BBC Worldwide Channels, RCS & RDS and DIGI have announced a new distribution partnership that will see the launch of BBC Knowledge into Romania and Hungary for the first time from January 1, 2013.
The deal marks the first step of an ambitious roll-out plan for the channel across the CEE region during 2013, the BBC said. Interestingly, the new distribution contract follows the removal of Discovery from the RCS & RDS nets in Romania.
The agreement with RCS & RDS and DIGI also includes the launch of BBC Entertainment on the platform in both markets from December 1, 2012. In Romania, the channel took the place of Discovery.
The BBC channels will be available via the RCS & RDS in Romania and DIGI in Hungary ‘basic package’, reaching over 1 million subscribers in Romania, and over 500,000 subscribers in Hungary from launch.
Ian McDonough, SVP and general manager EMEA, BBC Worldwide Channels commented: “We are delighted to enter into a relationship with RCS & RDS and DIGI to introduce BBC Knowledge to Romania and Hungary for the first time. BBC Knowledge is our flagship channel brand and is home to the high quality, awe-inspiring factual programmes that people recognise and love from the BBC.
“Central and Eastern Europe is a dynamic and important market for us so we hope this will be the first of many new launches for BBC Knowledge in the territory over the coming year. We are also pleased that this new agreement will allow us to grow the reach of our pan-regional BBC Entertainment channel into a significant number of new homes”.
Alexandru Oprea, president from RCS & RDS Romania remarked: “We are pleased to bring BBC Knowledge and BBC Entertainment for the first time in Romania and Hungary, the most important markets where we operate. Viewers of the DIGI TV Network existing in these two countries have the opportunity to view TV programmes along with BBC viewers around the world in South Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America and Europe. Therefore we offer our customers high quality programmes that are appreciated and watched on all continents.
“With BBC Entertainment and BBC Knowledge, we make DIGI subscribers a promise: that they shall always have at their disposal TV channels containing the very best productions that shall permanently challenge them to discover the world and shall keep them open to always perceiving the world under new and fresh perspectives. DIGI viewers shall always have access to information about new ideas, new technologies and new ways of knowing the world, presented in a professional and entertaining manner.”
