BBC expanding Euro channel business
October 19, 2007
BBC Worldwide plans to launch up to 14 channels across Europe over the next 12 months, with Africa and Scandinavia the next markets set to roll-out its new suite of BBC-branded channels.
Earlier this month it announced a three-year carriage deal for BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies with Poland’s biggest satellite platform Cyfrowy Polsat. The four channels are set to launch in Poland on December 2, marking the first time the full suite has launched in one market at the same time.
Now Worldwide is close to finalising a second major deal, with the Multichoice DTH platform in South Africa, which reaches 1.2 million homes and already carries BBC Prime. The deal would see Prime replaced with a more localised BBC Entertainment channel, as well as the launch of the other new channels.`