(5 April 2008 5:00 pm)

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide's global channels business will be launching its first subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, BBC HD, to Taiwanese audiences with Chunghwa Telecom, the largest operator of broadband multimedia services in Taiwan, in April.

BBC HD SVOD viewers will be able to choose from 10 three-hour multiple genre blocks of programmes at any one time. The blocks will feature drama, comedy, documentary, natural history, music and arts programming.

BBC HD will be broadcast in English with traditional Chinese subtitles and will offer for the first time, programme promos and navigational menus in traditional Chinese.

BBC Worldwide senior VP, GM global channels Asia-Pacific Christine Leo-McKerrow said, "The BBC HD SVOD launch in Taiwan will be the first time the BBC HD brand is available outside the UK and in advance of the 24hour linear channel launching later this year.

"With plans to produce all of the BBC's UK primetime content in HD by 2010, the BBC will be one of the world's largest producers of English language HD programming."

"BBC HD SVOD is comprised of high-quality programmes of various genres. We believe our viewers will enjoy watching these HD programmes immensely."

BBC HD will showcase the drama Cranford set in Victorian England and starring Oscar-winner Judi Dench.

Other highlights will include the sumptuous natural history series, Ganges, telling the story of the river; Sensitive Skin, a new comedy set in London starring Joanna Lumley; Aida which is Verdi's opera about the great pharaohs; and Earth:The Power of the Planet, a series about the history of our planet, how it works, and what makes it so special.

BBC HD is the sixth channel brand in BBC Worldwide's new Global Channels portfolio to launch.

The other five channels are BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies – together with the BBC's 24-hour international news channel, BBC World – which are already available across Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa territories.