BBC takes full control of Aussie UKTV

BBC Worldwide has taken full control of Australian channel UKTV ahead of a major expansion of the broadcaster's television offerings in the country.

The BBC's commercial arm has purchased the 80% of UKTV that it did not already own from Foxtel and FremantleMedia.

It plans to work closely with Foxtel, the Telstra-News Corporation-Consolidated Media joint venture that operates television channels and pay TV platforms, on the launch of BBC Knowledge and CBeebies in Australia. The two firms already worked together on the launch of BBC HD earlier this month, and BBC World News is already available on Foxtel's digital TV service.

"The agreement demonstrates our commitment to Australia and follows the ground-breaking launch of the BBC HD service on Foxtel – the channel's first launch outside the UK," said BBC Worldwide Channels managing director Darren Childs. "The Australian market is extremely important to BBC Worldwide; there is a strong affinity to our content that has built up over many years.

"Having five channels will allow us to showcase the breadth and depth of BBC programmes, in many cases for the first time, to Australian audiences. In addition, we will continue to seek new opportunities for future growth in this region.

"We are delighted to be launching two new services in 2009 from our Australian base and believe BBC Knowledge and CBeebies will be as popular with the Australian viewing public as they have with our other global audiences. The channels reflect all that the BBC stands for in originality, quality and entertainment."