Factual

Blue Ant Media has revealed its 2026–27 slate of original unscripted programming, announcing six new greenlights and two returning franchises, unveiled from Prime Time. The slate comprises Canadian-produced titles spanning mystery, paranormal, history, space, pets and wildlife, created by a diverse roster of established producers.

Overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Production and Development, Global Media, the new programming will premiere across Blue Ant’s Canadian specialty channels — Cottage Life, T+E, BBC Earth and Smithsonian Channel — during the 2026–27 broadcast cycle, before rolling out globally via the company’s streaming platforms. International licensing for titles outside commissioning territories will be handled by Blue Ant Rights. Kelly Payne, VP Business Strategy & Operations, Original Programming, Global Media, will represent the Canadian networks at Prime Time.

“We’re continuing our momentum as a public company with a slate of homegrown, globally relevant originals that spotlight Canadian creatives shaping what audiences watch next,” says Craig Junner, SVP, Programming & Content Strategy, Global Channels & Streaming, Blue Ant Media. “Blue Ant’s integrated model brings local stories to platforms around the world, first by premiering in Canada on our specialty TV networks, then by rolling out across our own global streaming platforms in addition to international sales to global partners through our distribution arm, Blue Ant Rights.”

The 2026–27 slate reinforces Blue Ant’s strategy of investing in high-affinity factual genres with strong domestic ratings and international appeal. For Smithsonian Channel Canada, the lineup includes "History Unsolved: The Investigation Files" (10x60’), "Angkor: Hidden Jungle Empire" (1x60’) and "Hitler’s Last Stand", Season 6 (8x60’), with Blue Ant commissioning the latest installment of the long-running franchise.

T+E will debut "Paranormal Nation: Guardians" (6x60’), a co-production between Blue Ant Media and APTN, while BBC Earth will air a reboot of "Cosmic Vistas" (8x60’). The updated series builds on the original’s strong ratings performance and features a diverse group of space experts offering accessible, human-driven perspectives on complex space science.

For Cottage Life, the slate includes new one-off "Pet Search and Rescue" (1x60’) and the return of hit franchise "Mysteries From Above", Seasons 5 and 6 (S5: 10x60’, S6: 8x60’). Previous seasons ranked among the channel’s top-performing programs and delivered strong results across A18+ and A25–54 demographics.