BBC Studios has announced record-breaking year performance for its linear channel business across EMEA in 2024. Across key markets including the Netherlands, Poland, Africa, and the Nordics, BBC-branded channels achieved their highest-ever audience shares.
In the Netherlands, BBC First, the premium drama channel, reached new heights in 2024. It recorded a 2.3% market share among viewers aged 4 and above, reflecting a 16% increase compared to 2023. This success solidified 2024 as the channel’s best year since its launch in 2015.
The BBC Studios portfolio in Poland, which includes BBC Earth, BBC Brit, BBC First, BBC Lifestyle, and CBeebies, is on track to deliver its highest annual share since its 2015 debut. With a collective 0.82% market share, BBC Earth and BBC First are leading the charge, both achieving their best performance to date in 2024.
BBC Nordic, a multi-genre linear channel available in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, has risen to prominence. In October and November, it became the top international channel in its competitive set in Norway, achieving a record 1.2% market share in November. Overall, the channel experienced a 53% year-over-year growth in 2024, its most successful year since launching.
BBC Studios’ linear offerings on DStv in Africa—including BBC Lifestyle, BBC Brit, BBC UKTV, BBC Earth, and BBC News—expanded their reach by 14% in 2024. Notably, CBeebies and BBC UKTV set new performance records, while BBC Lifestyle reached its highest levels since 2017. BBC Primetime, a curated two-hour content block on SABC3, saw a 24% increase in reach compared to the previous year.
Reflecting on the success, Arran Tindall, Chief Commercial Officer and EVP for EMEA Key Markets at BBC Studios, said: "2024 has been a record year for our channels business in EMEA. The incredible numbers across the Netherlands, Poland, Africa, and the Nordics are a testament to BBC Studios’ high-quality content and the careful curation by our teams to create schedules that resonate with local audiences."