BBC acquires UK.TV, Oz channels
June 26, 2008
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, has acquired Australia's subscription-television channel, UK.TV, taking 100 per cent ownership of the channel from July 1st 2008.
As one of three stakeholders in UK.TV (formerly with a 20 per cent share), BBC Worldwide's Channels business has agreed terms with joint partners FOXTEL and FremantleMedia to become the channel's sole owner. The move forms part of BBC Worldwide Channels strategy to bring the very best of British programming from the BBC and other production houses to a global audience.
In addition, BBC Worldwide has formed a strategic alliance with FOXTEL to roll out three new channels in Australia from its new BBC-branded global portfolio. The first of these is BBC HD, which launched earlier this month as part of the new FOXTEL HD+ service. In addition, BBC Knowledge and CBeebies will be the first BBC channels to launch on FOXTEL when it gains extra cable and satellite capacity in mid 2009. BBC World News, the BBC's international 24-hour news channel, which is already available to FOXTEL subscribers, will complete BBC Worldwide's five-channel offering.