Continent 7: Antarctica

Through the Homeland of Ice and Storms

December 2025 •German

In 1989, the German polar explorer Arved Fuchs and the South Tyrolean mountaineer Reinhold Messner set out together to reach the South Pole on skis without sled dogs or motor technology and then cross the entire Antarctic. There are problems right from the start because the onward transport to the starting point by plane cannot be carried out on time. Finally, the adventurers set off from Patriot Hills Base Camp on the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf to the Pole. The completely different character traits of the two men quickly emerge. Messner is impetuous and pushes for speed. The calm Fuchs divides his strength and consistently follows his pace during all planned breaks. On New Year's Eve 1989, the two men are warmly welcomed by the crew of the US Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. But the much larger and more dangerous part of their adventurous continental crossing still lies ahead of them. The 3-part documentary shows one of the last great adventures of modern times in impressive pictures.

The Rise and Fall of the Maya

December 2025 •French

Despite decades of research, many mysteries remain about the ancient Maya. Now, archaeologists are unearthing new clues that transform long held ideas about how these people came to dominate vast areas of Mexico and Central America. Through immense lost monuments, ancient inscriptions and new forensic evidence, this series tracks the Maya from their earliest origins all the way to the present day, unlocking the dark secrets of the rise and fall of the Maya.

Life in the Freezer

December 2025 •English

Sir David Attenborough looks at the natural history of the Antarctic continent

Shackleton: Death or Glory

December 2025 •English

This series follows a modern expedition that re-creates Sir Ernest Shackleton's trans-Antarctic expedition, which launched in 1914. The series joins a crew of five intrepid explorers, led by renowned adventurer, scientist, and author Tim Jarvis, as they duplicate Shackleton's epic sea-and-land voyage in a replica of the original explorer's lifeboat.

Frozen Planet

December 2025 •English

David Attenborough travels to the end of the earth, taking viewers on an extraordinary journey across the polar regions of our planet.

Les mystères du Nil

December 2025 •French

Blue Planet II

December 2025 •English

There is nowhere more powerful and unforgiving yet more beautiful and compelling than the ocean. Join us and explore the greatest yet least known parts of our planet.

Blizzard: Race to the Pole

December 2025 •English

Series following the reconstruction of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott's epic, but ill-fated, trek to the South Pole in 1911

Guardians of the Antarctic

December 2025 •French

Documentary series aimed at understanding the jobs of the "Ice Rangers": these men and women who manage the practical aspects of the Princess Elisabeth polar station on a daily basis. What drives them to the idea of coming to isolate themselves on this basis? How do they manage to manage their emotions and their private lives? This daily life will be juxtaposed with scientific missions and challenges and, therefore, more universal questions to understand why it is important to continue research in this white continent and what challenges for tomorrow this represents at the planetary and climatic level.

Les Carnets De L'Aventure

December 2025 •French

Les Carnets de l'Aventure is a cult French television program of adventure and extreme sports documentaries broadcast on Saturday afternoons on Antenne 2 (France 2) between 1980 and 1989. At the beginning of the 80s, in full transformation of mountain activities into high level sports, Les Carnets de L'Aventure revealed from to the country that invented alpinism to the whole world the "French-Touch" of these talents of the new approach to the mountains and its new disciplines. Patrick Edlinger and solo free climbing with the film La Vie au Bout des Doigts, directed by Jean-Paul Janssen in 1982. But also his brother in arms Patrick Berhault, Christophe Profit in the solo ascent of Les Drus, the trilogies of Jean-Marc Boivin in hang-gliding, the Himalayan expoits of Marc Batard but also those of Patrick Gabarrou, opener of routes in the Alps and elsewhere, Patrick Vallencant and his extreme skiing, Paul-Émile Victor and many others...

Les Coulisses De L'Exploit

December 2025 •French

"Les Coulisses De L'Exploit" was a French television program of sports information created by Jacques Goddet and Raymond Marcillac, and broadcast on RTF Television then on the first channel of the ORTF from December 13, 1961 to August 16, 1972. The principle of this program is to report on sports news but also to meet men and women performing exceptional feats. According to Raymond Marcillac: "Competitive sport is not our only field of action. It never has been. We want to discover beings whose life is enriching, exhilarating; men who have accomplished acts that can be offered to our admiration without reluctance."

The Black Box on Earth

December 2025 •Korean

In 2049, the only remaining data center "Black Box" on the planet rendered uninhabitable by climate disaster. The recorder who resides in "Black Box" accidentally brings out the documentary made by 2023 musicians... The last record on earth left with music on the fast-destroying earth, "The Black Box on Earth"!

Helen's Polar Challenge for Sport Relief

December 2025 •English

Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton makes an epic 500-mile journey to the South Pole by kite, by ski and - in a world first - by bike, to raise awareness for Sport Relief.

On Thin Ice

December 2025 •English

Double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell, TV presenter Ben Fogle and Doctor Ed Coats compete in one of the world’s greatest challenges – the 2009 race to the South Pole - the first organised race since Scott and Amundsen almost 100 years ago.

Amazon Abyss

December 2025 •English

Series following the high adrenaline adventures of a team of divers as they explore and film the depths of the world's greatest river system.

Tears of Antarctica

December 2025 •Korean

Race to the Red Planet

December 2025 •English

Pingu

December 2025 •English

Playful penguin Pingu lives with his family in Antarctica, where he often finds himself caught up in mischievous high jinks with his pal Robby.

The Head

December 2025 •English

In an isolated and inaccessible Antarctic research station in which winter has fallen on the South Pole and the sun will soon disappear for the next six months, a small team, known as the Winterers, remain at the Polaris VI Antarctic Research Station to continue their innovative research. Renowned biologist Arthur Wilde is determined to find a solution to climate change, but his quest turns into a nightmare when several of his esteemed scientists suddenly begin to die.

Antarctica

December 2025 •Japanese

Set in the 1950's, a Japanese Antarctic research exploration team and 19 dogs that accompanied the team are stationed at the Showa Base in Antarctica. After a year, the exploration team is ordered to withdraw from the Antarctic station due to severe weather conditions. The dogs have to be left behind. The following year, the next team arrives at the Showa Base station and a miraculous reunion occurs between a dog handler accompanying the new tean and two dogs, Taro and Shiro, that are brothers.