BBC America

World Screen Weekly, June 21, 2007

COUNTRY: U.S.

OWNERSHIP: The BBC in the U.K.

NUMBER OF SUBSCRIBERS: More than 55 million homes across the U.S. on digital cable and satellite TV.

DESCRIPTION: Targeted at adults aged 25-54, the channel strives to offer the best of British programming, including comedies, dramas and lifestyle fare, and news from BBC World. The channel is distributed by Discovery Networks.

PRESIDENT: Garth Ancier

EXECUTIVE VP, BUSINESS AFFAIRS & OPERATIONS: Michael A. Ross

COO, CHANNELS: Chris Carr

VP, PROGRAMMING: Richard de Croce

PROGRAMMING STRATEGY: In April, BBC America announced that it would be revamping its programming schedule. “We needed to redefine the network and refocus the schedule,” explains Richard de Croce, the VP of programming at BBC America. “The new schedule is packed with quality, original programming and big name stars that reflect everything that’s exciting about modern Britain today.”

As part of its overhaul, BBC America has set up demographically targeted programming blocks in each prime-time slot, which are designed to attract audiences and advertisers, says de Croce. For example, Tuesday nights, known as Tuesday Nitro, are aimed at males with shows like MI-5, in which British intelligence agents confront international espionage and global terrorism. Meanwhile, Wednesday nights, known as Wicked Wednesday, are more female-focused, with shows such as Footballers’ Wive$, the hit British drama starring Dynasty’s Joan Collins. Crime Scene Friday currently features shows such as The Gil Mayo Mysteries, about a charismatic detective named Gil Mayo who wisecracks his way through a variety of murder mysteries alongside his sexy colleague Alex Jones. And Supernatural Saturday presently features shows like Hex, which is centered on a female boarding school student with supernatural powers.

“Viewers now know exactly where to find their favorite new shows and genres in the schedule,” says de Croce. He notes that response to the new lineup has been positive and that “viewers are appreciating the clarity of it.”

The channel currently acquires 80 percent of its schedule, with the remaining 20 percent comprised of co-productions. The network does co-productions with the BBC, as well as with commercial U.K. broadcasters such as ITV and Channel 4.

Some of the channel’s most successful shows are Robin Hood, Footballers’ Wive$, Hex and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. The third season of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, featuring Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay (Hell’s Kitchen), is slated to air in July. The network has also launched the British drama Hollyoaks as a weeknight prime-time soap strip. The drama is focused on the lives of a group of local college kids in the fictional suburb of Hollyoaks. In addition, BBC America debuted the two-hour food block Good Food in daytime, which runs from noon through 2 p.m. The block features shows such as Daily Cooks, Rick Stein’s Food Heroes, The Naked Chef and Masterchef Goes Large.

WHAT’S NEW: As part of a major initiative by the channel to showcase the best of BBC journalism for American audiences, Emmy Award-winner and former CBS News producer Rome Hartman has been tapped to develop and serve as executive producer of a new BBC World News one-hour nightly newscast that will be available exclusively on BBC America and on the 24-hour global BBC World news channel, starting this fall. The newscast will serve as a cornerstone of BBC America’s weekday evening schedule.

The new shows premiering on BBC America this September include the sci-fi series Torchwood, about a team of investigators who use alien technology to solve crimes; and Lead Balloon, the story of a disillusioned stand-up comic that is written by and stars British comedian Jack Dee. In the fall, there will also be a second season of the series Vincent, centered on a former policeman turned private investigator whose investigations tend to turn into a personal crusade.

BBC America recently announced the acquisition of an initial 14 episodes of the British motoring show Top Gear, which is slated to premiere on the network this fall. Presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, Top Gear features super cars, stunts, time trials, and road tests.

WEBSITE: www.bbcamerica.com

—By Irene Lew