BBC Worldwide Channels to launch BBC Entertainment across Europe and the Middle East

From November this year, the pan-regional channel will be rebranded as BBC Entertainment, providing viewers across Europe and the Middle East with a new-look home for compelling comedy, drama and light entertainment programming from the BBC and other UK production houses.

BBC Prime first launched in 1995 and is currently available in 12 million homes across Europe and the Middle East. The decision to rebrand was taken as part of BBC Worldwide Channels' ongoing commitment to offer its viewers channels of the highest quality.

The rebranded channel will utilise the award-winning on-air look of BBC Entertainment, supported by a recent investment in 800 hours of fresh programming.

New dramas set to premiere on the channel from November include This Life +10 and the five-part series Mine all Mine, penned by Russell T. Davies, while upcoming comedy series include Lead Balloon S2 and The Omid Djalili Show.

The channel will also air blocks of documentary, lifestyle and children's programming in off-peak hours and will continue to be the home of popular long-running serials such as Eastenders, Holby City and Casualty.

Dean Possenniskie, General Manager and SVP EMEA, BBC Worldwide Channels, said:

"Launching BBC Entertainment in over 600,000 households in the Middle East is a significant step in our ongoing commitment to provide audiences with channels that reflect the quality synonymous with the BBC Brand. I'm sure viewers will appreciate the fresh and contemporary on-air look for BBC Entertainment and will enjoy the hundreds of hours of fresh programming that will hit their screens this year."

The rebrand of BBC Prime to BBC Entertainment will bring the channel in line with BBC Worldwide Channels global portfolio of BBC-branded thematic channel brands - BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Knowledge, CBeebies and BBC HD. BBC Entertainment first launched as a fully localised channel in Asia in 2006 and since then has launched across India, Poland, Africa, Scandinavia and Latin America.