BBCWW bags Taiwanese deal

Taiwanese broadcaster Elta TV has agreed a far-reaching deal for channels and programming with BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) that it claims will make it home to the most UK content in the country.

David Weiland

The deal will see four BBCWW channels – BBC World News HD, factual-skewing BBC Knowledge HD, BBC Lifestyle and BBC Entertainment – become available on Elta’s Chunghwa Telecom IPTV service.

A slate of BBCWW’s science and natural history programmes, such as 24 Hours on Earth and Penguins – Spy In The Huddle, will be accessible on Chunghwa’s SVoD offering, while drama series including Doctor Who will air on Elta’s World Channel.

David Weiland, executive VP for Asia at BBCWW, said the partnership had come as a result of the company’s geographical restructuring nearly two years ago and proved “the importance of Taiwan to our growth strategy in the region.”

The channels deal means viewers will gain access to shows including the latest series of Top Gear within 24 hours of the UK telecast on BBC Knowledge, season seven of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares on BBC Lifestyle and the 16th run of The Graham Norton Show on BBC Entertainment.