BBC buys NZ Sky TV's UKTV

[Apsattv]

From http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/bbc-buys-sky-tvs-uktv-32508


Sky TV's popular UKTV channel has been bought by BBC Worldwide .

Building on its existing 20 percent stake, BBC Worldwide acquired FOXTEL's 60 percent share and FremantleMedia's 20 percent stake in the channel. BBC Worldwide's managing director Darren Childs said the move was an obvious step, given its BBC content.

Sky chief executive John Fellet said the injection of further programming from BBC Worldwide's extensive catalogue would be welcomed by viewers.

BBC Worldwide, the main commercial arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation, already has a head office in Sydney and an operation in Melbourne through the acquisition of Lonely Planet.

[ukpakeha]

It should have happened years ago. In fact, BBC Worldwide only has a 20 per cent stake in BBC Canada and BBC Kids, but licenses the use of the BBC name to Alliance Atlantis. Most of UKTV's programming comes from the BBC anyway.

As it happens, the Granada UKTV channel, axed by Sky in NZ six years ago but still around in the Middle East, is going to be rebranded as an ITV channel and launched in Asian markets. However, 'ITV' isn't a brand name that's well known outside the UK - at least 'UKTV' gives you an idea of where the programming's from.

http://www.encoremagazine.com.au/articles/D2/0C057CD2.aspx?sc=269267


The Beeb takes over UKTV
by Fiona Williams

BBC Worldwide will assume full control of UKTV as of July 1, as part of a landmark strategic deal that will result in an additional three BBC Worldwide channels being added to the Foxtel subscription television platform over the next 12 months.

BBC Worldwide has previously had a 20-percent stake in UKTV, in a three-way partnership with Foxtel and Fremantle Media. Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams said the decision to relinquish Foxtel’s 60-percent stake came after “extended negotiation” with BBC Worldwide Channels managing director Darren Childs.

“It was clear in our discussions that Darren is an “all or nothing” style of manager,” Williams said in a media conference. “He said, ‘I’m not willing to keep mucking around; I want some skin in the game’”

Childs added that UKTV “fits in clearly” with the company’s international strategy, to move “from a pan regional focus to having a vested interest in local markets”.

Childs added that BBC programming accounted for more than half of UKTV’s offerings, “so it seemed a natural next step to take control”.

As part of the deal, BBC Worldwide will launch three new channels to the Foxtel platform, including the new BBC HD channel that launched in June, and two channels, BBC Knowledge (documentary and non-fiction programming) and CBeebies (an advertising-free channel for 0 to six year-olds), which will both launch in mid-2009 when Foxtel expands it cable and satellite capacity.

Williams stressed that the new services would not amount to “just bringing in a plug-in feed from the UK” and with UKTV, “the programming will be presented through a filter of Australian UKTV management team”.

So what if it were a "plug-in feed from the UK”? ERT in Australia is just a "plug-in feed from Greece”, but the Greeks don't beat themselves up about it.