BBC to Launch Four Channels in Poland

LONDON, October 3: BBC Global Channels will roll out a suite
of four branded thematic channels—BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC
Lifestyle and CBeebies—in Poland, which, according to Dean Possenniskie,
the senior VP of EMEA for BBC Global Channels, is a “priority market” for the
company.

Poland is the first territory in BBC Global Channels’
planned European expansion. All four channels will debut in Poland on December
2 and will be available on satellite exclusively for subscribers of Cyfrowy
Polsat, the country’s largest satellite platform, as part of its Family
package.

Possenniskie told World Screen Newsflash: “We focused on Poland because it is a priority
market for BBC Worldwide. It’s probably the best growth market in Europe at the
moment in terms of television, and also arguably one of the most competitive
markets. Poland gives us the opportunity to launch all four
channels—CBeebies, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and BBC
Entertainment—as one portfolio from day one, and this is the first time
we’ve achieved this worldwide.”

He added: “When we prove the success of these channels in
Poland we are proving them against the best channels in the world, so it’s a
great market to begin in and one that is full of potential as well.”