Industry

Med.TV has been named the exclusive media partner for Help Save the Med, a major three-year educational and environmental sailing initiative set to launch on May 4, 2026, from the Yacht Club de Monaco. The partnership positions the pan-Mediterranean broadcaster and FAST channel at the center of one of the most ambitious cross-regional storytelling and sustainability projects currently underway.

At the heart of the initiative is Wiki’s Centennial Expedition, a 1,000-day journey covering approximately 22,000 nautical miles across the Mediterranean’s 24 countries and territories. Conceived and led by Emmy Award-winning producer Tom Woods, Chairman and Founder of Help Save the Med, the expedition aims to connect communities through education, media, and environmental awareness, with a strong focus on youth engagement.
Throughout the duration of the voyage, Med.TV will deliver continuous coverage via regular reports and original programming, offering audiences unprecedented access to the expedition’s progress and its many ports of call. The coverage will begin with the official launch event in Monaco and will extend across Southern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, reflecting the channel’s mission to act as a cultural bridge across the Mediterranean basin.

“This partnership reflects Med.TV’s core mandate—to celebrate, connect, and help safeguard the Mediterranean’s extraordinary cultural and natural heritage,” said Dr. Anton Tabone, Chairman and Founder of Med.TV. “Wiki’s Centennial Expedition is not only a remarkable journey, but a meaningful platform for education, collaboration, and awareness.”
From a content perspective, the project stands out for its hybrid editorial approach. The expedition will be documented not only by Woods, whose career spans global events such as the Olympics, the Tour de France, the America’s Cup and Formula 1, but also by veteran journalist and writer Ed Girardet. Their work will be complemented by contributions from young filmmakers and students participating in onboard workshops—adding a distinctive, multi-generational storytelling layer to the coverage.
“It is a privilege for Med.TV to serve as the official media partner for this extraordinary initiative,” said Manolo Mantovani, COO of Med.TV. “Viewers can expect coverage of the highest caliber, enriched by the deeply personal perspectives of the young creatives involved in the journey.”

The scale of the project aligns with Med.TV’s expanding international footprint. The network, already distributed via satellite and across major platforms including Sky Italia, GO TV Malta, and multiple OTT and smart TV ecosystems, recently strengthened its reach through a FAST distribution agreement with Rakuten TV. This expanded distribution—estimated at around 200 million households—will play a key role in amplifying the expedition’s impact.

Beyond its broadcast dimension, Help Save the Med is structured around three core pillars. The first focuses on environmental and cultural stewardship, with collaborations involving organizations such as UNEP, Plan Bleu, and regional NGOs working on biodiversity, climate change, and cultural preservation. The second pillar is dedicated to education, connecting more than 100 schools and reaching over 30,000 students through both onboard and virtual learning initiatives. The third centers on youth media and storytelling, training a new generation of journalists and filmmakers to document the Mediterranean from within.
“Our mission is to educate, empower, and employ the next generation by connecting communities across the Mediterranean,” said Tom Woods. “Med.TV’s involvement is pivotal in ensuring that these stories reach audiences at scale and resonate for generations to come.”

A symbolic element of the project is the vessel itself: WIKI, a classic sailing yacht built in 1920 and meticulously restored by Woods. Serving both as a working platform and a narrative device, the yacht provides a unique historical perspective, allowing the expedition to juxtapose archival materials with contemporary storytelling and reflect on how the Mediterranean has evolved over the past century.
The expedition’s route will initially trace the French and Italian Rivieras before moving eastward through the Adriatic and Aegean seas, continuing into the Middle East and North Africa. The journey will ultimately complete a full Mediterranean circuit, returning to Monaco by late 2029.

photo credits: Asaf Shoshan