The National Geographic was launched in Scandinavia in September 1997 when BSkyB launched the Sky News & Documentaries channel, carrying National Geographic between 8 p.m. and 2 p.m. (CET) with The Computer Channel between 6 and 8 p.m. and Sky News the remaining time.

Programmes and continuity has English audio, with subtitles in Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian,Russian.

The channel is carried on most digital cable networks in the region, including TDC Kabel TV and Com Hem.

In March 2008, the channel received a license to broadcast terrestrially in Sweden, but its launch has been postponed.

[2] The National Geographic Channel HD was launched into the Nordic region on the Canal Digital platform on 1 April 2007.