Triple channel launch for Worldwide in Africa

BBC Brit original Mud, Sweat & Gears

BBC Worldwide is launching its three fledgling channel brands in Africa for the first time with a launch on DStv in South Africa.

Worldwide, the commercial arm of the UK pubcaster, has revamped its channels offering across three core brands: fact-ent service BBC Brit, factual offering BBC Earth and premium drama service BBC First.

The DStv launch, which will be effective from September 1, is the first time all three have been simultaneously launched on a platform.

It also marks each of the channels entry into the Africa. On Multichoice’s DSTV platform, BBC Brit will replace BBC Entertainment, while the BBC Knowledge channel will be taken down in favour of BBC Earth and BBC Brit.

DSTv also carries Worldwide’s BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News, which will sit alongside the new services.

Paul Dempsey, president of global markets at the BBC’s commercial arm, said: “The channels capture what’s special about British TV, and our South African launch marks an important step in the company’s global strategy as we continue to inspire audiences with distinctive, premium programming.”

BBC Earth and BBC First will be available on DStv’s Premium service, and BBC Brit will be available to DStv Premium, Extra and Compact subs.

“We’re constantly looking for ways to bring more value and premium entertainment to our customers – by being the first platform in the world to exclusively offer these three channels, just shows our level of commitment to that promise,” said Mark Rayner, COO for MultiChoice South Africa.

Worldwide has been aggressively rolling out its new channel brands, sometimes as new offerings and in other cases replacing outgoing channel brands such as BBC Knowledge and BBC Entertainment.

BBC Earth is now in countries including Poland, Romania, the Nordic countries, Turkey and India, and is also distributed in several Asian territories. BBC Brit carried on platforms in the Nordics, and BBC First in Australia and the Benelux.