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: Australian pay TV platform Foxtel has signed a new agreement which will provide its customers with first run HBO content as well as access to HBO library content including premium drama series.

The deal is an output agreement that gives Foxtel exclusive access to new HBO series, miniseries, comedy specials and documentaries.

Series titles include ?Boardwalk Empire?, ?Game of Thrones?, as well as ?Girls, ?True Blood?, ?Treme?, ?Veep? and ?Eastbound and Down?, among others.

Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein said, "This deal will ensure our customers will always see these compelling HBO shows exclusively first-run, with many of the key dramas broadcast express from the US as soon as the day after their original air-date."

HBO content will premiere on Foxtel?s premium drama channel, showcase, which will become Australia?s ?home of HBO?. In addition, subscribers will be able to rediscover a library of classic HBO shows like The Sopranos?and Six Feet Under? on our newest channel, SoHo which successfully launched to all subscribers in August with the premiere of HBO?s latest hit series, ?The Newsroom?."

HBO International, content distribution president Simon Sutton said, "We believe Foxtel will be a terrific partner and we look forward to working with them to bring the latest and greatest HBO entertainment to audiences in Australia".

Customers will be able to watch HBO shows in stunning High Definition. The deal includes the right to deliver HBO content via linear channels and on demand on Foxtel?s iQ set-top-box and IP delivered services such as Foxtel on Xbox 360.