BBC Ramps Up Global Channels Rollout

LONDON, September 7: Darren Childs, the managing director of
global channels at BBC Worldwide, today unveiled the division’s expansion
plans, led by the rollout of two channels, CBeebies and BBC Entertainment, in
India.

The preschool service CBeebies will air in India in Hindi
and English. “We will be setting up an advisory board made up of local/Indian
psychologists, doctors, teachers, parents etc to advise us on our programming
and ensure we remain relevant and trustworthy,” Childs said.

BBC Entertainment is a new channel focusing on comedy, drama
and light entertainment. It will replace the BBC Prime channel in many markets,
beginning in Asia—Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and Thailand—in
October.

The BBC will also be launching two further channels, BBC
Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle, and plans are in the works for a high-definition
offering.

According to Childs, the channels will be broadcast across
all media: linear TV, VOD, mobile and online.

In line with the expansion of the global channels business,
regional offices have been set up for the first time in Asia, Europe and Latin
America: Christine Leo-McKerrow will serve as senior VP for Asia. Jessica
Rodriguez is VP in Latin America. A VP for Europe has not yet been named.

With the expansion, “We are now in a fantastic position to
buy programs,” Childs said. “We’ll get first-look on BBC programs and we’re building
relationships with independent production houses.”