Signaling a committed shift to premium programming, National Geographic Channel (NGC) will be airing the highly anticipated science series Breakthrough this November. Breakthrough, a show that will bring to life the stories, people and technology behind the world’s most advanced scientific innovations that determine how our lives shall evolve, will be making its Philippine premiere, the first in Asia, on November 5 at 9:00 PM, with all six one-hour episodes showing on Thursdays on NGC.
Executive produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Steve Michaels, Jonathan Koch and Mark Dowley, this groundbreaking series will highlight the most important and fascinating innovations that are currently making waves in the scientific community and are set to affect how we live our lives in the immediate future and beyond. Not only will Breakthrough outline the science behind these innovations, but it will also explore the courage, imagination, passion and self-sacrifice of the scientists who brought them to life. Their stories will be portrayed with compassion and yet instill a sense of wonder as each episode will be directed by a different Hollywood visionary including Ron Howard, Brett Ratner, Peter Berg, Angela Bassett, Akiva Goldsman, and Paul Giamatti.
Tackling diverse scientific realms ranging from brain science to cyborg technology, Breakthrough promises an exciting and thorough preview of the future, ably presented by Hollywood’s best talents. Howard undertakes human longevity and Giamatti expounds on innovations in technology, while Ratner explores the brain, Berg examines pandemics, and Bassett and Goldsman present on the necessary resources of water and energy, respectively.
Breakthrough is co-produced by NGC and GE, both long-time proponents of innovation, science and exploration. However, what makes their partnership for this project unique is that they not only financed the series but shared equally in its creative direction.
“Modern science and technology are the keys to addressing the challenges the world is facing today,” said Courteney Monroe, CEO, National Geographic Channels. “By partnering with GE — as dedicated to science and innovation as we are — and by working with top-tier directors at the helm, Breakthrough will celebrate the curiosity, innovation and exploration of our world, and spotlight the individuals and institutions at the center of these groundbreaking achievements.”“GE’s involvement brings a certain poetic justice to this endeavor,” said producer Grazer. “Thomas Edison, GE’s founder, and Alexander Graham Bell, a founding member of the National Geographic Society, are two of our greatest inventors. Their breakthroughs laid the foundation for tremendous innovation and continue to inspire generations of scientists and engineers. That same spirit will, no doubt, be evident in every episode.”
NGC and GE have united to produce a series that will inspire and cultivate global interest in science and innovation, possibly spawning brilliant individuals who may one day become leading innovators in various scientific fields.Breakthrough is a remarkable television event that will leave its mark on young minds, especially in Asia, from which many of the world’s leading scientists have hailed.
“We take great pride in presenting Breakthrough to viewers in the Philippines as it is a celebration of the relentless efforts of the scientific community to better our lives and improve our environment,” said Jude Turcuato, Senior Vice President and General Manager of FOX International Channels Philippines, which carries NGC, said. “We hope that it helps viewers appreciate how science has shaped our existence and how it will continue to help us evolve into the future.”
Breakthrough premieres on NGC on November 5 at 9:00 PM, with succeeding episodes shown on Thursdays at the same time. The show’s premiere episode, a truly important milestone in Philippine television history, will also be simulcast on FOX, FOX Filipino Channel, Star Movies and Star World by FOX International Channels, which carries NGC in the country.