BBC Global: Upside from Linear and Digital
With regional pay-TV penetration at 40% and growing, and digital migration boosting channel shelf space, BBC Global Channels is eyeing big opportunities in Asia through the launch of multiple TV channels including BBC Knowledge, CBeebies, BBC Lifestyle and in the future, an HD offering. In addition, the BBC is leveraging its rich library to offer TV and online platforms heaps of on-demand content.
For now, the headlines belong to the channel business with BBC Global taking the bold move to launch its new channels exclusively on the SingTel IPTV platform in Singapore, leaving its existing franchises (BBC World and BBC Entertainment) on pay-TV incumbent StarHub, which has close to 500,000 subscribers. SingTel's economic proposition was likely more commercially viable for the BBC. The new batch of channels are led by BBC Knowledge, which will be competing in the factual entertainment space with Discovery and the National Geographic Channel (NGC). BBC Knowledge is also leveraging strong titles in a rich library, many of which had previously been sold to Discovery, which may potentially have to modify its strategy in the future.
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