BBC picks SA to launch new channels

BBC Worldwide announced on Wednesday morning that BBC Brit, BBC Earth and BBC First would launch on MultiChoice’s DStv platform in South Africa, making DStv the first pay-TV platform in the world to broadcast all three new global genre brands. BBC Brit and BBC Earth will be available from September 1 and BBC First will follow on October 18.

The upcoming launch marks the debut of the brands in Africa and follows the European debuts of BBC Brit and BBC Earth in Poland, the Nordic countries, Hungary, Romania and Turkey earlier this year. BBC First launched in Australia last year, and in Belgium and the Netherlands earlier this year. Apart from South Africa, no other country can boast all three channels.

In South Africa, BBC Entertainment and BBC Knowledge will be replaced with BBC Brit and BBC Earth with an increased investment into new content, while BBC First will launch as a new channel. The new channels will sit alongside BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News.

BBC Brit offers premium factual entertainment that is intelligent but irreverent and will become the exclusive home of Top Gear. BBC Earth showcases the work of the world’s foremost factual film makers as it seeks to take audiences on a thrilling journey of discovery. It will broadcast in HD.

BBC First is the home of premium, original British drama.