New channels BBC Brit and BBC Earth to debut in Poland

BBC Worldwide is to launch the BBC Brit and BBC Earth channels in Poland on February 1, accessible via DTH, cable and IPTV.

BBC Brit is BBC Worldwide’s new premium factual entertainment brand, which will be the exclusive home of popular motorsports programme Top Gear. BBC Earth will showcase factual science and nature-related programming.

In Poland, BBC Brit will replace BBC Entertainment, while BBC Earth will take over from BBC Knowledge, with an increased investment in exclusive new content. Both channels will be available in HD and will sit alongside existing channels BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC HD.

The launch follows the rollout of BBC First, the corporation’s new premium drama channel, in Australia in August.

“This is an important step in BBC Worldwide’s global strategy to inspire audiences with intelligent, distinctive content. We have already experienced success with the launch of our premium drama brand, BBC First, in Australia and I am confident that BBC Brit and BBC Earth will prove to be popular with Polish audiences,” said Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide and director of global.

“The freshly branded channels will be perfect homes for our best known programme brands, including Top Gear. BBC Brit and BBC Earth will launch initially in Poland as linear channels, and our future global aspiration is for them to be available to consumers in many ways, whether as VOD services, consumer products or live events. This September saw the launch of bbc.com/earth – a brand new digital space where audiences are able to explore their world, discovering its wonders and finding something amazing every day.”

Paul Dempsey, President for Global Markets at BBC Worldwide said: “This new generation of global brands have been created and shaped by research into audience demand. The success of shows such as Top Gear and Frozen Planet demonstrate a clear appetite for premium factual and factual entertainment programming the BBC specialises in and we are looking forward to bringing more of these to Polish viewers with BBC Brit and BBC Earth.”