Discovery FTA channel for Farsi market
August 31, 2016
Further expanding its presence across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Discovery Communications has formed a partnership with BHS Media. The partnership allows BHS Media to use Discovery’s content and branding to create and launch a brand new free-to-air lifestyle channel, Home & Health Farsi.
With a proven track record of entertaining audiences across MENA with globally-recognisable channel brands, Home & Health Farsi represents Discovery’s ongoing commitment to invest further in the region by taking a more localised approach, with a channel tailored specifically to meet the needs of Farsi-speaking communities. BHS Media will launch Home & Health Farsi in September exclusively on Eutelsat’s Hotbird and Eutelsat 7B satellites, featuring a mixture of inspirational content for family-focused Persian women.
Kasia Kieli, President of Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Discovery sparks curiosity through real-world entertainment and loved brands, engaging passionate communities around the world. Thanks to our innovative partnership with BHS and Eutelsat, we will further expand our FTA footprint across the region, and bring our content to more people across more screens than ever before.”
Amanda Turnbull, VP and Country Manager, Discovery Networks MENA, cited the importance of finding new ways to extend the reach and relevance of the Discovery offering. “Discovery has been investing in the Middle East for over 17 years, with globally-recognisable channels and popular programme franchises that have helped to position us as one of the leading multiplatform broadcasters in the region. The launch of Home & Health Farsi represents Discovery’s commitment to also deliver a more localised offering, with content that has been specifically curated to meet the needs of the currently underserved Farsi-speaking communities.”
”By partnering with Discovery, we are combining our local expertise with their world-class content creation capabilities to launch a channel that will provide a new style of entertainment for the Farsi market,” said Hamid Rahmani, CEO BHS Media. “Featuring a diverse range of lifestyle content from Discovery’s extensive library, including Arabic and international cooking series, travel, fashion and home makeover, Home & Health Farsi will satisfy the needs of the extensive female Farsi-speaking audience.”