We Finally Know When And Where You Can Watch Planet Earth II In Australia

The BBC’s long-awaited Planet Earth II documentary series began airing in the UK over the weekend. It’s the follow-up to the incredible original series, was filmed entirely in 4K, and is narrated by Sir David Attenborough. We finally know when and where you’ll be able to watch Planet Earth II on Australian TV — and you’ll have to wait a while.

In a statement, the BBC has just confirmed that Channel Nine will premiere the natural history series in Australia. An exact airdate hasn’t been confirmed by either the BBC or the broadcaster, though: all we know is that you’ll have to wait until some time in 2017 to legally view the series in Australia. The joint press release says the agreement will “see the sequel to the hugely popular Planet Earth series premiere on Nine in Australia soon” (emphasis ours).

The first episode of Planet Earth II was watched by 9.2 million viewers in the UK on Sunday — nearly 15 per cent of the country’s population — and was the highest-rated natural history program in 15 years, beating out even the original Planet Earth of 2006. Filmed in 4K, using remotely-controlled cameras and drones for some shots, the first episode has received acclaim and stunned viewers with one especially harrowing scene where an iguana hatchling flees from runner snakes.

Even if Planet Earth II is broadcast by Nine in early January next year, that means Aussie viewers will have to wait at least two months to legally watch the series on broadcast TV.


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