BBC Earth is natural history's global guardian brand across all territories outside of the UK and platforms including merchandise, TV and digital.
It is intended to provide continuity for all the BBC's nature content and allow the BBC to better engage and build audiences globally.
BBC Earth branding will be applied across TV stings, DVDs and BBC Nature digital products and the YouTube channel marks the first international rollout of the brand.
The BBC Earth channel will initially launch with 50 clips including, for the first time on YouTube, the Emmy and Bafta award-winning 'Blue Planet'.
New clips will continue to be added every week. The channel can be accessed at www.youtube.com/bbcearth.
Two of the top five most viewed videos of all time on the BBC Worldwide YouTube channel are natural history clips, demonstrating the popularity of such content and making now the ideal time to showcase classic clips.
Content the channel will launch with includes:
- 'Blue Planet'.
- Five clips from 'Life of Mammals'.
- Five new clips from 'Turtles Guide to the Pacific'.
- Three new clips from 'Cheetahs -- Fast Track to Freedom'.
- 'Fab Facts' -- a question and answer clip.
In the US, the channel will also promote and support www.bbcearth.com, a website where visitors can explore the best from the BBC's Natural History Team including the latest news, videos, photos, blogs and facts.
Neil Nightingale, head of the BBC's natural history unit, said: "The BBC Earth channel on YouTube will now allow people all around the world to enjoy some of the very best of the great content from the BBC Natural History Unit online."
The channel's launch is part of BBC Worldwide's ongoing strategy to promote its content to new audiences around the world, supporting its suite of global channels, magazines and content on other digital platforms.