MUMBAI: 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 Gea‘r and ‘The Hour‘.
BBC Worldwide America executive VP network distribution Sandy Ashendorf said, "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. 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. It 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, and San Francisco.
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.
GN COO Jim Egan 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. In January, BBC America will debut new drama ‘Ripper Street‘, set in London in the aftermath of Jack the Ripper, and new original series ‘Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan‘. New episodes of ‘Doctor Who‘, ‘Copper‘, ‘Luther‘, ‘Top Gear‘, ‘The Graham Norton Show‘, ‘Being Human‘, ‘The Thick of It‘ plus new original drama ‘Orphan Black‘ and mini-series ‘Spies of Warsaw‘ have also been announced for next year.
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 an international multimedia provider 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‘.
