BBC Studios partners with Openview to launch BBC Studios’ first free-to-view channel in South Africa, BBC UKTV
- New destination for families in South Africa to enjoy award-winning content from the BBC catalogue
- Programming includes a variety of entertainment, soaps, documentaries and children’s shows.
- BBC UKTV launches on the BBC’s 100th birthday, 18th October 2022.
BBC Studios today announced that it has partnered with free-to-view satellite television provider in South Africa, Openview, to launch multi-genre channel, BBC UKTV (channel 114). The BBC’s first free-to-view channel in South Africa will launch on its 100th birthday, Tuesday 18th October 2022 and offer a variety of entertainment, natural history series, soaps and children’s shows from BBC Studios’ award-winning catalogue. Scheduled to match the viewing habits of families in South Africa, BBC UKTV will offer a variety of high-quality entertainment across all genres:
Iconic Factual entertainment shows can be enjoyed on the channel every day ranging from the award-winning baking competition, The Great British Bake Off (Season 8) and cooking shows Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook and Mary Berry Cooks to thrilling motoring shows such as Million Dollar Car Hunters on Thursdays at 20:55 and classic Top Gear (Season 19) which will air weekdays at 20:00.
British hospital based soap Casualty (season 36) will debut in South Africa every Thursday at 18:20 and Doctors (season 22) will premiere weekdays at 19:00.
Plus, long-running sitcom My Family (Season 1) joins the channel launch line-up which follows the trials and tribulations of a British family, starring American-British actress Zoë Wanamaker CBE (Harry Potter) and British actor Kris Marshall (Death In Paradise; Sanditon; Love Actually), airing at 06:00 and 19:30 every day.
Viewers will be able to experience the BBC’s incredible natural history collection every day at 09:00 and weekdays from 15:35 – from BBC Studios Natural History Unit’s nature documentary Wild Africa weekdays at 15:35 to unique local travelogue exploring Africa, Africa with Ade Adepitan, Tuesdays at 21:00. Plus a selection of Sir David Attenborough’s fascinating docuseries; Big Bird, Giant Dinosaur, Giant Egg, Fabulous Frogs and Natural Curiosities join the channel later this year.
The channel will also provide entertainment for children aged 0-12 between 06:00 and 09:00 every morning including the first seasons of action-packed geographical adventure, Go Jetters, Children’s cookery show, My World Kitchen, wildlife show, Andy’s Safari Adventures and My Pet & Me which helps children appreciate what it really means to have a pet.
Arran Tindall, Senior Vice President, EMEA Key Markets, BBC Studios said “We are proud to partner with Openview to launch our first ever free-to-view channel in South Africa. The launch will enable us to reach wider audiences utilizing the richness of the BBC’s catalogue across multiple genres. I can’t wait for new families in South Africa to experience the very best of British content and discover their new favourite shows.”
Pierre Cloete, Commercial Director Africa BBC Studios, said, “I am so excited for even more families in South Africa to access BBC Studios’ incredible catalogue of Bold, British shows. From British soaps, fascinating documentaries and children’s shows, BBC UKTV has been carefully crafted to match the viewing habits of the whole family, providing all age groups entertainment at every moment of the day.“
“Openview is a growing platform and constantly adding new channels and genres to appeal to a broad audience. Earlier this year we added eXposed (a raw, unfiltered lifestyle and entertainment channel aimed at Gen Z), ePlesier (showcasing the most loved Turkish Telenovelas dubbed in Afrikaans), and The Home Channel+ (Homemakers and Gardeners delight). We are pleased and excited to give our audiences even more choice, and more of the best in world-class entertainment with the addition of BBC UKTV” says Marlon Davids, Group Executive for Programming.
The launch of BBC UKTV joins BBC Studios’ existing channel offering in the market including BBC Earth, BBC Brit, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News on DStv and BBC Kids which is available to MTN customers on the Play Store.
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For more information, please contact:
BBC Studios
Elisa Peacham
NOTES TO EDITORS
BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group, supporting the licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear and Doctor Who. BBC.com, BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, provides up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features to more than 145 million unique browsers each month. BBC Studios has offices in over 20 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further seven countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2000 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Netflix and Migu, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for programme titles.
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About Openview
Openview is a subsidiary of eMedia Investments, and is currently activated in more than 3 Million homes across South Africa. Openview launched on 15 October 2013. The platform hosts a variety of TV & Radio Channels, which caters to all ages, races, and genders across South Africa. The beauty of Openview is that the decoder can be purchased as a once-off cost, and has no monthly payments – affording millions of South Africans access to world class entertainment and programmes. It currently offers the best value for money in the market.
For more information and to see the complete Openview bouquet visit www.openview.co.za
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