MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has announced that hit entertainment TV format Dancing with the Stars has been licensed to Cambodian Broadcasting Service (CBS). The series will air on CTN, Cambodia’s most watched terrestrial channel.

The announcement marks the debut of Dancing with the Stars in Cambodia. It is also BBC Worldwide’s first format sale in the country.

One of BBC Worldwide’s most popular global brands, Dancing with the Stars has been licensed in 49 countries, and a version of the show has been seen in over 75 countries, with over 220 series to date. Local versions of Dancing with the Stars air in countries as diverse as Lebanon, India and Russia.

The brand has also extended into live events, gaming and digital properties. In Asia, the format has been sold in Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China, South Korea and two versions in India. In India, the sixth and latest season of the Hindi version, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa has achieved its best audience figures to date for Colors. The grand finale pushed the show to the top of weekend programming nearly doubling the ratings from 2012.

The company thinks that Cambodia is an important market to grow in terms of business in Asia and thus it is looking at expanding there. Earlier, BBC World News, BBC Lifestyle and BBC Knowledge were launched in the country.

The series is set to premiere in mid 2014.