BBC Studios Sends 300-Plus Hours to Africa

BBC Studios has secured sales for more than 300 hours of programming from across its portfolio, including a first-time deal with DSTV NOW, since the beginning of the year.

MultiChoice’s pay-TV platform DSTV NOW’s first package deal with BBC Studios spans an eclectic mix of music and arts programming totaling more than 100 hours. Key titles include Last Night of the Proms, Art of Scandinavia, Shakespeare Uncovered and Il Divo: A Musical Affair: Live in Japan.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s public service broadcaster SABC recently snapped up more than 80 hours of programming across natural history, factual and children’s. Some of the titles acquired in the agreement are Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II, Top Gear (season 24) and Go Jetters, all of which will premiere for the first time in the territory on free-to-air TV.

In addition, iflix concluded a second package deal since its launch last year, for 100-plus hours of drama and comedy programming for sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa). The package includes Citizen Khan seasons one through five, Hustle seasons one through eight, Undercover, The Aliens and The Refugees.

Joel Churcher, the VP and general manager for Africa at BBC Studios, said, “Africa is a really exciting place to be in the television industry right now. We are seeing new and existing broadcasting platforms go from strength to strength. We are thrilled with the opportunities in the market that help us to bring the BBC’s award-winning programming ranging from blockbuster natural-history documentaries to educational children’s content, to a wider audience across the continent.”