When National Geographic Came to Pittsburgh
I don't subscribe to cable at home, so out of curiosity I will take the opportunity to watch a bit of cable when booked in a hotel. The Westin carries the National Geographic Channel. Their offerings included a TV series that graphically describes what happens to Americans arrested overseas for drug smuggling, another series that graphically depicts what life is like in some of America's most notorious prisons. Next up, a series describing life and challenges of those who guard the US-Mexican border. Oh, and then a show about scientists who catch, tag and release great white sharks.
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National Geographic, the magazine, and National Geographic, the producer of TV specials NOT airing on cable, are separate entities from the cable operations.
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A couple of years ago, The National Geographic Channel came to Anthrocon ostensibly to film material for a series about various fandoms and their conventions. Nothing came of it. I think we disappointed them.
The crew that you're describing from a few years ago was a scouting group of young adults who were gathering material for a concept pitch to National Geographic for a program. We did not hear anything since, so we have no basis for speculation as to what occurred after they left the convention except to say that a pilot never happened.