Vivicast & BBC Worldwide Sign Deal for CalaClassic Channel

Vivicast Media has secured an agreement with BBC Worldwide that expands the programming lineup for the Caribbean satellite network CalaClassics.

The agreement will see CalaClassics’ current 700 hours enlarged to encompass more than 1,000 hours of the BBC’s most popular classic comedies, drama series and factual-entertainment shows. New series added to the existing agreement include classic comedy shows such as seasons one through three of Chef, seasons one through four of My Hero and seasons one through four of Friday Night Dinner. The deal also includes factual programs like the popular motor series Top Gear (seasons two through eight) and hit drama Upstairs Downstairs (seasons one and two), as well as special episodes of the classic BBC series Doctor Who.

“This new agreement expands considerably the presence of BBC Worldwide’s content throughout the Caribbean and underscores the enormous popularity that British content has in this region of the world,” said Anna Gordon, the executive VP and managing director for BBC Worldwide Latin America/US Hispanic. “We are confident that this kind of agreement will soon contribute to expand the presence of the BBC brand to all platforms in the Caribbean, including pay TV, video streaming and open television.”

“Viewer response to our BBC lineup has been outstanding, and we are excited to expand the portfolio of high-profile BBC productions as part of the regular CalaClassics schedule,” said Executive Producer Tony Marchand.

“We are pleased to finalize an agreement with BBC Worldwide resulting in the expansion of the renowned BBC library to the CalaClassic channel, which continues to serve as outstanding broadcast home in the Caribbean territories for BBC’s extraordinary library of classic series programming,” added Stuart Smitherman, the president of Vivicast Media.