BBC Studios ups Zbigniew Pruski to key partnerships role, extends channel brands in CEE
BBC Studios (BBCS) executive Zbigniew Pruski has been promoted to VP of commercial partnerships for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT).
Zbigniew Pruski
Previously commercial director, branded services, Pruski will now take on the responsibility for business relations and key partnerships in the MENAT region, in addition to his current remit of overseeing CEE partner relationships.
With nearly 20 years’ experience in pay TV, Pruski has been in charge of strategy, business development and delivering branded services revenue and profit for BBCS’s suite of brands and products across CEE.
He joined BBCS in 2011 from Discovery Networks Central Europe. Pruski began his television career at distribution and management agency Program as the key account manager working with broadcasters such as CNBC Europe, BBC Worldwide and National Geographic Channel.
Bartosz Witak, senior VP and general manager for CEE and MENAT at BBCS, said: “Zbigniew’s insights, commitment and proactive leadership have been pivotal in our operations in the past few years, and with this promotion he will play an even more integral role in driving our growth initiatives and supporting the ambitious vision we’re all working towards.”
In related news, BBCS has extended the reach of its channel brands across CEE with new launches in Czech Republic and Romania. BBC-branded channels BBC Earth and BBC First are now available to customers of Vodafone in Czech Republic, while BBC First has joined Orange in Romania.
In Czech Republic, the partnership between BBCS and Vodafone Czech Republic means BBC Earth is now included in the Vodafone TV package and BBC First is included in the extended Family and All in One packages.
Meanwhile, BBC First joins BBC Earth and BBC News in Orange Romania’s basic package, with the provider carrying the entire BBCS portfolio currently available in the country.
Witak said: “We are very happy to announce the conclusion of these deals over the last few weeks, which significantly expands our viewer base in Czech Republic, extends our partnership with Orange Romania and strengthens our Warsaw office.
“Thanks to our growing partnership with Vodafone and Orange, we are able to bring Czech and Romanian audiences the best of British storytelling and factual entertainment. We sincerely hope our collaborations continue in the future and the ties only grow stronger.”
