UPDATED. BBC Entertainment has closed across Central and Eastern Europe on January 1, 2016.
In a statement BBC Worldwide said that “as the roll-out of our new BBC channels gathers pace and certain carriage agreements come to an end in some markets, the channel is not sustainable across CEE markets. BBC Worldwide’s focus is on our new genre brands – BBC First, BBC Earth and BBC Brit.”
Central and Eastern Europe remains a priority market for BBC Worldwide. The broadcaster recently launched the premium factual brand BBC Earth as a linear channel in Romania, Hungary and Slovenia.
BBC Worldwide has said that it has strong partnerships with local free to air broadcasters, pay TV networks and digital platforms in the region. “Many BBC programmes will continue to be seen through these providers in Central and Eastern Europe.”
The channel will close in the following regions: Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.
Viewing of BBC Entertainment in UAE, Turkey, Israel and Western Europe remains unaffected.
