Fox becomes a 50 per cent owner of the channel's operations worldwide except for territories covered by National Geographic UK in which British Sky Broadcasting (BskyB) is a partner.

NBC and National Geographic Television (NGT) will each retain 25 per cent share. The three partners intend to expand the channel worldwide from its current base of 54 countries and nearly 4 crore households.

NGT, NBC and Fox intend to grow the existing territories and to expand into new ones, including the US.

The National Geographic Channel will also become the first commercial channel in history to earmark a percentage of its profits directly for the support of exploration, scientific research and education through the society's committee for research and exploration, its expeditions council and other environmental and educational initiatives.

Theannouncement was jointly made by John Fahey, president and chief officer of National Geographic Society, Bob Wright, president and CEO of NBC and Chase Carey, chairman and chief executive officer for Fox Television on behalf of the Fox Entertainment Group.

National Geographic Channels worldwide was formed as a venture between NBC and NGT in 1996. The new ownership structure combines National Geographic Television's expertise in documentary programming production, with the news and new media expertise of NBC, and now, the worldwide operations of Fox and News Corporation.

NGT, NBC, and BskyB have been partners in Britain, Australia and Scandinavia since September 1997 with Sky holding a 50 per cent stake in the channel there. The enterprise (unaffected by Thursday's announcement) operates in 29 countries.

The National Geographic Society is the world's largest non-profit scientific and educational institution with over a crore members worldwide. Founded in 1888 for the increase and diffusion of geographicknowledge, the society reflects the world through magazines, books, maps, films, television and interactive media, all of which are being aggressively expanded worldwide.