BBC BRIT and BBC EARTH to make their global channel debut in Poland
BBC Worldwide chooses Poland as debut destination for BBC BRIT and BBC EARTH’S linear channel launches
This is an important step in BBC Worldwide’s global strategy to inspire audiences with intelligent, distinctive content. We have already experienced success with the launch of our premium drama brand, BBC First, in Australia and I am confident that BBC Brit and BBC Earth will prove to be popular with Polish audiences.
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BBC Worldwide has today announced that BBC BRIT and BBC EARTH,two of three new global genre brands announced last year,will make their international channel debut in Poland on 1 February 2015. They will be accessible to Polish audiences through DTH, cable and IPTV providers in the market.
The new global brands are a key part of BBC Worldwide’s strategic plan to inspire global audiences and cement the BBC’s international reputation for excellence in factual entertainment with BBC BRIT and premium factual with BBC EARTH. The upcoming launch will follow the successful debut of BBC FIRST,a premium drama channel, in Australia this August.
BBC BRIT offers premium factual entertainment that is intelligent but irreverent. Male-skewing but with broader appeal, it blends expertise with entertainment and fact with fun. The channel will become the exclusive home of Top Gear and covers a rich variety of subjects: cars, science, adventure, business, food, life-changing moments, extreme characters, quirky eccentrics, music, sport and comedy.
BBC EARTH will inspire audiences by sharing the incredible wonders of our universe. The channel will showcase the work of the world’s foremost factual film makers as it seeks to take audiences on a thrilling journey of discovery. From the smallest creature under the microscope to the limitless expanses of space, BBC EARTH will bring viewers face to face with heart pounding action, mind blowing ideas and the wonder of being human.
Tim Davie, CEO BBC Worldwide and Director Global said: “This is an important step in BBC Worldwide’s global strategy to inspire audiences with intelligent, distinctive content. We have already experienced success with the launch of our premium drama brand, BBC First, in Australia and I am confident that BBC Brit and BBC Earth will prove to be popular with Polish audiences. The freshly branded channels will be perfect homes for our best known programme brands, including Top Gear. BBC Brit and BBC Earth will launch initially in Poland as linear channels, and our future global aspiration is for them to be available to consumers in many ways, whether as VOD services, consumer products or live events. This September saw the launch of bbc.com/earth – a brand new digital space where audiences are able to explore their world, discovering its wonders and finding something amazing every day.”
Paul Dempsey, President for Global Markets at BBC Worldwide said: “This new generation of global brands have been created and shaped by research into audience demand. The success of shows such as Top Gear and Frozen Planet demonstrate a clear appetite for premium factual and factual entertainment programming the BBC specialises in and we are looking forward to bringing more of these to Polish viewers with BBC Brit and BBC Earth.”
In Poland BBC Knowledge and BBC Entertainment will be rebranded to BBC Brit and BBC Earth with an increased investment into exclusive new content. BBC Brit and BBC Earth will be available in HD and sit alongside BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC HD in the Polish market.
Further roll out of the new global genre brands will be announced in due course.
For more information, please contact:
Louise Loffel
Communications Manager CEMA
BBC Worldwide
NOTES TO EDITORS
About BBC EARTH. BBC EARTH is a global factual brand which seeks to inspire audiences in the UK and worldwide with the most incredible sights, stories and characters from the natural world. Commercially and internationally the brand is managed by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC. Since launch the brand has grown across multiple platforms including branded blocks on television, live events, social media, visitor attractions, theatrical releases for cinema and giant screen films and online on BBC.com. From 2015 the BBC EARTH brand will launch new channels internationally that will be dedicated to bringing audiences premium factual content.
About BBC Worldwide. BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Its vision is to build the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across the world. This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also champions British creativity globally.
In 2013/14, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £157.4m and headline sales of £1,042.3m and returned £173.8m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview