BBC HD Gears Up for Poland Launch

LONDON/WARSAW: BBC Worldwide Channels has clinched carriage deals with two pay-TV platforms in Poland for the launch of BBC HD in the coming weeks.

The ITI’s DTH platform n, which reaches 700,000 homes, will begin carrying the channel May 1, with cable operator UPC Polska to come on board thereafter. The multi-genre channel delivers HD docs, entertainment and arts content. Highlights include The Jonathan Ross Show, Gavin and Stacey, Hotel Babylon, Robin Hood, Hiroshima and Nuclear Secrets.

Dean Possenniskie, the general manager and senior VP for EMEA at BBC Worldwide Channels, noted: "Today’s announcement is another exciting stage in our commitment to bringing the very best of BBC programming to Poland. BBC HD will offer the BBC’s award-winning content with exceptional viewing quality."

Markus Tellenbach, president of ITI Television, added: “BBC HD—the newest channel of one of the most influential and the best TV producers in the world—is a very important addition to n platform’s offer. The mission of the television of the new generation n has always been to provide top quality television services and the largest program offer in the most convenient and comfortable way for our Customers. We are convinced that adding BBC HD with its exceptional programming content to our HD offer—already the biggest in the Polish DTV market—is a great step forward.”

BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC Entertainment launched in Poland in 2007 and are available on Cyfrowy Polsat and a number of cable operators.