SCRIPPS NETWORKS ENTER U.K. IN $556-MILLION DEAL

Scripps Networks in the U.S. has agreed to buy a 50-percent stake in the British pay-TV operator UKTV from Virgin Media in a deal worth $556 million. Scripps, the owner of The Cooking Channel and The DIY Network in the U.S. will wind up as an equal partner of BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of […]

BBC WORLDWIDE PRODUCTIONS TAKES ON HOLLYWOOD

BBC Worldwide, the commercial (for profit) arm of the British public broadcaster, is increasing its incursion into U.S. television through its BBC Worldwide Productions, the London Financial Times reported today (Monday). Jane Tranter, who was appointed to run the production company, told the FT that it will be focusing on U.S. cable networks rather than […]

BBC PROGRAMS COMING TO THE U.S. — VIA THE IPAD

The BBC is about to launch a global version of its iPlayer service exclusively for iPad owners on a subscription basis, published reports said today (Thursday). Free advertising-supported programming will also reportedly be available, presumably via the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide. The iPlayer is the BBC video-on-demand service that permits British users to access […]

BBC SELLS ITS STAKE IN CHANNELS OWNED WITH DISCOVERY

In what the London Financial Times has described as a “windfall,” the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, has sold the 50 percent stake that it owns in the international cable networks Animal Planet and LIV to its partner, Discovery Communications for $156 million. It reportedly plans to reinvest the money into its self-branded BBC America […]