BBC Studios & Russia’s Tricolor Enter Content Pact

BBC Studios and Tricolor, a Russia-based digital TV operator, have inked an agreement that will bring 4K content from BBC Studios Natural History Unit and leading U.K. indies to Russian audiences.

The acquired collection will include Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, The Hunt, Shark and Spy in the Wild. The natural-history 4K bundle available to Tricolor’s subscribers will also feature the Wild Japan, Earthflight and Predators series.

Salim Mukaddam, senior VP for co-production and content sales markets for EMEA at BBC Studios, said: “We are allowing audiences around the world to experience the beauty of our planet by taking them closer than ever before in glorious ultra-high definition. We are very proud that our audiences for this incredible and genre-defining content is growing around the world and will now also be available to Tricolor subscribers in Russia.”

Arsen Khomutov, content director of Tricolor, said: “Tricolor has the largest package of UHD TV channels, being ahead of all Russian and European operators. The new agreement with BBC Studios outlines Tricolor’s leading position in broadcast of high-quality 4K content. The operator offers a series of unique documentaries that are expected to stimulate the clients to connect a package of UHD channels. The users who already enjoy 4K TV will appreciate our efforts on creating more diverse content.”