Last time we heard from veteran TV newser Josh Elliott, it was in February 2017 when he made a controversial departure from CBS News just 11 months after arriving at the network. Elliott had been the lead anchor for CBSN, the network’s 24/7 streaming news service at the time.
Elliott is returning to TV this summer, but he won’t be working at a sports or a news network. At least not yet.
National Geographic has announced that Elliott will host Yellowstone Live, a four-day live event on the cable channel “that showcases the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.” The program begins Sunday, Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, and the live broadcast sweeps through parts of Yellowstone National Park in real time.
When tuning into Yellowstone Live, viewers will be able witness wildlife, captured by 25 live cameras across 35 locations, and state-of-the-art, cell-phone bundling technology to broadcast in the most remote locations.
Joining Elliott at the studio hub for the 4-day live event in Yellowstone will be animal expert, zoologist and naturalist Chris Packham alongside some of the creatures that call Yellowstone home. FS1 reporter Jenna Wolfe will serve as the “roving reporter,” navigating the field and interviewing people whose lives and work are dedicated to maintaining the Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas.
“As the host of National Geographic’s Yellowstone Live I will help navigate viewers through this beloved destination filled with unparalleled wildlife and extraordinary natural wonders,” Elliott said in a statement. “During this four-day extravaganza atop one of the world’s most active super volcanoes, geysers could erupt or wild grizzlies and bison could cause traffic jams in a moment’s notice … nothing is off the table on our trek across America’s national treasure.”
“With Yellowstone Live we hope to leave no stone unturned as cameras film more than 22 million acres across three states and five national forests to capture the stunning beauty and wonder of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48 states,” added Geoff Daniels, president of original programming and production for National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild. “Our exceptional lineup of storytelling experts will immerse viewers into a four-day journey that encapsulates everything that is great about America and its wildlife.”
Here’s Nat Geo’s full press release:
(Washington, DC–July 9, 2018) National Geographic names television journalist Josh Elliott ashost of the summer’s biggest and boldest live television event, YELLOWSTONE LIVE, a four-day live event that showcases the best of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Beginning on Sunday, Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, the unprecedented live broadcast sweeps through parts of Yellowstone National Park, the nation’s oldest and most cherished national park in real time, and its surrounding area on a massive scale and in breathtaking fashion.
Throughout the course of four nights, witness Earth’s greatest wildlife, captured by 25 live cameras across 35 locations, which has never been done before, and cutting-edge, first-ever cell-phone bundling technology to broadcast in the most remote locations. Covering the expanse of up to 34,000 square miles, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the largest nearly intact ecosystems on Earth. YELLOWSTONE LIVE, which premieres on National Geographic and simulcast the following three nights on Nat Geo WILD,is the ultimate virtual American destination, and you don’t even have to pack your bags!Immerse yourselves in the magnificent sights and sounds of one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, overflowing with mesmerizing landscapes, dramatic canyons, gushing geysers, bubbling mud pots, lush forests and more than 300 animal species.
YELLOWSTONE LIVE will be anchored from National Geographic’s wilderness home base in West Yellowstone’sBar N Ranch and supported by an eye in the sky and more than seven live crews. Joining Elliott at the studio hubwill be animal expert, zoologistand naturalist Chris Packham alongside some of the creatures that call Yellowstone home. Both will give viewers access to prime locations across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem—from the Gallatin Mountain Range and Lamar Valley to Old Faithful and much more.
Jenna Wolfe, from Fox Sports 1, will navigate in the field as YELLOWSTONE LIVE’s “roving reporter” and will interview key people whose lives and work are dedicated to maintaining the historic region.
National Geographic also tapped Emmy Award-winning cinematographers Bob Poole and Jeff Hogan to illustrate the area’s stunning diverse vistas and elusive wildlife. Poole, a lauded National Geographic filmmaker who worked on last summer’s epic Earth Live, and Hogan, a local wildlife photographer who filmed the network’s Wild Yellowstone, will integrate cutting-edge camera technology to bring Yellowstone to life for viewers across the nation.
“As the host of National Geographic’s YELLOWSTONE LIVE, I will help navigate viewers through this beloved destination filled with unparalleled wildlife and extraordinary natural wonders,” says host Josh Elliott. “During this four-day extravaganza atop one of the world’s most active supervolcanoes, geysers could erupt or wild grizzlies and bison could cause traffic jams in a moment’s notice…nothingis off the table on our trek across America’s national treasure.”
“With YELLOWSTONE LIVE, we hope to leave no stone unturned as cameras film more than 22 million acres across three states and five national forests to capture the stunning beauty and wonder of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48 states,” saysGeoff Daniels, President of Original Programming and Production for National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD. “Our exceptional lineup of storytelling experts will immerse viewers into a four-day journey that encapsulates everything that is great about America and its wildlife.”
YELLOWSTONE LIVEis produced by Plimsoll Productions and Berman Productions, Inc. for National Geographic. For Plimsoll Productions, Grant Mansfield, James Smith, Andrew Jackson and Martha Holmes are executive producers. For Berman Productions, Inc., Al Berman is executive producer. For National Geographic, Kevin Tao Mohs is executive producer.
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