BBC today announced a deal with a leading state-run Chinese new media company to launch some of its top preschool programmes on their multi-screen platform in the world's most populous country.
The deal with BesTV New Media will see CBeebies' award-winning and highly rated preschool programmes like Teletubbies, Sarah & Duck, Baby Jake and Andy's Wild Adventures available as a VOD (video-on-demand) service to BesTV's more than 20 million television subscribers.
It will launch the CBeebies, a brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children aged six or under, in China. Young learners and parents can enjoy Cbeebies programmes via BesTV on their multi-screen service -- through IPTV, Connect TV, OTT, tablets and mobile.
"We have a long-term relationship with BesTV, who have been acquiring our BBC documentaries and drama since 2008," said Pierre Cheung, vice president & general manager Greater China for BBC Worldwide.
"We are extremely excited to work with them again to launch the CBeebies brand on the platform, and look forward to working with them to promote our award-winning preschool brand in China," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.
"Family subscribers are our target users, and the deal with BBC Worldwide to provide CBeebies-branded programmes on BesTV is important to us -- it further enhances our target in providing family-oriented entertainment services," said Zhang Yue, vice president of BesTV New Media.
The CBeebies VOD service on BesTV will commence this summer.
China Central Television, (CCTV) and BTV are the dominant state-run channels in China.
Foreign channels like the BBC can only be seen in the international apartments in China that too with special dish antenna arrangements.
