MUMBAI: British public broadcaster BBC?s commercial arm BBC Worldwide is to launch a premium BBC channel on Foxtel in Australia as an ad free medium to focus on British drama and comedy.

This new multi-platform deal will attempt to be as close to the transmission in United Kingdom as possible.

This is a key move in the BBC?s global strategy to build its brand in markets outside the UK. The Foxtel platform offers an opportunity for the BBC to create a direct relationship with Australian audiences.

Launching as part of the Foxtel Drama and Lifestyle package in mid 2014, the channel will feature quality first-run programming from the BBC and other great British producers, which will not be available on terrestrial television for at least 12 months.

One title already confirmed for the launch is the spectacular 10-part drama series ?The Musketeers?, which is Adrian Hodges? fresh and contemporary take on Alexandre Dumas? characters from the novel ?The Three Musketeers?.

The deal will also see the four existing BBC channels ? UKTV, BBC Knowledge, CBeebies and BBC World News ? continuing on the Foxtel platform.

All five channels will be available on Foxtel GO and the premiere channel will be available in high definition, alongside UKTV and BBC Knowledge. Extensive BBC content will be available on demand at no extra charge and subscribers to the channels will be able to go back in time using the Foxtel EPG to watch or record programmes they have missed.

In addition, the deal offers Foxtel a first-look at all BBC Worldwide Lifestyle programming. This content will also be available on Foxtel Go and on demand and using the EPG catch up functionality.

BBC Worldwide Australasia MD Jon Penn said, ?This deal represents a strategic opportunity for BBC Worldwide to further expand our opportunities to showcase outstanding British creativity in Australia. We have a strong relationship with Foxtel and their viewers through our existing four channels, and were delighted to be given the chance to launch a premium channel that could offer the best BBC and British premiere television shortly after UK transmission. We are confident that we will also continue to have productive relationships with our other valued partners in the FTA, STV and digital markets.?

Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein said, ?The BBC is one of the great television brands: its content across so many genres is loved and admired by millions of viewers all over the world. By strengthening our relationship with the BBC we will greatly enhance the viewing experience we offer our subscribers, with even more high quality content that can only be seen on the Foxtel platform and which we show as soon as possible after its original broadcast. Plus we offer the superior quality of high definition and the fantastic convenience of Foxtel Go.?

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has laid out its strategy for creating more original programmes for its international portfolio of channels.

New strategy for commissioning original content has the aim of reaching 100 hours in 2014. The twin track strategy will see orders for both Global and Local programme formats.

In 2012, the business is aiming for a threefold increase in the number of original hours ordered for BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and UKTV (BBC Worldwide?s general entertainment channel in Australia and New Zealand). The roadmap developed by VP of commissioning Tracy Forsyth will see the business commissioning 100 hours a year by 2014 as the international portfolio diversifies from a largely acquisitions-based content pipeline.

Forsyth will have a twin track strategy for original programming; firstly to create global productions which will run in all markets including India and secondly, Local commissions targeting individual markets. Underlining the brief to producers is a requirement to match the quality of shows acquired from the BBC for BBC Worldwide?s international audiences.

BBC Worldwide Channels is seeking to make a long term investment in high volume formats with the potential to run up to 50 episodes. Forsyth?s brief to producers includes factual entertainment formats with strong British connectivity, which might be through talent, subject matter, or irreverent wit and humour, but still with a tangible takeaway for the audience.

BBC Worldwide Channels will be looking to fully fund and also co-produce projects, working with the independent production community as well as the BBC?s in-house production teams. In addition to ordering news shows from the BBC, Tracy Forsyth will commission international versions of some of the Corporation?s flagship shows, tailored for audiences outside the UK. Recent examples include Sport Relief Goes Global, a four hour extravaganza of comedy and entertainment hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram, and wildlife broadcast Planet Earth Live which was repackaged for viewers outside the UK on BBC Knowledge and BBC HD in May this year.

The commissioning strategy being implemented is part of Jana Bennett?s long term vision for the Channels business which she outlined in June 2011, shortly after her arrival as President BBC Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, and builds on work begun David Weiland, SVP Programming and TV Channels to increase the number of originations for BBC Worldwide?s international audiences.

Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, president Jana Bennett said, "I believe the addition of original commissions can play a key part to the ongoing success of our international portfolio of BBC-branded channels. We have already premiered a number of originations to a great reception from our audience and I?d like to build on this."

Forsyth said, "Since joining the business in January this year, I?ve been working with the regional programming teams within BBC Worldwide to clearly identify the gaps in our schedules that can?t be filled from our acquisitions pipeline. The new shows I am ordering will give the viewers of our BBC-branded channels around the world more of the quality British content and talent they love, in their first run, and tailor-made to suit their tastes.

"I look forward to working with independent producers as well as the BBC?s in-house teams to create a brand new slate of shows that will celebrate the best of British talent and creativity, and inform, educate and entertain audiences around the world."

In 2011, BBC Worldwide Channels aired over 20 hours of original programming including ?Year of Adventures? starring Ben Fogle for global audiences of BBC Knowledge, series one of ?Come Dine With Me South Africa? for BBC Entertainment in that market, and ?Some Say Love?, a comedy pilot for UKTV in Australia and New Zealand.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels Asia has launched BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Entertainment and CBeebies on Thailand cable and satellite television operator, TrueVisions.

The four channels join BBC World News on TrueVisions.

The four channels are part of BBC Worldwide?s portfolio of channels that showcase a mix of British TV across factual, entertainment, children?s and lifestyle programming.

BBC Worldwide Channels Asia senior VP, GM Mark Whitehead said, ?We are extremely pleased to have our entire suite of channels available in Thailand. This deal reflects our ongoing commitment to the region - delivering to our audiences a wide range of high-quality, award-winning programming - from factual, lifestyle, pre-school entertainment to comedy and drama. Viewers in Thailand recognise and appreciate quality content; we are confident that our channels will appeal to the viewers there and are very pleased to be working with TrueVisions to deliver this proposition?.

TrueVisions MD Thiti Nuntapatsiri said, ?To affirm our commitment to delivering the best content, we have added four premium channels from the BBC. In addition to the existing BBC World News channel, there are now five BBC channels on TrueVisions. The new channels - BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Entertainment and CBeebies, are ready to entertain you this year, and they will be great choices for your viewing pleasure.?

BBC Knowledge showcases factual entertainment from the world?s foremost producers of non-fiction and documentary programming.

In February, premiering just two weeks after the UK telecast, viewers will be privy to ?Top Gear? (series 18). The latest series sees the presenters, Jeremy Clarkson. Richard Hammond and James May, visit Sweden to partake in a series of ice racing challenges.

The ?three wise men? then travel to China to explore the local Chinese motoring industry through even quirkier and crazier stunts. The presenters also drive across Italy in yet to be released supercars including the new 2013 Porsche 911.

?Human Planet? premieres on 4 February. A record of man?s survival in the most extreme environments, each episode focuses on one environment and how the peoples and tribes who live there adapt to their surroundings- oceans, deserts, arctic, jungles, mountains, grasslands, rivers and cities. It weaves together 80 stories, many never told before on television, set to a soundtrack by composer Nitin Sawhney.

BBC Lifestyle offers inspiration for home, family and life. The channel offers programmes on home and design, food, fashion and style, to entertain, engage and inspire viewers. This month sees the premiere of ?Extreme Makeover Home Edition? (series seven). In this series, well-deserving families are packed off to holidays while the Extreme Makeover Home Edition team, led by model-presenter, Ty Pennington fights against time to rebuild a dream home for these families. This series premieres on 26 February 2012.

BBC Lifestyle is also home to Gordon Ramsay?s latest series. This month viewers can catch ?The F Word? - where each episode revolves around Ramsay preparing a three-course meal for 50 guests at The F Word restaurant. Diners in the restaurant include celebrities who participate in conversations, challenges, and cook-offs with Ramsay. Other segments include food-related topics, such as alternative foods and healthy eating.

BBC Entertainment showcases comedy, drama and light entertainment from the BBC and other UK production houses. Silent Witness (series 14) kicks off on 21 February. It follows the team of Professor Leo Dalton, Dr Harry Cunningham and Dr Nikki Alexander as they solve emotional and harrowing crimes with the clinical, objective help of forensic science.

?The Graham Norton Show? (series 10) will also air. On BBC Entertainment just two weeks after the UK telecast chat show host and comedian, Graham Norton entertains with his trademark comedy monologues, interesting celebrity chats, eccentric stories and characters. Guests from previous series include Kate Winslet, James McAvoy, Johnny Depp, Snow Patrol and Ricky Gervais.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide president Worldwide Networks and global BBC iPlayer Jana Bennett has announced plans to launch BBC branded channels in Thailand early next year.

In her first appearance at Casbaa since joining BBC Worldwide in February this year, Bennett officially unveiled new channel launches in Taiwan and Indonesia.

BBC Worldwide will launch BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies in Thailand in January 2012.

In Taiwan, BBC Worldwide Channels has concluded a deal with Chung Hwa Telecom to launch BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and BBC Entertainment on MoD, the company?s IPTV platform. This is the first appearance for the channels in Taiwan, and they will be unveiled to press in Taipei on 23rd November.

Growing the portfolio in existing markets: In Indonesia, BBC Lifestyle is now available on NexMedia, joining BBC Knowledge and CBeebies in that market.

Serving audiences with the best content: 1 November sees the launch of Lonely Planet on BBC Knowledge, the ultimate destination of travel-related programming. Arctic with Bruce Parry will launch the new block and Free Rein - an original commission for BBC Knowledge from Lonely Planet?s production arm - will premiere in December.

Starting with season 18 which begins early next year, ?Top Gear? will air on BBC Knowledge within two weeks of going out in the UK.