Melbourne Zoo New Melbourne Zoo TV Series

[WhistlingKite24]

Melbourne Zoo has been busy creating a new TV series.

Full story: Fred Media secures major pre-sales for WTFN’s Mega Zoo ob doc series

In the US, Animal Planet has snapped up Mega Zoo in a licensing deal covering a significant five-year period

Fred Media has concluded two major pre-sale deals for Mega Zoo, its 10 x 60’ observational documentary series currently being produced by parent company WTFN for Australia’s Nine Network.

In the US, Animal Planet has snapped up Mega Zoo in a licensing deal covering a significant five-year period, while in France, the series has been pre-bought by leading commercial broadcaster TF1.

Filmed in Melbourne Zoo, the largest and oldest zoo in the southern hemisphere, Mega Zoo will provide extraordinary behind-the-scenes access to some of the 5000 animals and 700 staff that live and work there, capturing an up-close daily rollercoaster of drama, action, emotion and humour.

Innovative use of camera technology, including body/harness cameras worn by zookeepers, plus the necessary implementation of new production processes and safety protocols, allowed WTFN to continuously follow the zoo’s important work, even when it was closed for a period during lockdown. The result is destined to be a fascinating series that starts by exploring the challenges and daily activities of this huge zoo – spread across three campuses – during the busy summer season, and then moves into examining how the animals and keepers adapt to life when the gates were temporarily closed to the public.

Mem Bakar, Fred Media’s senior sales manager for the UK and Western Europe negotiated the deal with TF1, said: “Mega Zoo is an extraordinary, full-access series featuring charismatic characters, adorable animals and moments of high drama. Our partners, such as TF1, will have a truly unique series that provides an incredible behind-the-scenes look at how a zoo of this size operates under a wide range of circumstances.”

Warren Sevel, Fred Media’s VP sales and development for the Americas, Australia and New Zealand added: “For Animal Planet US to come onboard in a pre-sales capacity illustrates our ability to deliver on a show of this size. We’ve built a reputation in the vet, pet, and animal space and are excited to deliver this zoo series – with its wonderful story-telling, clever creativity and high production values – to our existing partners, as well as to the other international broadcasters and platforms that are already expressing interest in Mega Zoo.”

Mega Zoo will complete filming this month. It is due to start delivering during late summer (northern hemisphere).

 

[Terry Thomas]

I hope the program is not another vet problem series!

 

[babirusa101]

A brief overview of the TV show:

Mega Zoo offers extraordinary behind-the-scenes access to Zoos Victoria, the southern hemisphere’s largest and oldest zoo, with over 5000 animals and 800 staff, spread across three campuses of incredible and diverse landscape.

Through the eyes of a dedicated group of recurring characters, and utilising the latest camera technology, viewers will get closer to zoo animals than ever before. Magical creatures big and small are brought to life through a breathtaking rollercoaster of drama, emotion and humour. This is the dynamic power of the animal kingdom up close and very personal!

 

[Zoofan15]

Here’s the most notable events from 2020 we can expect to be covered:

Births:

Multiple Crucifix frogs (Summer)
1.2 Snow leopard cubs (January)
3.1 Asian small-clawed otter (February)
1.0 Hamadryas baboon (March)

Deaths:

1.0 White-cheeked gibbon (January)
0.1 Rothschild’s giraffe (February)

Imports:

1.0 Hybrid giraffe (February)

In addition to this, there’s plenty of filler material they could use e.g. integrating the zebras and giraffes; faffing around with exhibits and moving animals between them etc. Not to mention the requisite trials and tribulations of what goes on in the vet hospital and Covid-19 dramas. The dancing zookeeper will probably get an episode to himself.

I always feel these zoo series could be so much better if the zoos joined forces. The events listed in this post will be spread out over six episodes or more episodes with filler material; but I’d rather see it condensed into two episodes and cut out the crap. If each zoo in Australia submitted one or two episodes of highlights, they could make a very exciting series each year.

 

[Zorro]

Here’s the most notable events from 2020 we can expect to be covered:

Births:

Multiple Crucifix frogs (Summer)
1.2 Snow leopard cubs (January)
3.1 Asian small-clawed otter (February)
1.0 Hamadryas baboon (March)

Deaths:

1.0 White-cheeked gibbon (January)
0.1 Rothschild’s giraffe (February)

Imports:

1.0 Hybrid giraffe (February)

In addition to this, there’s plenty of filler material they could use e.g. integrating the zebras and giraffes; faffing around with exhibits and moving animals between them etc. Not to mention the requisite trials and tribulations of what goes on in the vet hospital and Covid-19 dramas. The dancing zookeeper will probably get an episode to himself.

I always feel these zoo series could be so much better if the zoos joined forces. The events listed in this post will be spread out over six episodes or more episodes with filler material; but I’d rather see it condensed into two episodes and cut out the crap. If each zoo in Australia submitted one or two episodes of highlights, they could make a very exciting series each year.

Thats a real good idea I am surprised someone has not thought of that before!

 

[babirusa101]

You do realise that the series’s will be documenting

Here’s the most notable events from 2020 we can expect to be covered:

Births:

Multiple Crucifix frogs (Summer)
1.2 Snow leopard cubs (January)
3.1 Asian small-clawed otter (February)
1.0 Hamadryas baboon (March)

Deaths:

1.0 White-cheeked gibbon (January)
0.1 Rothschild’s giraffe (February)

Imports:

1.0 Hybrid giraffe (February)

In addition to this, there’s plenty of filler material they could use e.g. integrating the zebras and giraffes; faffing around with exhibits and moving animals between them etc. Not to mention the requisite trials and tribulations of what goes on in the vet hospital and Covid-19 dramas. The dancing zookeeper will probably get an episode to himself.

I always feel these zoo series could be so much better if the zoos joined forces. The events listed in this post will be spread out over six episodes or more episodes with filler material; but I’d rather see it condensed into two episodes and cut out the crap. If each zoo in Australia submitted one or two episodes of highlights, they could make a very exciting series each year.

You do realise that the series will be documenting events from all three zoos, so there will be plenty of events that they could put in.

 

[Zoofan15]

You do realise that the series will be documenting events from all three zoos, so there will be plenty of events that they could put in.

Considering there's been bugger all reported in the Werribee thread this year (just the birth of a Bison calf and the death of a lioness), lets hope Healesville can save the day.

If they're short of ideas, a robust discussion on phase outs would get us all tuning in.

 

[babirusa101]

Considering there's been bugger all reported in the Werribee thread this year (just the birth of a Bison calf and the death of a lioness), lets hope Healesville can save the day.

If they're short of ideas, a robust discussion on phase outs would get us all tuning in.

I'm sure that they is a lot going on behind the scenes that they don't show to the public, (not just births and deaths), so don't be too worried. Plus they're saying that they are "utilising the latest camera technology", so it could be interesting.

 

[babirusa101]

I'm not sure if anyone else has come across this, but here is a teaser for the TV series.

 

[Abbey]

Mega Zoo is airing on Channel 9 in Australia on Wednesdays at 7:30pm (at least in NSW, but probably nationally). By the looks of things this is the first season, which only previously aired in some states on television. Seems like a summer non-ratings decision, but with the Taronga series airing on Friday nights, there will now be zoo content two nights a week (Yippee!), plus a recent series of The Secret Life of the Zoo (the Chester Zoo series) on 9Gem at 5:30pm weeknights. SLOTZ isn't on 9Now beyond the first two seasons, but I've requested that more recent episodes (which are airing on FTA) be added if possible.

 

[Jambo]

Mega Zoo is airing on Channel 9 in Australia on Wednesdays at 7:30pm (at least in NSW, but probably nationally). By the looks of things this is the first season, which only previously aired in some states on television. Seems like a summer non-ratings decision, but with the Taronga series airing on Friday nights, there will now be zoo content two nights a week (Yippee!), plus a recent series of The Secret Life of the Zoo (the Chester Zoo series) on 9Gem at 5:30pm weeknights. SLOTZ isn't on 9Now beyond the first two seasons, but I've requested that more recent episodes (which are airing on FTA) be added if possible.

Oh thats great. Previously, only the Taronga series was on TV; so it'll be good to see Mega Zoo airing.