BBCWW preps Brit, Earth for Poland

BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) has revealed it will launch two of its new global channels in Poland, with the networks set to start broadcasting next February.

Male-skewing BBC Brit and factual-focused BBC Earth will make their international debuts on February 1 and will be available via DTH, cable and IPTV providers.

BBC Brit, which ordered its first original commission this February, airs mainly male-skewing factual entertainment series such as Top Gear, while BBC Earth will carry premium factual content, including original commissions.

BBCWW, the commercial arm of the UK pubcaster, revealed its new brands in October last year and launched drama-skewing BBC First on Foxtel in Australia in August.

The company had initially chosen to debut BBC Brit in Russia, as reported by C21, but that plan was axed following changes to the country’s advertising and ownership regulations and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Tim Davie, CEO at BBCWW, said the two channels would launch initially as linear networks but added that his “future global aspiration is for them to be available to consumers in many ways, whether as VoD services, consumer products or live events.”

The roll-out will see BBC Entertainment and BBC Knowledge in Poland merged into BBC Brit and BBC Earth, with investment in exclusive new content. Both new channel brands will be available in high definition and sit alongside existing BBC channels including BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC HD.

BBCWW added that the brands would be rolled out into further territories over the coming months.