NEW DELHI: Jana Bennett, President Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, today confirmed the network?s commitment to stage bold and ambitious global television events as she unveiled two new seasons for 2012 at MipTV.

London Calling and Planet Earth Live will run simultaneously across the BBC channels around the world, showcasing the very best of British programming and UK talent to the World.

As the eyes of the World turn to London this summer, the City of 2012 will be brought to life by the BBC through London Calling; a unique season of programmes that celebrate the music, fashion, art, culture and history of Britain?s capital city. The season will be led by live coverage from the spectacular Queen?s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Planet Earth Live is the biggest live wildlife broadcast ever undertaken by the BBC. It is an ambitious project which is the result of over ten years of innovation in techniques and formats at the BBC Natural History Unit. A unique and new project, it will bring real animals and their everyday dramas to a global audience in real time. Viewers will witness first-hand these incredible animals? struggle for survival in this animal soap opera, where nature writes the script.

Jana Bennett, said, ?By creating synchronised broadcasts, we unite our viewers around the world and give them a real appointment to view. Ours is the only network in the world which can deliver such massive global moments to an international audience and is what made our coverage of The Royal Wedding last year so successful. This year I want to go bigger and bolder.

?Planet Earth Live and London Calling will enable our audiences to feel part of a truly global viewing experience - whether it be witnessing the wonder of nature as it unfolds before them or revelling in the celebrations taking place across London without ever having to leave the comfort of their living room.?

The two new global events come hot on the heels of the first global viewing event of 2012 as BBC Worldwide gave an international stage to Sport Relief - one the UK?s biggest televised fundraising efforts. The special two week season culminated with Sport Relief Goes Global, a four-hour extravaganza featuring comedy highlights from the UK?s night of fundraising entertainment on BBC ONE.

London Calling will air between June and August on BBC Entertainment (India, Africa, Poland, the Nordic Region, Asia, Latin America and the channel?s pan-European service), BBC Knowledge (Africa, Poland, the Nordic Region, Italy, Asia and Australia), BBC HD (Latin America, Poland, The Nordic region and Turkey), UKTV (Australia and New Zealand) and BBC World News (global).

The season will also be available to users of BBC.com and to users of the global BBC iPlayer but will vary territory by territory.

Airing on BBC One in the UK, Planet Earth Live will air simultaneously4 to a global audience via BBC Knowledge (Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Poland, Italy, the Nordic Region) BBC Entertainment (India), BBC HD (Latin America) and in a selection of European countries on the global BBC iPlayer. The event excludes the US.

MUMBAI: Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has unveiled its comprehensive broadcast plans on mio TV with ESPN Star Sports (ESS).

SingTel, in partnership with ESS, the IOC?s official pay TV broadcast partner, has secured the rights to broadcast the London 2012 Olympic Games.

As the largest pay TV platform across the region with the rights to broadcast London 2012 Olympic Games, ESS will feature round-the-clock coverage of the London 2012 Games across 13 channels (10 of which are in HD), available on mio TV with free access for all its subscribers.

To deliver an even more engaging experience, SingTel is also working with ESS and the IOC to explore showcasing key events in vivid 3D.

ESS MD Manu Sawhney said, ?We are very pleased to present the most comprehensive coverage of London 2012 Olympic Games in partnership with SingTel on mio TV. This is the first time fans in Singapore will have access to such a wide coverage of the Olympic Games which not only includes round-the- clock coverage on our core networks ESPN, Star Sports and ESPNEWS but 10 new additional ESPN Star Sports channels showcasing action from London 2012. To further enhance fans experience, we have lined up over 680 hours of build-up programming and original programming and along with this our talents will be bringing the highlights of the games from London. Fans can therefore look forward to the most entertaining and engaging presentation of the games ever.?

mio TV will aim to broadcast every single ?live? event that Team Singapore athletes are involved in. The platform?s technical capabilities enables viewers to use a robust search function to look for the events that they wish to watch without having to surf through all 13 channels.

SingTel CEO Singapore Allen Lew said, ?mio TV will be turning five this year. Since we launched in 2007, we have been steadily building our linear and on-demand offerings, ensuring that our subscribers have full access to key sporting events, the latest blockbusters and lifestyle programmes. Come July, our mio TV subscribers will enjoy the most comprehensive and exciting coverage of the London 2012 Games as a result of our partnership with ESPN Star Sports.?

On the home front, SingTel will be announcing a range of activities that will help ignite the flame of support for Team Singapore. Singaporeans are encouraged to come forward to give their encouragement and well-wishes for Team Singapore. More details on how to participate will be released later.

As the Official Telecommunications company for the Singapore National Olympic Council, SingTel will also be equipping the athletes with smartphones and complimentary airtime and data subscriptions while they are in London.

?Our athletes train hard for the Games and many times, find themselves spending less time with their loved ones. Using our multimedia and telecommunications services, SingTel enables Team Singapore to remain connected to their families, friends and supporters,? Lew said.