LONDON: BBC Worldwide and Arabic news and documentary channel, Al Jazeera, signed an agreement at BBC Showcase 2003 in Brighton for a package of 1000 hours of factual programming. The deal includes Wildlife, History and Science titles, as well as current affairs documentaries.

Al Jazeera will use the BBC programmes for the launch of its new Arabic Documentary Channel that will start broadcasting later this year. The new channel will be available throughout the Middle East and Arab territories via Arabsat and Nilesat.

The manager of the new documentary channel Mohamed Al-Fadhala SAID, " We are looking to repeat the success of our main news channel with a strong selection of BBC titles on Al Jazeera Documentary."