22 May 2008, SINGAPORE - National Geographic Channel Asia and Samsung Asia have partnered to bring Dereck and Beverly Joubert, multiple award-winning wildlife filmmakers and National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence, to Southeast Asia. This public outreach initiative seeks to raise the awareness and further the understanding of wildlife conservation through their lifelong filming, research and exploration in Africa as well as to showcase their latest documentary, Living with Big Cats, shot and produced in full high-definition.

With four Emmys and a Peabody to their names, their work with large predators and key African wildlife species determines the course of all conservation in Africa. The Jouberts' coverage of unique predator behaviour for over a quarter of a century has resulted in 20 films, six books and many articles for the National Geographic magazine.

Through their work and dedication, they have unravelled a myriad of myths and unveiled new and exciting behaviours of Africa's big cats. Their latest documentary Living with Big Cats, shot and produced in full high-definition (HD), tell an emotional story of men and beasts in the wild. Passionately told, it is an intimate story of the relationship between the Jouberts and Legadema, a leopard they found when she was only 8 days old. Their earlier film 'Eye of the Leopard' deals with Legadema's coming of age while this latest film highlights the very personal connection between man and beast.

As part of the National Geographic Channel and Samsung partnership to launch the cross-platform marketing campaign in Asia to promote high-definition, the story of Living with Big Cats is brought to life at the African-themed safari exhibitions in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Visitors can experience a taste of real wildlife on stunning full HD LCD televisions and 5.1-channel surround sound. The exhibitions will be held at The Gardens Mall (Kuala Lumpur) from 22 May to 1 June 2008 and at VivoCity (Singapore) from 26 May to 8 June 2008.

Mr Avinash Himatsinghani, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales and New Media Partnerships, National Geographic Channels Asia says, "This continued partnership with Samsung Asia provides us the rare opportunity to celebrate the amazing work of the award-winning Jouberts, taking our viewers right into the heart of action. Samsung's full HDTV allows National Geographic Channel to showcase this programme in the splendour of breathtaking visuals and incredible surround sound, at the African-themed safari, just like how it is meant to be in the wild.

Mr David Henry, Director of Regional Marketing at Samsung Asia says, "Samsung Asia is proud to partner National Geographic Channel to bring the award-winning Jouberts to Southeast Asia, as we recognise and appreciate the important work they are doing to promote wildlife conservation and understanding through good filmmaking. We hope that their creative efforts are experienced to the maximum through our HD platforms, which aim to bring a whole new definition to television."

National Geographic Channel viewers can also look forward to the premiere telecast of the one-hour documentary programme, Living with Big Cats on Friday, 6 June 2008 at 10.00 pm on National Geographic Channel (Kuala Lumpur/ Singapore/ Hong Kong). The HD documentary programme will also be available on National Geographic Channel HD in selected markets where the high-definition channel is available. Please check with your local operator for more information.

About National Geographic Channel

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) invites viewers to re-think the way they see television - and the world - with smart, innovative programming. A business enterprise owned by National Geographic Television (NGT) and FOX Entertainment Group, NGCI contributes to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education through its five channels: National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Adventure and Nat Geo Music.

Globally, National Geographic Channel (including NGC U.S. which is a joint venture of NGT and Fox Cable Networks Group) is available in 270 million homes in 166 countries and 34 languages.

About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$103.4 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business, Telecommunication Business and Digital Appliance Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

For more information, please contact:

National Geographic Channel Asia (Singapore)
Angie Tan
Tel: +65 6325 3821
Email: angiet@ngcasia.com

Fulford Public Relations
Eileen Chua / Pamela Wu
Tel : +65 6324 2416 / +65 6324 5302
Mobile : +65 9048 3141 / +65 9650 1641
Email: echua@fulfordpr.com / pwu@fulfordpr.com

Samsung Asia
Esther Low
Tel : +65 6833 3205 / +65 9170 7107
Email: esther.low@samsung.com

About "Living with Big Cats"
Premiere: Friday, 6 June 2008, 10.00pm on National Geographic Channel
(Starhub Ch 11)

The intimate story of the relationship between two filmmaker-explorers, and a leopard they find when she is 8 days old. With the most sensitive methods, they follow her at first with her mother, and then alone as she matures. Their film on this Eye of the Leopard deals with the story of her coming of age. This film tells us of the relationship that develops between them and this leopard.

It is passionately told, and in many ways a story of internal conflict, testing of boundaries and seduction…the seduction of Dereck and Beverly Joubert our human characters, by Legadema the leopard. Although in reality we are all seduced by her and this Africa she moves around so confidently. There are very few real stories about that connection between man and beast, especially in the wild: this is one of them, told in an intelligent and modest way.

About Dereck and Beverly Joubert - Filmmakers/Conservationists

Dereck and Beverly Joubert are award-winning filmmakers from Botswana, with four Emmys and a Peabody to their names. Their mission is the conservation and understanding of the large predators and key African wildlife species that determine the course of all conservation in Africa. They have been filming, researching and exploring in Africa for over 25 years. Their coverage of unique predator behavior has resulted in 20 films, six books and many articles for National Geographic magazine.

The Jouberts co-produce all of their films. Dereck directs, films, and writes the scripts; Beverly produces and records sound. Beverly also is an acclaimed photographer, and many of her articles appear in National Geographic magazine. Filmmaking for them has always been a way to bring the message of conservation to audiences.

In the past year as Explorers-in-Residence, the Jouberts have been a force of nature themselves, producing two films, two books and two magazine articles for the Society, and winning a Panda award in the United Kingdom in October. Their National Geographic Live! talks are always sold-out appearances. But it is the expansion of the ecotourism/community partnerships via their new company, Great Plains, that has had the most dramatic advances this past year. It is the Jouberts' belief that while some areas need the wilderness to be maintained in isolation, other areas will disappear unless viable, extremely-light ecological-footprint (low volume, high cost) benefits are generated for communities. This year 1,365 square kilometers (848 square miles) of Botswana, and a cluster of three islands in the Seychelles were included in their portfolio. Both projects aim to rehabilitate the environment and return these vast tracts of land back to nature.