Airdate: Southern Ocean Live, Meet the Penguins.

Two natural history shows from Northern Pictures, Southern Ocean Live and Meet the Penguins air on ABC in June.

Southern Ocean Live (1x90mins) screening on winter solstice, Tuesday 21 June, 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview, is must see live television at its best. Made by the same team that brought Reef Live to ABC screens, we head this time to the wintry Southern Ocean to experience big creatures, big science, and big thrills that will take the audience on a live adventure that’s as wild as it gets.

Broadcasting from the Southern Ocean Live HQ located at Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade, hosts Hamish Macdonald and Dr Ann Jones will be crossing live to special guests, and telling the stories of incredible creatures, including the resident fairy penguins who raucously return at dusk each night in their thousands.

Not far away, marine scientists Sheree Marris, Lucas Handley and Dr Dean Miller will be reporting, from under the water, the remarkable stories of giant spider crabs, giant cuttlefish and the other sea creatures who also appear in the extraordinary chain of reefs that make up the coastline of Southern Australia including whales, dolphins, seals, albatross, and great white sharks.

And the wonder of nature continues the following week with the ABC’s Dr Ann Jones back with Meet the Penguins (1x60mins), screening Tuesday 28 June, 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview, for a delightful look at the world’s smallest penguins, living on the southern coastline of Australia.

From the famous penguin parade on Phillip Island to the penguins living in the city suburb of St Kilda, we meet key characters who over the next six months attempt to complete their mission: to stake their territory, partner up and raise their chicks.

Inside the colony are both tales of domestic bliss and neighbourhood dramas. While out at sea, the little penguins are forced to face trials of tempestuous weather, strong currents and migrating fish stocks.

Warm, surprising, revelatory, and uplifting, Meet the Penguins, shows us that whilst the Little Penguins may be the world’s smallest penguin, they might just be the toughest too!

Southern Ocean Live production credit:
A Northern Pictures production with principal production funding from the ABC in association with Screen Australia. Financed with the assistance of Screen NSW, and VicScreen. Series Director and Executive Producer Karina Holden, Live Director Greg Clarke, Line Producer Rebecca Sinclair, Live Producer Angela Rampal, Production Executive Kate Bailey. ABC Manager of Documentary Stephen Oliver. ABC Head of Factual and Culture Jennifer Collins.

Meet The Penguins credit:
A Northern Pictures production with principal production funding from the ABC in association with Screen Australia. Financed with the assistance of Screen NSW and VicScreen. Executive Producer Karina Holden, Line Producer Anna Mantzoros, Senior Production Executive Kate Bailey. ABC Manager of Documentary Stephen Oliver. Head of Factual and Culture Jennifer Collins.

Southern Ocean Live airs Tuesday 21 June, 8.30pm
Meet The Penguins airs Tuesday 28 June, 8.30pm, ABC.