tiny cousins of the camel that sprint across arid grassland; and the ultimate glider through rarefied air – the Andean condor.
This three part exploration of the earth’s youngest, most exciting mountain range is a journey up humid, mystical, forested slopes, across lonely, high-altitude pastures studded with snow-capped volcanos, and down majestic glacial valleys. Each film will portrait – in fresh and intimate detail – the lives of charismatic residents such as puma and spectacled bear, but will also reveal little-known behaviour of colourful and unique Andean animals that have adapted in surprising ways to their mountain kingdom’s urgent demands. Even more remarkable, this is a chance to showcase some of the rarest animals on the continent, such as the recently-discovered olinguito.
From the tropical northern Andes to the chain’s frigid southern tail, this will be an emotional, exhilarating, cinematic revelation!
The series Around the World in 80 Islands proposes these strips of land that seem to float on the seas and that are embraced by soft winds and tides, but also seas that are navigated by boats, canoes, windsurf, land that has been reclaimed by the miracle of nature and land eco-systems that are protected by long-sighted human beings. As well as sea-beds inhabited by fascinating and mysterious marine organisms. A series of documentaries that is at the same time, adventure, tourism, ecology, sailing, diving, sports, and hobbies, but also ways of life and customs of different populations that live on these little pieces of our world dotted around the globe, with land itineraries which also introduce us to different foods and cooking methods. All of this and much more will be revealed to a discerning and passionate eye by traveling around the Mediterranean, but also to the Seychelles, the Maldives, Indonesia, Thailand, Mozambique and so much more.
The series Around the World in 80 Islands is now at its fifth series and has reached 143.994 monthly contacts with peaks of 25 thousand AMR (average ratings each minute). The series is produced in two languages languages: Italian and English.
The series Around the World in 80 Islands not only wants to demonstrate the beauty of our planet but also wishes to our spectator to appreciate the beauty of Italy and also of other international territories, and above all, wishes to suggest: lifestyles, respect for the environment and help each human-being to safe-guard the dignity of the World.
Behind the veil of tourism in Asia’s most stunning National Parks people and animals share the same backyard.
Follow us into the unfamiliar and fascinating lands of Asia, where opulent images allow us to experience the unique beauty of nature and the stories of people and animals that live in a world that remains untouched. In the second part of our series, we also lead the viewer into paradisiac places few away from our civilized world. Here you will witness the beautiful blood orange sky as the sun sets, watch the majestic birds of the region survey the land for preys, explore hidden caves among the wide expanse of mountains, go on fishing expeditions with the native where you discover the marine life among the coral reefs and take part in tradition unique to Asia.
In Asia there are enormous areas of wild, breath-taking beauty that entices and lures visitors. The parks covered are in china, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Each them has its own particular gems, whether above or below the water.
Unlike protected areas in North America and Europe, the diverse endangered habitats of Asia are almost always home to people as well as wildlife.
The proverbial expression “Azores High” is renowned – but where does it derive from? The Azores Archipelago is situated literally in the middle of the vast expanses of the Atlantic Ocean. This is a windswept idyll, born from the sea. The most remote and secluded spot in Europe, an extreme outpost, and for centuries a base for Transatlantic sailors.
It’s rugged and romantic landscape reflects an almost austere beauty; rich green slopes interspersed with rocks, magnificent volcanoes, lava caves, idyllic lakes, black sandy beaches, lunarscapes, and exotic gardens contrast with a famous ancient wine-growing region, picturesque fishing villages, traditional folk festivals, isolated lighthouses and all surrounded by a deep blue sea surging against a bizarrely shaped coastline.
This elaborately produced film discovers four of those fascinating islands: Pico, Faial, Sao Miguel, and Sao Jorge. This is an archipelago for explorers who feel comfortable off the beaten track, the perfect destination for hikers, bird watchers, surfers, yachtsmen and free spirits alike.
The African savanna is a place of raw beauty. It is also the setting for fierce battles between lions and hyenas. Tough and scraggly, hyenas are known as the “scavengers of the savanna.” They are intelligent predators who are a nuisance to the king of all beasts because they target the same prey. While lions display overwhelming power, the hyenas’ weapons are solidarity and teamwork, which they use to outwit their larger rivals. The standoffs between these carnivores can quickly escalate with hyena pups sometimes caught in the middle. Viewers get a front row seat as these animals use their size, strength, and smarts to compete for the top spot.
They form hunting parties of four to ten, usually in the late morning hours, with each jackal having a specific role.
Once the prey is subdued, the incredible “mobbing” takes place: simultaneously, up to 70 individual surge forward. This triggers a freeding frenzy … and makes the original hunters unable to protect their prey. Despite this specialisation, a hunt is successful only 13% of the time … indicating just how hard it is to be a Black-backed jackal on the Skeleton Coast.
Through the eyes of researchers Ingrid Viesel and Eric Murray, the film explores all aspect of jackals lives: their dens behind the dunes, their litter, heir division of labor, their social interaction and communications. By following two different packs, the story delves into the complex dynamics of the individual jackals as they continually struggle for position and dominance.
By revealing the seal-mobbing new behavior and the reasons behind it, the film solves the riddle of a collective switch from scavenging to hunting, and documents its social consequences.
The unique mechanism of the mosquito’s proboscis inspired “pain-free needles.” The structure of dragonfly wings contributed to a wind-powered generator. With over 400 million years in the race for survival, insects embody technology that is amazing and was once unimaginable to humans. But now, cutting-edge technology unlocks this mystery, and practical application of “bug technology” is underway. The program takes full advantage of 4K cameras, macro imagery, and high-speed cameras to reveal the amazing mechanisms of bugs.
Join the navigators of the show, a comedic duo of a bugologist and his assistant, in this exciting and entertaining science program for the whole family.
Craftsmen, helpers and volunteers are busy building a monastery in town without the modern tools of the 21st century. Rather than tractors with easy loading and unloading mechanisms, oxen are being used to carry heavy loads of stones. The woods are being chopped with an axe instead of a wood chipper and from the smithy you can hear the sound of an anvil.
Building a living historical site with the aid of staff dressed in period costumes is a totally new and ambitious project. By portraying construction, everyday life and the monastic culture of the Carolingian times – a period setting stage for our common medieval heritage – in the microcosm of an almost autonomous abbey, the inhabitants of Meßkirch will have the prestige of bringing the medieval times into the 21st century.
For centuries, the Plan of Saint Gall has inspired a vast number of architects and even more historians. Yet, it had never before been realised – until today. Welcome back to the Dark Ages!
The love story between chickens and men has lasted for over 5000 years. How has this humble forest animal managed to conquer all continents, all territories and become the most abundant and diversified feathered species on our planet?
Today there are over 19 billion on earth, three times more than human beings, and many more than any other species of wild birds.
How did this darkly plumed forest species become so diverse in colour, form and behaviour? What is the everyday life of the hens and roosters that surround us?
Battery-farmed in Brazilian hangars, raised outdoors in the English countryside, in Filipino combat training centers, in survivalists’ bunkers or on New York’s roofs, chickens can live many different lives.
This documentary will explore the world of mankind and chickens in order to unveil the mysteries of the unprecedented success of this unassuming bird.
The ability to fly is one of the greatest wonders in the natural world. Millions of creatures soar above our heads today, using a fabulous variety of techniques to defy gravity and master their aerial environment. But how did animals make the incredible transition from land to air?
Conquest of the Skies uses the very latest science and stunning special effects to uncover the 300-million-year story of flight—and it’s not simply about birds. Using advanced 3D filming technology we capture the beauty and excitement of the whole world of flying creatures, from the fastest predatory falcons to the most acrobatic of insects, night flyers like owls and bats, and the soaring and gliding specialists capable of traveling huge distances. Audiences will enter the truly amazing world of these remarkable animal aviators, and leave the theater both stunned by the spectacle and thrilled by the story of how animals rose up and conquered the skies.