MUMBAI: British public broadcaster BBC?s commercial arm BBC Worldwide is to launch a premium BBC channel on Foxtel in Australia as an ad free medium to focus on British drama and comedy.

This new multi-platform deal will attempt to be as close to the transmission in United Kingdom as possible.

This is a key move in the BBC?s global strategy to build its brand in markets outside the UK. The Foxtel platform offers an opportunity for the BBC to create a direct relationship with Australian audiences.

Launching as part of the Foxtel Drama and Lifestyle package in mid 2014, the channel will feature quality first-run programming from the BBC and other great British producers, which will not be available on terrestrial television for at least 12 months.

One title already confirmed for the launch is the spectacular 10-part drama series ?The Musketeers?, which is Adrian Hodges? fresh and contemporary take on Alexandre Dumas? characters from the novel ?The Three Musketeers?.

The deal will also see the four existing BBC channels ? UKTV, BBC Knowledge, CBeebies and BBC World News ? continuing on the Foxtel platform.

All five channels will be available on Foxtel GO and the premiere channel will be available in high definition, alongside UKTV and BBC Knowledge. Extensive BBC content will be available on demand at no extra charge and subscribers to the channels will be able to go back in time using the Foxtel EPG to watch or record programmes they have missed.

In addition, the deal offers Foxtel a first-look at all BBC Worldwide Lifestyle programming. This content will also be available on Foxtel Go and on demand and using the EPG catch up functionality.

BBC Worldwide Australasia MD Jon Penn said, ?This deal represents a strategic opportunity for BBC Worldwide to further expand our opportunities to showcase outstanding British creativity in Australia. We have a strong relationship with Foxtel and their viewers through our existing four channels, and were delighted to be given the chance to launch a premium channel that could offer the best BBC and British premiere television shortly after UK transmission. We are confident that we will also continue to have productive relationships with our other valued partners in the FTA, STV and digital markets.?

Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein said, ?The BBC is one of the great television brands: its content across so many genres is loved and admired by millions of viewers all over the world. By strengthening our relationship with the BBC we will greatly enhance the viewing experience we offer our subscribers, with even more high quality content that can only be seen on the Foxtel platform and which we show as soon as possible after its original broadcast. Plus we offer the superior quality of high definition and the fantastic convenience of Foxtel Go.?

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has laid out its strategy for creating more original programmes for its international portfolio of channels.

New strategy for commissioning original content has the aim of reaching 100 hours in 2014. The twin track strategy will see orders for both Global and Local programme formats.

In 2012, the business is aiming for a threefold increase in the number of original hours ordered for BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and UKTV (BBC Worldwide?s general entertainment channel in Australia and New Zealand). The roadmap developed by VP of commissioning Tracy Forsyth will see the business commissioning 100 hours a year by 2014 as the international portfolio diversifies from a largely acquisitions-based content pipeline.

Forsyth will have a twin track strategy for original programming; firstly to create global productions which will run in all markets including India and secondly, Local commissions targeting individual markets. Underlining the brief to producers is a requirement to match the quality of shows acquired from the BBC for BBC Worldwide?s international audiences.

BBC Worldwide Channels is seeking to make a long term investment in high volume formats with the potential to run up to 50 episodes. Forsyth?s brief to producers includes factual entertainment formats with strong British connectivity, which might be through talent, subject matter, or irreverent wit and humour, but still with a tangible takeaway for the audience.

BBC Worldwide Channels will be looking to fully fund and also co-produce projects, working with the independent production community as well as the BBC?s in-house production teams. In addition to ordering news shows from the BBC, Tracy Forsyth will commission international versions of some of the Corporation?s flagship shows, tailored for audiences outside the UK. Recent examples include Sport Relief Goes Global, a four hour extravaganza of comedy and entertainment hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram, and wildlife broadcast Planet Earth Live which was repackaged for viewers outside the UK on BBC Knowledge and BBC HD in May this year.

The commissioning strategy being implemented is part of Jana Bennett?s long term vision for the Channels business which she outlined in June 2011, shortly after her arrival as President BBC Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, and builds on work begun David Weiland, SVP Programming and TV Channels to increase the number of originations for BBC Worldwide?s international audiences.

Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, president Jana Bennett said, "I believe the addition of original commissions can play a key part to the ongoing success of our international portfolio of BBC-branded channels. We have already premiered a number of originations to a great reception from our audience and I?d like to build on this."

Forsyth said, "Since joining the business in January this year, I?ve been working with the regional programming teams within BBC Worldwide to clearly identify the gaps in our schedules that can?t be filled from our acquisitions pipeline. The new shows I am ordering will give the viewers of our BBC-branded channels around the world more of the quality British content and talent they love, in their first run, and tailor-made to suit their tastes.

"I look forward to working with independent producers as well as the BBC?s in-house teams to create a brand new slate of shows that will celebrate the best of British talent and creativity, and inform, educate and entertain audiences around the world."

In 2011, BBC Worldwide Channels aired over 20 hours of original programming including ?Year of Adventures? starring Ben Fogle for global audiences of BBC Knowledge, series one of ?Come Dine With Me South Africa? for BBC Entertainment in that market, and ?Some Say Love?, a comedy pilot for UKTV in Australia and New Zealand.