BBCW acquires Oz channel; launching three more stations
- Published: 25 June 2008 11:10
- Author: Michael Rosser
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 25 June 2008 12:22
- Reader Responses
BBC Worldwide is to acquire full control of Australian pay-TV channel UK.TV and is preparing to roll out three new branded channels.
The acquisition will be completed on 1 July and will see the commercial arm of the BBC increase its stake in UK.TV from 20% to 100%.
BBCW has agreed terms with joint partners Foxtel, which owned 60%, and FremantleMedia, which owned the remaining 20%, to become the channel's sole owner.
The channel, which first launched 12 years ago, airs UK comedy and drama such as EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and The Weakest Link.
Speaking to Broadcastnow, Darren Childs, BBCW Channels' managing director, said the channel could be rebranded and that original content was on the cards going forward.
"We do not plan to make any immediate changes to the schedule but we may rebrand it so that it is signed as a BBC Worldwide channel," said Childs. If this were to happen, it would likely be titled BBC Entertainment.
He added: "We will need original content moving forward. The new deal is just days old but we will start to look at what we can make in Australia to cross over and strengthen our presence there."
In addition, BBCW has joined forces with Foxtel to launch three new channels in Australia. High definition channel BBC HD launched earlier this month, but BBC Knowledge and CBeebies will be the first BBC channels to launch on Foxtel when it gains extra cable and satellite capacity in mid-2009.
BBC World News is already available to Foxtel subscribers. Childs added: "Having five channels will allow us to showcase the breadth and depth of BBC programmes, in many cases for the first time, to Australian audiences. In addition, we will continue to seek new opportunities for future growth in this region."
Further channel announcements elsewhere in the world are expected from BBCW in the coming weeks.
