BBC First will make its debut in India as a block on Zee Café, the country’s leading GEC channel.
Commenting on the development, which was announced by BBC Worldwide on the first day of Asia pay TV Operators Summit (APOS) in Bali, Indonesia, Myleeta Aga, SVP South & South East Asia said: “We are very excited to be working with Zee Café, a leading channel in the English entertainment genre.
“Through this BBC First block, discerning Indian viewers will now have access to top-rated, premium dramas from the BBC. We are confident that the block will be popular with Zee Café’s viewers.”
The block will launch on Monday, June 26 and will air every weeknight at 10pm. It will give audiences access to some of the best BBC drama.
Aparna Bhosle, business cluster head, premium & FTA GEC channels, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, added: “Availability of premium British content has been limited thus far in India. Who better to partner with other than the BBC to make quality shows from the region available to our viewers?
“The addition of the BBC First block will strengthen the channel’s proposition of the best of English language television programmes to its fans.”
In Asia, BBC First is also available as a SVOD channel in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong and as a block in Japan. In addition, it can be accessed via BBC Player online at bbcplayer.com and as an app in Singapore and Malaysia.
