Fetch TV and BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) has announced the addition of two new channels to the Fetch platform, with a market leading six BBC channels covered under their agreement.
Fetch TV will be a launch partner for BBC Earth on October 10th and will be the exclusive Australian launch partner for a BBC Brit Virtual Channel on November 1st. The deal also includes renewal of BBC First, BBC UKTV, CBeebies, and BBC World News on Fetch, as well as expanded video-on-demand rights including all available prior seasons (S2-26) and episodes of Top Gear, totalling over 300 hours.
BBC Brit will be presented by Fetch in the innovative Virtual Playlist Channel (VPC) format. Subscribers can use the BBC Brit scheduled listing in the TV Guide to discover and access shows that automatically play from the start of the episode, or they can go to a branded BBC Brit on-demand area and choose from a multitude of shows and episodes. The Virtual Playlist format has proven enormously popular on Fetch, with eight now available including four Free-to-Air VPC’s.
BBC Earth will replace BBC Knowledge, and BBC Brit will replace BBC Living, in the Fetch Knowledge and Ultimate channel packs.
BBC Brit is a global, broad-appeal, factual entertainment brand. Mixing intelligent with irreverent, and fact with fun, the line-up features an entertaining mix of motoring, adventure, life-changing moments, extreme characters and ultimate challenges. Key programming highlights include Top Gear, Extra Gear, Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends, Special Forces Ultimate Hell Week, A1: Highway Patrol, Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and many more
Scott Lorson, CEO of Fetch TV, said: “We are delighted to expand our partnership with the BBC, and to introduce two great new channels to the Fetch line up – BBC Earth and BBC Brit. The BBC produces some of the highest quality programming in the world and attracts an extremely loyal and passionate fan base. We are excited to give Fetch subscribers access to even more of the programs that they love, and with great flexibility in how they can be watched. With a market leading six BBC channels plus European football on Optus Sport, Fetch is the obvious choice for fans of great British entertainment.”
Jon Penn, managing director of BBC Studios ANZ, said: “We are very excited to expand our partnership with Fetch. Since the inception of the partnership in 2015, Fetch has been a key part of the growth story for our world-leading BBC channels in Australia. We look forward to offering Fetch subscribers six premium BBC channels, including the exclusive launch of BBC Brit for the first time in Australia.”