Time Warner Cable has inked new distribution deals with BBC America and the BBC’s 24-hour cable news channel BBC World News. The deal expands BBC America’s distribution in Time Warner Cable households, and adds BBC World News to the company’s digital basic package.
When it launches on Time Warner Cable, BBC World News will be available in over 25 million U.S. homes, and 350 million worldwide. There has been a push for adding more independent cable news channels in recent years. Al Jazeera English drew critical acclaim for its coverage of the Arab Spring, but was unable to turn that into U.S. distribution. BBC World News fits the bill as a serious news channel, that is independent of the U.S. media conglomerates.
“We are really pleased by the growing demand in the US for a global news network which is both non-partisan and non-sensational in approach,” said Jim Egan, the COO of BBC Global News. “BBC World News is about serious news; with on the ground reporting and analysis from different parts of the world and a mandate to inform and provide a balanced view. We know that audiences around the world value the channel’s distinctive world view and we are pleased that more US viewers now have access to it.”
More information below.
BBC WORLD NEWS AND BBC AMERICA EXPAND DISTRIBUTION WITH TIME WARNER CABLE
BBC World News to debut on Time Warner Cable and will now reach 25 million homes in the US
New York – Friday, December 14 – BBC AMERICA and BBC World News today announced wider expansion in Time Warner Cable systems for the BBC’s 24-hour global TV news channel BBC World News in the US and increased distribution for BBC AMERICA, the home of acclaimed series Doctor Who, Copper, Luther, Top Gear and the Golden Globe®-nominated series The Hour.
“It’s been a record-breaking year for BBC AMERICA, as our iconic sci-fi series Doctor Who has reached new heights and we’ve created new original programming including Copper, our highest-rated series premiere ever,” says Sandy Ashendorf, EVP Network Distribution, BBC Worldwide America. “We’re excited to expand BBC AMERICA’s partnership with Time Warner Cable and launch BBC World News, which has seen record distribution growth in the past year.”
BBC World News will be added to the digital basic package in most Time Warner Cable systems before the end of December 2012. BBC World News will see increased distribution in several cities; by year-end, BBC World News will be carried in top US markets including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Seattle. As a result of its expanded relationship with Time Warner Cable and other multichannel operator deals over the past two years, BBC World News will have grown its reach by over 10 million new homes in 2012 and in total, BBC World News will reach 25 million full time homes in the US following the Time Warner Cable launches.
Jim Egan, Chief Operating Officer, GN Ltd said: “I’m delighted to see BBC World News coming to Time Warner Cable – this is another important foothold for our global news channel in the highly competitive US market. We are really pleased by the growing demand in the US for a global news network which is both non-partisan and non-sensational in approach. BBC World News is about serious news; with on the ground reporting and analysis from different parts of the world and a mandate to inform and provide a balanced view. We know that audiences around the world value the channel’s distinctive world view and we are pleased that more US viewers now have access to it.”
Time Warner Cable also will increase BBC AMERICA’s reach and provide further access to the high quality content for which the BBC is known. In January, BBC AMERICA will debut new drama Ripper Street, set in London in the aftermath of Jack the Ripper, and new original seriesWild Things with Dominic Monaghan. New episodes of Doctor Who, Copper, Luther, Top Gear, The Graham Norton Show, Being Human, The Thick of Itplus new original drama Orphan Black and mini-series Spies of Warsaw have also been announced for 2013.
The past two years have been an important breakthrough period for BBC World News as it continues to expand its distribution. The BBC is investing heavily in new programs and facilities as it seeks to build on recent successes growing audiences and reputation around the world. This will include the launch of new state of the art studios for the channel in January 2013, at the BBC’s new building in central London.
BBC World News has the largest audience of any BBC channel in the world, reaching over 350 million households and broadcasting in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with access to more than 70 international newsgathering bureaus. Its programming includes the Emmy©-winning daily newscast, BBC World News America, anchored by Katty Kay from the BBC’s studio in Washington DC. Broadcasting 24-hours a day, the channel offers US audiences high-quality global news from the BBC’s network of global correspondents, as well as documentaries and current affairs programming, in an HD format.
Within the US, BBC Global News is one of the leading international multimedia providers of news and current affairs programming across broadcast and digital platforms. Alongside the 24 hour TV news channel BBC World News, more than 500 local public radio stations in the US broadcast BBC World Service content – mainly news and current affairs programming, including the flagship global newscast Newshour. Over the last year increased investment in the digital operation in the BBC’s Washington bureau has seen online journalists work at the heart of the BBC’s north America operation, producing online video and text features which are being used across multiple platforms reaching audiences both in the US and globally. BBC.com/news is the leading non-US news provider within the General News category for North America (source: comscore October 2012).