Further Polish Carriage for BBC Worldwide Channels

LONDON: A new distribution agreement has been signed by BBC Worldwide Channels in Poland, with Cyfra+, on the heels of a recent deal with Platform ‘n’.

Subscribers to Cyfra+ are to receive BBC Entertainment and BBC Knowledge starting in February 2011. These join BBC HD, which launched on the platform in June.

Ian McDonough, the senior VP and general manager for EMEA at BBC Worldwide channels, said: “Our audience continues to grow in Poland on account of the fantastic programming that our channels have to offer. We are confident that BBC Entertainment and BBC Knowledge will become popular destinations for Cyfra+ viewers.”

Beata Ryczkowska, the executive director of the programming department of CANAL+ Cyfrowy, added: “Variety and richness have been making our offer stand out for years which is why we can’t not have BBC Entertainment and BBC Knowledge—fantastic, world-famous brands. I’m convinced that they will quickly gain a loyal audience with our subscribers, in the same way as BBC HD has since it was introduced earlier this year.”

The deal comes as BBC Worldwide Channels previously announced carriage on Platform ‘n’ for BBC Knowledge HD, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies, added to its offering from February 1. The BBC HD channel launched on the platform in May.