MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels may have decided to retreat two of its channels, CBeebies and BBC Entertainment, from India but in Poland it is expanding the distribution of these channels.
The BBC channel portfolio consisting of BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Knowledge and CBeebies will be available on DTH platform Cyfrowy Polsat in Poland later this month.
The inclusion of the BBC channels on the Cyfrowy Polsat platform will mean that the BBC‘s thematic channels are available on all major DTH platforms, cable and IPTV providers in Poland, growing the reach of the channel portfolio to an increasing number of Polish households.
The exact date of launch and package for the SD channels will be revealed in due course. They will join BBC HD which has been available on the platform in the Extra HD package since 1 February 2012.
As part of this new agreement, the responsibility for advertising sales for the BBC channel portfolio will also move to Polsat Media sales from 1 January 2013.
BBC Worldwide Channels senior VP, GM Europe, Middle East and Africa Ian McDonough said, "I am thrilled to announce our new agreement with Cyfrowy Polsat which will see the launch of our full channel portfolio to the platform. With the opening of a local office in Warsaw and a dedicated team on the ground lead by Jacek Koskowski, we are confident that we can provide the very best exclusive and original programming from the UK and are uniquely positioned to provide global TV moments to our growing Polish audience. I am also pleased to announce our partnership with Polsat Media who will represent us in selling advertising on our channels to the Polish market."
Cyfrowy Polsat president Dominik Libicki said, "I look forward to each new opportunity to enrich our offering and provide our subscribers with attractive television content. The four themed channels will be accompanied by BBC HD which our subscribers have had access to since February this year. I believe that the audience will appreciate the content from a World renowned broadcaster such as the BBC"
Highlights for the channels over the coming months include:
Top Gear‘s Richard Hammond returns to BBC Knowledge in November with the exclusive second series of Crash Course where the presenter exits the driver‘s seat and leaves his comfort zone, trading monstrous machines for the most daring and distinctive jobs. Richard will also host Top Gear: 50 Years of James Bond Cars featuring cars from the iconic series of British films this November, exclusively to the channel.
On BBC Entertainment, the hit global TV format Come Dine With Me returns with even more drama, cookery mishaps and conflict as contestants battle it out to be crowned the UK‘s ultimate dinner party host. There are more tears of joy and dramatic home transformations as Ty Pennington and his team of experts change homes and lives in Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
UK Chef Nigella Lawson comes to BBC Lifestyle in the New Year with Nigellissima – a new series inspired by her love of Italy and Italian cuisine, and 10 Years Younger New Zealand transforms and revives people who look somewhat older than their years through an extensive makeover process.
Little learners can also look forward to a new series of ‘Baby Jake‘ as he sets off once more to enchanting imaginary worlds and more musical treats from Zingzillas on CBeebies.
The BBC thematic channels are also available in Poland via n and Cyfra + platforms in addition to UPC Polska, Vectra and other cable operators.
