The deal was announced at MIPTV in Cannes by Ian Ritchie, Chief Executive, APTN, and Matthew White, Vice President, Film Library for National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F). The deal originated out of the Film Library's London office.

The new partnership will produce non-branded news feature stories on a wide range of topics, from adventure and exploration; peoples and culture; nature and wildlife, science and health, photography; history and destinations. Features will be broadcast on a daily basis over APTN's international news feed to its broadcast clients worldwide.

Nigel Baker, APTN's Director of Content said: "APTN has become a world leader in supplying coverage of hard news. The deal with National Geographic will now enable us to also provide high quality feature material."

News features for APTN's international news feeds will be submitted to APTN on a daily and weekly basis and will cover timely subjects, from a distinctive National Geographic perspective. Stories featured will be cultural, ecological, political and economic.

"APTN will be an important platform for us to extend the reach and application of our material," said White. "As we move into an increasingly technology-driven era, National Geographic Film Library is actively seeking new, creative opportunities for our content in news and entertainment. Working on a branded and non-branded basis in a variety of genres and formats, our goal is to create innovative and exciting programming."

Features will be primarily international in focus to appeal to APTN's core audience. A dedicated team of news writers and producers in National Geographic's headquarters in Washington DC will deliver news feeds to APTN headquarters in London. APTN will deliver the news feed to its clients over its Global Video Wire network of satellites.