BBC Worldwide's channels reach more than 365m homes globally,
an increase of nearly 20% on 1999/00.
BBC
World
Above-target financial performance and increased global reach
marked the year for BBC World. Airtime sales were 41% up on last
year. The channel reduced its losses from £18.3m in 1999/00 to
£11.4m.
Distribution
continued to grow to target, up 10% from 72.2m to 79.4m for 24-hour
households and - chiefly in the US - nearly 100m 'part-time' households
receiving BBC World. In the US, BBC World is now in over 60% of
homes, thanks to a flourishing partnership with WLIW.
A
breakthrough deal in China enabled BBC World to be received in
hotels in major cities. The channel has increased its reach in
Eastern Europe and Russia, Latin America and Canada.
BBC
America
The BBC's channel aimed at US audiences, BBC America, continues
to expand ahead of target and now reaches nearly 17m homes. The
channel, distributed by DCI, is available on multiple cable systems
throughout the US, and on DirecTV and DISH Network.
Critical
acclaim continued: the Los Angeles Daily News rated BBC America
one of the "10 Best Things about TV 2000". The League
of Gentlemen was named the third best show in America by Time
Magazine.
BBC
Prime
BBC Prime expanded its subscriber base by 17% to more than 10m
for the first time. Sales were up by £2.5m. BBC Prime now reaches
more than 100 territories, and launched into Israel to 1.2m new
subscribers.
Joint
venture channels
UKTV
Distribution of UKTV (the joint venture between BBC Worldwide
and Flextech TV, the content division of Telewest) has grown.
The venture has been cash flow positive in 2000/01. 8.5m households
can now receive any of the six channels. The total number of viewers
grew by 19% to 18.7m. UK Drama launched in March 2000.
Discovery
Communications, Inc (DCI)
We jointly operate two factual channels with DCI. In Latin America,
People + Arts has strengthened its position and is now available
in 11.2m homes, an 18% growth over the year.
Animal
Planet's growth has been even more impressive. In Latin America,
subscribers increased by 24% from 7.3m to 9m subscribers. Animal
Planet Asia has seen a spectacular 205% increase in subscribers
from 7.9m to more than 24m. The channel launched in Japan in December
2000.
UKTV
Australia
In a year when UKTV Australia has increased its operating profit,
the number of subscribers has risen by 24% to 890,000 and its
average adult audience increased by 31%.
Canada
In Canada the joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Alliance
Atlantis was given approval by the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television
and Telecommunications Commission) for two digital channels -
BBC Canada and BBC Kids. Both channels are planned to launch in
September 2001.
|
-BBC
Worldwide operates these channels:
|
|
Distribution
(millions of homes);
|
| |
2000
|
2001
|
%
inc.-
|
|
-Wholly
owned:
|
|
-BBC
World
|
168
|
177; |
5%-
|
|
-BBC
Prime
|
8.7
|
10.2
|
17%-
|
|
-BBC
America
|
11.5
|
16.8
|
46%-
|
|
-In
partnership:
|
|
-With
Flextech Television
-a division of Telewest Communications
plc:
|
|
-UK
Horizons
|
5.9 |
7.4
|
25%-
|
|
-UK
Style
|
4.2
|
6.8
|
62%-
|
|
-UK
Drama (launched 31/03/00)
|
3.6
|
5.4
|
50%-
|
| -UK
Gold |
6.9
|
8.5
|
23%-
|
| -UK
Gold 2 |
2.4
|
5.3
|
121%-
|
|
-PlayUK
|
3.9
|
6.8
|
74%-
|
|
-With
Discovery Communications, Inc:
|
|
-People
+ Arts Latin America
|
9.5
|
11.2
|
18%-
|
|
-Animal
Planet Asia
|
7.9
|
24.2
|
205%-
|
|
-Animal
Planet Latin America
|
7.3
|
9
|
24%-
|
|
-Animal
Planet Europe
|
7.4
|
8.4
|
15%-
|
|
-Animal
Planet US
|
57
|
67.9
|
19%-
|
|
-With
FOXTEL and Pearson Television:
|
| -UKTV
(Australia) |
0.7
|
0.9
|
24%-
|
|
-With
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc:
|
|
-BBC
Canada (planned)
|
|
|
|
|
-BBC
Kids (planned)
|
|
|
|
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