Shutterstock + National Geographic:
Maintaining content excellence

The production process for a television show can be a harrowing endeavor, with scheduling, budgeting, and licensing issues at every turn. Now multiply that effort across several dozen shows, and you'll begin to have an idea of what it's like running an entire TV production. In this case study, we'll see how a partnership with Shutterstock Premier allowed National Geographic Television (NGTV) to bring new programming to life while maintaining their historic bar of content excellence.

The client

If there is one brand synonymous with captivating, authentic, and esteemed visuals, it's National Geographic. For over a century, National Geographic has delivered the world's most important stories to a global stage. And since 1997, the National Geographic Channel (NGC) has brought stories to life on television, reaching new audiences in 160 million homes across 143 countries. Known for its nature, science, and educational programming, the National Geographic Channel has several hit shows, including Brain Games, Locked Up Abroad, and Alaska State Troopers. As the NGTV production team worked to produce a complete suite of programming, they realized a distinct need to find quality HD footage at a reasonable price. Finding imagery to complement footage subject matter turned out to be more challenging than expected for NGTV.
"We looked for it all. Master and content quality, fast delivery, and reasonable license fees. Sometimes one company would have the quality, but the fees were exorbitant; another would be able to deliver quickly but they did not have HD."
- Catherine Yelloz, Director of Production Rights and Clearances, NGTV