BBC Studios launches its first free-to-view multi-genre channel in South Africa

BBC Studios has partnered with free-to-view satellite television provider in South Africa Openview to launch multi-genre channel BBC UKTV. The BBC’s first free-to-view channel in South Africa will launch on its 100th birthday, October 18, and offer a variety of entertainment, natural history series, soaps and children’s shows from BBC Studios’ award-winning catalogue.

Scheduled to match the viewing habits of families in South Africa, BBC UKTV will offer a variety of high-quality entertainment across all genres, such as the iconic factual entertainment show “The Great British Bake Off”; British hospital-based soap “Casualty”; long-running sitcom “My Family”; BBC’s incredible natural history collection; and also content for children aged 0-12.

“We are proud to partner with Openview to launch our first ever free-to-view channel in South Africa. The launch will enable us to reach wider audiences utilizing the richness of the BBC’s catalogue across multiple genres. I cannot wait for new families in South Africa to experience the very best of British content and discover their new favourite shows,”  commented Arran Tindall, Senior Vice President, EMEA Key Markets at BBC Studios.

Pierre Cloete, Commercial Director Africa at BBC Studios, added: “I am so excited for even more families in South Africa to access BBC Studios’ incredible catalogue of Bold, British shows. From British soaps, fascinating documentaries and children’s shows, BBC UKTV has been carefully crafted to match the viewing habits of the whole family, providing all age groups entertainment at every moment of the day.”

The launch of BBC UKTV joins BBC Studios’ existing channel offering in the market including BBC Earth, BBC Brit, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News on DStv, and BBC Kids, which is available to MTN customers on the Play Store.