BBC Worldwide and Blue Ant Media Partner to Bring BBC Earth to Canada
BBC Earth’s Canadian Launch to Include the Nationwide Premiere of Planet Earth II, Airing Day-and-Date with the U.S. Premiere on BBC AMERICA, Saturday, January 28, 2017
Toronto, Canada – BBC Worldwide North America and Blue Ant Media announced today that they have entered into an agreement to launch BBC Earth, the BBC’s premium factual channel in Canada. Scheduled to debut on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, the commercial-free channel will give Canadians exclusive access to BBC Earth’s slate of high-profile programming including Planet Earth II and The Hunt.
“We’ve found a kindred spirit in Blue Ant Media – they are the perfect partner for our premiere BBC Earth channel, which will showcase a stellar collection of the BBC’s unparalleled natural world programming,” said Ann Sarnoff, President BBC Worldwide North America. “We know that the BBC brand and content resonate with Canadians, so we’re looking forward to BBC Earth becoming an important part of the television landscape in Canada.”
BBC Earth showcases the work of the world’s foremost factual filmmakers as it takes audiences on a journey of discovery that includes incredible moments in history and the human experience as well as outer space and science. From the smallest creature under the microscope to the limitless expanses of space, the channel brings viewers face to face with heart-pounding action, mind-blowing ideas and the wonder of being human.
“BBC Earth and its iconic, world-class programming are a perfect complement to Blue Ant Media’s suite of premium factual channels,” said Raja Khanna, CEO, Television & Digital, Blue Ant Media. “Our partnership with BBC Worldwide underlines Blue Ant Media’s on-going commitment to invest in premium brands and bring the world’s best content to Canadians from coast to coast.”
The highly anticipated premiere of Planet Earth II, will be broadcast on BBC Earth in Canada on Saturday, January 28, day-and-date with the U.S. premiere, which will air on BBC AMERICA. Blue Ant Media will release further programming information and scheduling details for the channel in early January.
BBC Earth will be broadcast in Canada in HD and will replace Blue Ant Media’s existing radX channel
About BBC Earth
BBC Earth is a global factual brand which seeks to inspire audiences in the UK and worldwide with the most incredible sights, stories and characters from the natural world. Commercially and internationally the brand is managed by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC. Since launch the brand has grown across multiple platforms including branded blocks on television, live events, social media, visitor attractions, theatrical releases for cinema and giant screen films and online on BBC.com. From 2015 the BBC Earth brand will launch new channels internationally that will be dedicated to bringing audiences premium factual content.
About Blue Ant Media
Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international media company that creates and distributes content worldwide across multiple platforms, including streaming video, linear television, digital, magazines and live events. Global brands include Love Nature, an international linear and SVOD offering, with the world’s largest library of 4K wildlife and nature content; and Omnia Media, a leading digital video network focused on gaming and maker lifestyles. The company’s broadcast portfolio includes a robust offering of Canadian and New Zealand-based media brands. Blue Ant Media’s distribution business, Blue Ant International, offers a catalogue of 2,200+ hours of premium, unscripted content worldwide, which includes the largest 4K natural history library on the market. Blue Ant Media is headquartered in Toronto (Canada), with offices located in Los Angeles (US), London (UK) and Auckland (NZ). blueantmedia.ca
About BBC Worldwide North America BBC Worldwide North America is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) operating in the U.S. and Canada. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer and invests in public service programing in return for rights. The company operates four businesses in the territory – linear and digital content sales and co-productions, consumer products, BBC.com, and two production divisions – BBC Worldwide Productions, responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars and the U.S. version of Top Gear; and Adjacent Productions, producers of Da Vinci’s Demons, Life Below Zero, and Ladies of London, among others. The company also owns a 50.1% share in cable channel BBC AMERICA through a joint venture with AMC Networks.
Press Contacts
Kate Calder
Senior Publicist
Blue Ant Media
E: kate.calder@blueantmedia.ca
T: 416.646.6591
Sarah Etherden
Director, Corporate Communications
Blue Ant Media
E: sarah.etherden@blueantmedia.ca
T: 416.440.7283
Deborah Schonfeld
Director, Publicity
BBC Worldwide North America
E: Deborah.schonfeld@bbc.com
T: 212.705.9498