BBC Studios expands partnership with MultiChoice

BBC Studios is to expand its content distribution deal with South Africa pay TV platform MultiChoice, with the launch of the multi-genre channel UKTV on DStv’s compact package and BBC Lifestyle on DStv Family from September 1.

BBC Studios’ will also extend MultiChoice’s DStv catch-up window on BBC owned content across channel portfolio from 30 days to 60 days from September. 

UKTV launched on December 2022, with its audience share increasing by 79% in its second quarter since its debut, according to BBC Studios. 

The broadcaster will now also be available in DStv’s Compact package, giving access to around 8 million households in South Africa to the BBC Studios’ catalogue. Shows coming to the channel in September include Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators, Father Brown Season 3 and Earth’s Great Seasons Season 1.

BBC Lifestyle will also debut on DStv Family which is home to local and entertainment programming, such as The Great South African Bake Off Season 4, Listing Jozi and Jamie Oliver Cooking

Pierre Cloete, the commercial director at BBC Studios in Africa said, “We have a long-standing relationship with Multichoice and are proud of our six incredible BBC channels on the DStv platform. Each channel offers something for everyone with broad genre, trusted quality and international and local talent. I’m so excited to showcase our commitment to going further, broadening the reach of BBC Lifestyle and BBC UKTV and increasing the catch-up window for BBC owned content across our portfolio. This will give even more people in South Africa access to the very best BBC content and I can’t wait for new audiences to find their new favourite shows.”

Arran Tindall, chief commercial officer, EVP, EMEA Key Markets said: “Adding BBC Lifestyle to Family and BBC UKTV to Compact enables us to reach wider audiences utilizing the richness of the BBC’s content, providing more DStv subscribers access to award-winning shows.”