BBC Worldwide Channels pledged its commitment to the African market today as plans were announced to launch a suite of BBC-branded thematic channels into the region.

 

The channels will be available via MultiChoice's DStv platform, Africa's leading television provider, from 1 September 2008*.

 

The new thematic channels - BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies - will replace and build on the success of existing channels BBC Food and BBC Prime, enabling viewers to access even more of the award-winning and high-quality programming from the BBC.

 

Darren Childs, Managing Director, BBC Worldwide Channels, said: "Today's announcement builds on BBC Worldwide channel's long-term relationship with MultiChoice. In asking us to provide more channels for the platform is testimony to the BBC brand and the quality of our content."

 

MultiChoice SA Group CEO Nolo Letele, said: "MultiChoice welcomes the additions of the four new BBC channels, we believe it will contribute to our ongoing commitment of ensuring our customers receive high quality channels from a variety of different genres."

 

Dean Possenniskie, General Manager and SVP EMEA, BBC Worldwide Channels, adds: "Africa has always been of great importance to us, and we are now making a significant investment as we launch four dedicated channel feeds for Africa.

 

"This new deal with MultiChoice confirms our commitment to the territory, and allows us to deliver a greater range of contemporary, award-winning programming across all four channel genres to loyal BBC viewers in addition to attracting new ones."

 

The new BBC channels:

BBC Entertainment showcases the very best comedy, drama and light entertainment programming from the BBC and other UK production houses.

 

The channel launched first in Asia in October 2006, and most recently in Poland, to critical acclaim.

 

The South Morning Post (Hong Kong) hailed the arrival of BBC Entertainment as "the TV success story of [2006]. Having changed its name from BBC Prime and concentrating on the best of British comedy and drama, this channel now boasts the most consistently watchable primetime line-up on Hong Kong screens, and offers a welcome alternative to the monopoly American shows."

 

BBC Entertainment will be on channel number 120 and will launch on 1 September.*

 

BBC Lifestyle is an inimitable destination offering inspiration for home, family and life. The channel dishes up six tasty strands to entertain engage and inspire viewers. 

 

Favourite African series, once on BBC Food, will now broadcast in the Food strand.  Serving up the best food and cookery shows with world-famous chefs, it promises enticing gastronomic journeys around the world.

 

The other Lifestyle strands include: Home & Design, offering expert advice and design knowledge to help viewers transform houses into perfect homes; Fashion & Style, bringing honest, practical advice and fashion tips from some of the world's top style gurus; Health, helping to improve diet and nutrition with expert advice; Parenting, providing child psychologists and advisors to help with busy or stressful family life; Personal Development, helping enrich mental wellbeing and achieve inspiration in all aspects of life.
BBC Lifestyle will be on channel number 180 and will launch on 2 September*.

 

BBC Knowledge showcases the best of the BBC’s award-winning factual and non-fiction entertainment programming, The channel provides five key strands enabling simple appointment viewing:  The World delves and explores new cultures around the world; Science & Technology explores new frontiers, from space to motoring; People explores aspects of the human body and mind; The Past brings historical events, places and people back to life; Business offers advice on how to stay on top of today’s challenging business world.

 

BBC Knowledge will be on channel number 251 and will launch on 3 September*.

 

CBeebies is a pre-school channel for children aged six years and under with a programme schedule that has an emphasis on educational entertainment and supported by the core BBC values that make the channel trustworthy, reliable, informative and educational.

 

CBeebies offers a mix of new and landmark, high-quality programmes to educate and entertain the BBC's youngest audiences. The service provides a range of pre-school programming designed to encourage learning through play in a consistently safe environment.

 

CBeebies will be on channel number 306 and will launch on 4 September*.

 

Louise Loffel

 

Notes to editors:

BBC Worldwide Channels is one of seven BBC Worldwide businesses.  Formed in 2005, the business has 23 channel brands broadcasting to over 259 million homes around the globe. 

 

MultiChoice provides premium digital media entertainment, content and services to multiple devices which includes Pay TV subscriber services to over 1.5 million customers.

 

Its dynamic technology platform and excellent bouquet of channels, built around compelling and premium movie and sports channels has resulted in the company building a significant television business across South Africa, broadcasting more than 80 video, over 40 audio and 28 radio  channels and more than 6 interactive channels, 24 hours a day on its DStv platform.

 

MultiChoice also owns M-Net/ SuperSport which deliver premium thematic channels and exclusive content to the growing number of subscribers.

 

MultiChoice's newest company DStv Mobile, is currently investigating and trialing technologies that will play a significant role in the transmission of the 2010 World Cup; namely DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast – Handheld).

 

A mobile broadcast technology that allows for the digital terrestrial broadcast of live television channels to a mobile phone.

MultiChoice is one of the outstanding examples of a pioneering South African company, owned by Naspers, an international player providing entertainment, technology and e-commerce services.

 

MultiChoice's involvement in South Africa goes beyond its core business. Through its corporate social investment, the company actively participates in social transformation and through technology, enables individuals and communities to help themselves ultimately leading to growth of the economy of the country.