When the US Discovery Channel stated it was not going to show the episode of the BBC's series Frozen Planet which focuses on the effects of climate change on the polar regions the news was greeted with disappointment by US commentators.

But now it seems that Discovery have changed their minds and the series will show in full in the spring, including the climate-themed episode that shows this Wednesday in the UK.

Press reports earlier this month suggested that the final programme of the series had been marketed separately in order to help the show sell better abroad.

There were also suggestions that the US market might be less interested in a climate themed episode, although as in the US the series is to be narrated by Alec Baldwin, and the climate episode differs from others by featuring David Attenborough on screen extensively, this may be a more mundane explanation.

However Discovery announced today that the polar climate episode will air along with the rest of the series.

Associated Press report:

"Discovery Channel's documentary series "Frozen Planet" will premiere March 18, and will encompass seven episodes including a program on climate change hosted by David Attenborough.

"On that seventh episode, the famed British naturalist will investigate what rising temperatures will mean for the planet and life on it."