Ofcom approves UKTV split

Air TV’s Warbird Workshop will debut in 2020

UK media regulator Ofcom has decided not to conduct a further competition assessment of the deal between Discovery and BBC Studios (BBCS) to divide up multichannel broadcaster UKTV between them.

In April, the commercial arm of the UK pubcaster (fka BBC Worldwide) and US media giant Discovery finalised a deal giving Discovery full control of UKTV’s lifestyle channels and BBCS UKTV’s entertainment channels.

The BBC, as required by its royal charter, has assessed the UKTV deal and concluded it does not constitute a “material change” to its commercial activities.

Ofcom’s role is to ensure the BBC’s commercial subsidiaries do not gain an unfair advantage over other rival services because of their relationship with the pubcaster. Having considered the deal, the regulator said it doesn’t believe this would be the case.

BBCS and Discovery are now working on a joint-venture global natural history SVoD service as part of their agreement.

In related news, UKTV flagship factual channel Yesterday has commissioned a classic aircraft restoration series called Warbird Workshop (6×60’) from Air TV that will debut in 2020. TCB Media Rights will act as global distributor.