The new digital experience is now available to all Australians, with special access for eligible Optus customers and new app-exclusive series Only in Oz
National Geographic today launches its new-look app in partnership with Optus, providing users with a personalised content experience that offers live streaming channels, an immense photo library, digital articles, National Geographic magazine archives and over 3,000 captivating short-form videos and documentaries, including new content produced with Optus exclusively for the app.
Designed to bring National Geographics 131-year storytelling legacy into the digital era, the app update extends availability to all Australians. This follows on from the world-first National Geographic App launch in July 2017, exclusive to eligible Optus post-paid mobile customers. Since then, users have enjoyed over 2 million sessions in the app and experienced over 1 million video views, across more than 10 million screen views*.
To mark the app refresh, Optus and National Geographic are introducing an exclusive new digital series, Only in Oz, hosted by National Geographic travellers Tyson Mayr, Luke Joseph Ryan, Steph Bendixsen and guest reporter Nush Freedman. The digital-first series unearths unique and captivating stories from around Australia, with new episodes to be released weekly on the National Geographic App from today.
The app launches with 10 Only in Oz episodes, each 8-10 minutes in length, that cover the diverse extremities of Australia; from East to West to top end territory. Leading travellers explore the likes of Eromanga in Queensland, where a dinosaur named Monty is being excavated on a scale never seen before in Australia, to the tiny Carnac Island off the coast of Perth, where an estimated 400 deadly tiger snakes are the mysterious chief inhabitants.
Tim Jones, Managing Director ANZ of National Geographic Partners, says: National Geographic is focused on educating and entertaining in equal measure, taking the National Geographic brand from reverence to relevance in a digital and mobile world. Our collaboration with Optus is all about leading the way to the future of 360-degree storytelling, with a wide range of diverse content that can be easily digested on the go.
App users can get closer to our explorers, photographers, filmmakers, scientists and conservationists. The app is as limitless as your imagination, with fresh content uploaded daily; its a true expression of what National Geographic stands for: driving exploration and going further.
Designed to learn from users behaviour, the app will continually refine their experience through the For You tab that highlights the most relevant, curated content to provide a highly personalised build your own adventure experience.
Optus Head of TV and Content Corin Dimopoulos, says: Optus delights in delivering value to its customers through world-class mobile-led entertainment products.
We are excited to be extending the National Geographic App to any customer, on any network, as long as they have an active mobile service and supported device.
The App has exceeded benchmarks with Australians who are engaging across a broad range of mobile-first content, personalised for them from snackable facts about animals, history and science and amazing photography, through to National Geographics premium TV boxsets.
We know Australians want to access entertainment on mobile devices at a time that suits them. Thats why weve improved accessibility and made the app available on tablets as well as mobile phones, which is especially useful for keeping families informed and entertained while on-the-go.
Eligible Optus mobile customers will not only have full access to the National Geographic App at no extra cost until June 2020, but they will also be able to stream content without using included data on eligible Optus plans**. Non-Optus customers and non-eligible Optus customers can download a free version of the app with access to a curated feed of content available on existing National Geographic digital platforms, or can upgrade to a $9.99 per month subscription to unlock all premium content, including:
- Access to a Video On-Demand library of over 1,900 National Geographic series and specials and over 4,500 short form videos.
- 2 x live streaming channels: National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD.
- Access to the latest National Geographic Magazine as well as 96+ historical editions including greatest hits print-replica magazines such as August 1963s Jane and her Chimps, the first cover story about Dr Jane Goodalls research and life among wild chimpanzees.
- Groundbreaking articles by pioneers in storytelling, covering the latest breakthroughs and issues facing our planet and the future of mankind.
- Dynamic feeds from National Geographics world-leading social accounts.
- Over 28,000 photos by some of National Geographics leading photographers.
See below for synopses of some of the first Only in Oz episodes, available exclusively in the National Geographic App:
Aboriginal Stonehenge
For thousands of years indigenous people of Australia have used the night sky to follow the seasons, navigate the land and pass down their lore from generation to generation. Some of these outdoor observatories can still be found and, as Steph Bendixsen discovers, they could be evidence of the worlds first true astronomers.
Caring for the Coathanger
Painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most difficult, dirty and dangerous maintenance programs in the world. To help, new technology and robots are being developed but even with this, is the bridges paint job really a never-ending job as the urban myth suggests? Luke Joseph Ryan is a man on a mission and determined to get to some answers.
Clash of the Titanosaurs
The Eromanga Natural History Museum in South West Queensland is home to Cooper, Australias largest dinosaurso far! Steph Bendixsen joins the museum on a dig as they work to unearth and preserve a new find and this one, nicknamed Monty, might just be the biggest dinosaur ever discovered.
Croc Wise
Fifty years ago, crocodiles in the Northern Territory were on the verge of disappearing but now they are thriving. Every year, stories of attacks and near misses hit the news but what is actually being done to lower the risk? Luke Joseph Ryan travels to one of Australias most notorious waterways to find out just how close these crocs are getting and what it takes to be croc wise.
Killer Cactus
The dangers that introduced species such as foxes and cats pose to our environment are often highlighted but there is something else entirely threatening the prime NSW grazing country. Easily spread and hard to kill, the Hudson Cactus is spreading and as Tyson Mayr discovers more than once, this pest has more than enough defenses to make life painful for anything that comes into contact.
Tuna Cowboys
In Port Lincoln, South Australia, a year-round, multi-million dollar fishing trip is taking place. Giant nets of fish are waiting and volunteer cowboy for the day Tyson Mayr, joins the tuna ranchers in the water hand wrangling their catch before shipping them off to the Japanese markets.
Temperamental Trekkers
Australia has a most unlikely and highly sought-after commodity in our wild camel population. Their pure blood and lack of disease means that we are now exporting them back to the Middle East where they first came from nearly 200 years ago. But for those camels still in Australia, there is a growing industry and Luke Joseph Ryan joins one of them on an overnight camel train through the South Australian desert.
Kelpie Classroom
The iconic Aussie working dog, the Kelpie, is a bit of a mystery when it comes to its origins. Blessed with legendary intelligence, loyalty and stamina, Kelpies are now utilised all around the world. But what does it really take to turn mans best friend into employee of the week? Steph Bendixsen and a new friend are put through their paces to find out.
Top End Troopers
For nearly 40 years, the North West Mobile Force have been patrolling and protecting over one million square kilometres of rugged Australian bushland. Smugglers, illegal fishermen and unauthorised visitors are all constant threats and as Tyson Mayr finds, it really does take a special kind of army to combat them.
The Mystery of Snake Island
Tiny Carnac Island could be the snake capital of Australia. In this small space, there are an estimated 400 deadly tiger snakes but the mystery of how they got there is still unanswered. Were they trapped by rising sea levels? Did they swim there? Or is the truth far more colourful? Nush Freedman is on the hunt for answers.
Accessing the App
Only for customers 18+ years or 15-17 years with parental permission. Access to the App is available until June 2020 at no additional cost on eligible Optus plans. This is an optional extra and does not form part of any Optus plan. Charges apply, including for content such as ads, authentication, analytics or links to third party sites. Personal viewing in Australia only. Fair Go Policy applies. Visit www.optus.com.au/natgeo
