Fellow Travelers, Explorers And Photographers - Show Us Your Favorite Places "Off The Map" On Instagram And Win!

National Geographic Channel Is Kicking Off the Summer With an Instagram Contest That Asks Followers to Share Their Fascinating Worlds

Contest Coincides With the Launch of a New Consumer Brand Campaign: "The Places We Take You Aren't Just on the Map"

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For over a decade, the National Geographic Channel (NGC) has captured the world we live in, sharing spectacular photography and video of nearly every crevasse on the planet. From the competitive world of bluefin tuna fishing, to deep inside the bunkers and mindsets of doomsday preppers, to survivalists who are taking on the frozen tundra of Alaska like the original National Geographic Society explorers before them, NGC continues to bring our viewers inside new worlds and cultures — places that aren't just on the map. (For more information, visit www.ngcpr.com and follow us on Twitter @ngc_pr.)

Now, NGC is encouraging viewers to embrace their inner photographer and share their own favorite nooks and crannies of the planet. Timed to coincide with the launch of a new consumer brand campaign that aims to reinvigorate the network's commitment to exploration — view the campaign at www.natgeotv.com/theplaceswetakeyou — NGC is organizing an Instagram photo contest that is open to everyone. It doesn't matter if you're an experienced adventurer who just summited the peak of Mt. Whitney or a city-dweller who seeks refuge from the hustle and bustle in a tranquil corner of a public park — we want to see what captivates you! 

The campaign's tagline, "The places we take you aren't just on the map" is symbolic of the network's DNA, and also the call to action for the Instagram contest. Contestants are asked to post pictures of their "favorite places off the map" to Instagram with the hashtag #NGCTakesYou beginning May 13. Everything is fair game: your child's smile, a thunderstorm, a paintbrush — what takes you to places you never thought you'd go? We want to see it all!

Pictures can be posted throughout the summer until July 1. A winner will then be selected and announced via Instagram. The lucky winner will receive a state-of-the-art National Geographic camera package, including a Nikon-D3100 14.2-megapixel digital SLR camera; a National Geographic canvas camera bag; and "National Geographic Complete Photography," a comprehensive book that offers "how-to" advice and useful tips from some of National Geographic's greatest photographers.

The on-air promos that commenced Sunday night during the season finale of Wicked Tuna and the series premiere of Ultimate Survival Alaska pay homage to NGC's hit series and stories that entertain, engage and excite our viewers. The large-scale campaign — the first of its kind for the network in more than four years — will canvass television (both on-air and off-air), online and cinema. The spots will continue to air on NGC, including featured spots in this week's episode of Ultimate Survival Alaska on Sunday at 9 p.m., followed by the series premiere of Life Below Zero at 10 p.m. Eventually, the campaign will air globally on the National Geographic Channels in 171 countries and 38 languages.

For more information and complete rules, visit www.natgeotv.com/ngctakesyou and follow @NatGeoChannels on Instagram. The contest is valid only for U.S. residents.

About National Geographic Channels
Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in 85 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 38 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.

SOURCE National Geographic Channel