Taipei — BBC Worldwide and ELTA TV kicked off 2015 by announcing a deal that will see the largest volume of UK content available in Taiwan. The deal includes channels, programme sales and VOD for BBC’s factual, lifestyle, light entertainment, news and current affairs content across multiple platforms in Taiwan.
The announcement was made at a joint press conference hosted by ELTA TV and BBC Worldwide in Taipei. With this deal, four of BBC’s channels – BBC World News HD, the BBC’s 24 hour international news and information service; BBC Knowledge HD, offering a breath-taking mix of factual and non-fiction programming ranging from natural history to science, technology, adventure and history; BBC Lifestyle, which provides a wealth of inspiration for home, family and life; and BBC Entertainment, filled with glossy new dramas, classic sci-fi, hilarious sitcoms and celebrity chat shows, will be available on Chunghwa Telecom’s MOD IPTV service. In addition, a slate of BBC’s science and natural history programmes will be available on Chunghwa’s newly launched documentary pack available on SVOD; and drama content will air on ELTA’s World Channel on MOD.
“We are excited to start the year with our new partnership with ELTA. About 20 months ago, BBC Worldwide restructured to enable us to work more seamlessly across BBC’s multiple business lines and offerings, to better serve our regional partners’ needs. This deal is an example of how, we are now better able to deliver our high quality content to viewers through multiple platforms,” said David Weiland, EVP, Asia, BBC Worldwide. “It is also a testament to our ongoing commitment to Asia, and of the importance of Taiwan to our growth strategy in the region.”
“The announcement marks a significant milestone for ELTA TV as we continue to make our mark in the new media industry here in Taiwan,” said Sally Chen, CEO, ELTA TV. “We are proud to now be able to provide the best of BBC’s TV content to viewers in Taiwan through our newly minted partnership with BBC Worldwide. Viewers in Taiwan can now easily access a multitude of BBC content anytime, anyplace through BBC’s channels on Chunghwa, our VOD services and TV programmes on ELTA’s World channel.”
“Viewers in Taiwan recognise and appreciate quality television,” commented Pierre Cheung, VP and GM, Greater China, BBC Worldwide. ”With this partnership with ELTA, we will now be able deliver to our audiences, through a variety of platforms, a wide range of highly rated and award-winning programmes that will appeal to the viewers here.”
In February, viewers of BBC Entertainment channel, will be able to catch the award-winning chat show, The Graham Norton Show (series 16) on BBC Knowledge, the latest series of Top Gear (series 22), airs within 24 hours of the UK telecast. On BBC Lifestyle, Taiwan viewers can catch the pay TV premiere of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (series seven); and on BBC World News, viewers can catch Richer World, part of the BBC World News season of programming, that will explore the health of the world’s economy and the impact it is having on people’s lives.
Some of the science and natural history programmes available on Chunghwa’s new documentary pack on SVOD include 24 hours on Earth, about how the changing position of the sun affects the behaviour of animals and plants across our planet; Penguins – Spy In The Huddle which takes viewers on a discovery of what it really means to be a penguin; and Super Smart Animals, where viewers will meet some of the world’s greatest animal minds and see them in action. Drama and pre-school content available on ELTA’s World Channel on Chunghwa include Doctor Who (series five & six), which follows the adventures of the Doctor as he explores the universe in his Tardis.
