Deal marks the first appearance of BBC World News, BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle
(Wednesday, 30, January 2013, Singapore)… BBC Worldwide has inked a deal that will see the inaugural launch of three of BBC’s pay TV channels in Cambodia– BBC World News, BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle on Cambodia’s newest digital pay TV platform, One TV.
BBC World News is the BBC’s commercially-funded international 24-hour news and information channel. BBC Knowledge showcases high-quality factual entertainment from the world’s foremost producers of non-fiction and documentary programming; while BBC Lifestyle offers inspiration for home, family and life with programmes on home and design, food, fashion and style, to entertain, engage and inspire viewers
All three channels will officially launch on One TV, the first provider of digital TV services in Cambodia. With this launch, BBC World News, BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle will now be potentially available to the 1.2 million households subscribing to the Cambodian DTT service.
“We are very excited to officially launch our channels in Cambodia,” commented Mark Whitehead, Senior Vice President and General Manager of BBC Worldwide Channels Asia. “We ended last year with introducing BBC World News, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies in Burma for the first time; and we have kicked off 2013 with entry in another new market – Cambodia – where we are proud to be delivering our wide range of highly rated and award-winning programming to viewers. We are confident that this year, we will deliver our great content to even more new viewers in Asia.”
Colin Lawrence, Director of Distribution, Global News Limited, said: “This latest partnership the BBC has undertaken with One TV is another important foothold for BBC World News – not just in Asia, but globally; BBC World News is fresh from announcing landmark distribution deals in Burma, and in the US. We could not be entering the Cambodian market at a better time – the channel has just relaunched from new, state-of-the-art studios in central London in an ongoing commitment to its viewers to bring them the highest quality in newsgathering, production, along with its already established reputation as a global news channel that delivers accurate and impartial news.”
Mr. Samir Badzhadzh, CEO, One TV, also commented, “Viewers in Cambodia appreciate quality content. We are thus delighted to partner with inspirational broadcasting corporations like the BBC and BBC Worldwide to bring amazing viewing experiences to our subscribers.”
More information on the Channels
BBC World News, the BBC’s commercially funded international 24-hour news and information platforms, is owned and operated by BBC Global News Ltd, a member of the BBC’s commercial group of companies. BBC World News is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and over 350 million households and 1.8 million hotel rooms. The channel’s content is also available on 158 cruise ships, 53 airlines and 23 mobile phone networks. For further information on how to receive BBC World News, download schedules or find out more about the channel, visit bbc.com/tvschedule
BBC Knowledge showcases high-quality factual entertainment from the world’s foremost producers of non-fiction and documentary programming. The channel offers the broadest range of programming from natural history to science, technology, adventure and history.
Come February, the latest installment of Top Gear will premiere first and exclusively on the channel. This 19th series, which airs two weeks after the UK telecast, will see irreverent hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May engage in another collection of incredible adventures, absurd stunts and dream drives, ably assisted by their tame racing driver, The Stig.
BBC Knowledge will also premiere a new series of Bang Goes the Theory in February. Hosted by a gang of presenters who are passionate about science and happy to share their knowledge, banter and experiments, Bang Goes the Theory is a blend of family-relevant stories, spectacular stunts, future-facing items, competitive team challenges and street science.
BBC Lifestyle offers inspiration for home, family and life with programmes on home and design, food, fashion and style, to entertain, engage and inspire viewers.
Masterchef premieres first and exclusively on the channel in February. In this original UK version, judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace search for the UK’s best amateur cook from tens of thousands of applicants. They eat and judge all manner of dishes to find the chefs to fill the 20 coveted places in the competition to compete for the Masterchef title.
BBC Lifestyle is also home to Gordon Ramsay’s latest series as well as The Great British Bake-off, where passionate amateur baking fans compete to be crowned the UK’s Best Amateur Baker. The series has been credited with reinvigorating interest in baking throughout the UK and launching baking careers of many of its participants.
For more information on BBC’s pay TV channels in Asia, please visit www.bbc-asia.com
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For further information, please contact:
BBC Worldwide Channels
Jeanne Leong
Senior Manager, Communications, BBC Worldwide Channels
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Jeanne.Leong@bbc.com
BBC World News
Shivani Sundralingam
Senior Publicist, BBC World News
Tel: +65 6507 4234
Email: Shivani.Sundralingam@bbc.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
BBC Worldwide Channels is one of five core BBC Worldwide businesses. Formed in 2005, the business’ diverse portfolio of channel brands provides a global showcase for the best mix of British TV across factual, entertainment, children’s and lifestyle programming. The company is the UK’s leading international broadcaster, operating a network of localised channels that reach over 300 million homes in more than 100 countries around the world.
One TV is a joint venture between the Cambodian holding Royal Group of Companies and the Russian company General Satellite. The main goal of the joint venture is to launch a pay digital terrestrial television service (DVB-T, 60 channels) in Cambodia and to become a market leader in this new technology.
RMEC started its operations with broadcasting on a new Digital DVB-T platform in Cambodia in mid-September 2012 under the brand name “ONE TV”. This new platform will bring about 60 Khmer and international digital TV channels to almost every Cambodian house, providing people with affordable and reliable source of information, education and entertainment. Broadcasting coverage will include Phnom Penh and eight other provinces – Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Kompong Thom, Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.