BBC Worldwide has announced the biggest deal in recent years in Hungary with state broadcaster, MTVA.
It will see the entire back catalogue of popular British sitcom My Family being broadcast in English on the network, complete with subtitles to help viewers to learn the language.
The deal, which spans 335 hours, also includes epic drama War and Peace and The Durrells. The acquisition of the key BBC Worldwide titles has been made ahead of the launch of a new documentary and drama channel in the country, called M5.
Channel 1 Russia has also confirmed its acquisition of the new series of Sherlock for 2017. It will see the award-winning drama broadcast simultaneously with the UK version.
Elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe, a 200 hour deal has also just been signed with Viacom consisting of drama, comedy and factual entertainment titles including Top Gear and How Not to Live Your Life.
AMC Networks International Central Europe has also committed to a wide range of content for its channels spanning the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova. It will see 87 hours of natural history, science, history, lifestyle and cookery titles being shown across Spektrum, TV Paprika and Spektrum Home.
Programmes included as part of the deal include Rick Stein’s Long Weekends, Hemsley & Hemsley: Healthy and Delicious, Bargain Hunt, Shark, The Hunt and Colour – The Spectrum of Science.
Salim Mukaddam, Vice President and General Manager, CEE, BBC Worldwide said, “We’re very much open for business in Central and Eastern Europe. The breadth and size of these deals reflects our commitment to the region as a whole. We’re delighted to be partnering with world class broadcasters like MTVA, Channel 1, Viacom and AMC Networks International – Central Europe. We hope this will be the first of many announcements over the next few months, reflecting the range of partners and depth of our catalogue.”
