BBC First Headed to India

BBC Worldwide is rolling out BBC First in India via an alliance with Zee Café.

The branded block delivering BBC drama series rolls out June 26, airing every weeknight at 10 p.m. It kicks off with Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond.

“We are very excited to be working with Zee Café, a leading channel in the English entertainment genre,” said Myleeta Aga, senior VP for South and Southeast Asia at BBC Worldwide. “Through this BBC First block, discerning Indian viewers will now have access to top-rated, premium dramas from the BBC. We are confident that the block will be popular with Zee Café’s viewers.”

“Availability of premium British content has been limited thus far in India,” added Aparna Bhosle, business cluster head for premium and free-to-air general entertainment channels at Zee Entertainment Enterprises.“Who better to partner with other than the BBC to make quality shows from the region available to our viewers? The addition of the BBC First block will strengthen the channel’s proposition of the best of English-language television programs to its fans.”

Within the region, BBC First is also available as an SVOD channel in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong and as a block in Japan.