MUMBAI: After trying to get its channels off the ground for the past five years, BBC Worldwide Channels has decided to stop airing its two entertainment channels in the country - BBC Entertainment India and CBeebies.

The channels will stop airing by the end of the month. BBC World News will, however, continue to air.

The news has come as a surprise to some given that in 2010 the channel had appointed Deepak Shourie as its director for South Asia and refreshed BBC Entertainment in 2011 with a focus on entertainment, infotainment and factual content. BBC Worldwide Channels was trying to make a serious push on the distribution front.

BBC Worldwide Channels Asia senior VP, GM Mark Whitehead said, "The decision to withdraw BBC Entertainment and CBeebies has not been an easy one; India is a dynamic and fast growing media market but remains uniquely challenging for pay TV channels. Specifically, delays in digitisation and the need for channel operators to pay cable platforms for carriage makes the economics of running channels very challenging at this time."

A rival broadcaster on condition of anonymity says that the numbers must not have added up. "It might make sense for them to return in 2015 if the digitisation process is complete. Right now placement costs are not going down. These costs will go down only by the end of next year when the second phase of digitisation is over. Also remember that Cbeebies does not carry ads. So to pay carriage fees on that is a losing proposition."

He adds that British content is more niche than American content. "A few shows had gotten traction like ?Sherlock?, ?Top Gear?. But when they did their annual review and looked at the markets that they operate in, the decision must have been that India for now does not make sense."

Whitehead adds that despite this, BBC Worldwide remains committed to India. "BBC World News ? the BBC?s international news and current affairs television channel ? continues to be available across the market, along with the bbc.com and bbchindi.com websites, BBC Hindi radio and Global India, a new primetime programme produced by BBC Hindi TV which will launch on five ETV channels later this week.

"In addition, BBC Worldwide operates a TV production business, a content syndication business and Lonely Planet in India. The company is also evaluating the potential for a number of digital initiatives which have been successfully developed in other markets. BBC programmes will also continue to be available on other channels in India, both terrestrial and cable, as well as digitally on our YouTube channel."

In the coming weeks, BBC Worldwide will be ensuring a smooth transition for its staff affected by this decision.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Productions and Quality Transmedia have announced that they will be producing a historical fantasy motion comic series based on the best-selling comic book Peter Panzerfaust.

The companies have secured rights to the title and will initially be producing the series for digital release, while concurrently working to develop "Panzerfaust" as a live action scripted series. The project will be executive produced by BBC Worldwide Productions? senior VP of scripted, Julie Gardner (Da Vinci?s Demons, Doctor Who, Torchwood), BBC Worldwide Productions? Vice President of Digital, Dan Tischler (Gigi: Almost American; Torchwood: Web of Lies) and Quality Transmedia?s Jeff Krelitz.

?Panzerfaust?, by Kurtis J. Weibe and Tyler Jenkins, is a contemporary reimagining of the classic J.M. Barrie tale, "Peter Pan". The ongoing comic book series, published by Image Comics, premiered last spring. In ?Panzerfaust?, Peter is an American freedom fighter in Nazi-occupied Europe at the outset of World War II. He partners with the Lost Boys, a ragtag group of orphans, to combat the Nazi threat, led by SS Captain Haken (aka Captain Hook).

BBC Worldwide Productions VP digital Dan Tischler said, "Panzerfaust was instantly appealing our team with its unique mixture of real historical elements combined with classic Peter Pan mythology. This clever take on such an iconic story offers us an opportunity to take a comprehensive cross-platform approach to development, with the motion comic series being the ideal entry point to bring the concept to life."

Quality Transmedia head, Jeff Krelitz said, "When I read the material, I immediately knew the innovative and creative sensibilities of BBC Worldwide Productions would make them the perfect partner for this project. This represents a fresh and smart way to explore the material and I?m looking forward to bringing Peter Panzerfaust to audiences through a variety of mediums."

The motion comic format combines elements of comic book art, animation and voice over narration to bring the static comic book pages to life on screen. The format the company says has gained popularity in recent years as an alternative to traditional animation with a distinct storytelling aesthetic of its own. This is the second collaboration for Jeff Krelitz and BBC Worldwide Productions, who previously worked together on ?Torchwood: Web of Lies?, a companion prequel to ?Torchwood: Miracle Day?.

MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BC‘s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has announced sales of its children‘s titles ahead of the television trade event MIPJunior which takes place in Cannes, France from 6-7 October 2012. Animated series ‘Baby Jake‘ has been picked up by Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

Other new sales include ‘The Adventures of Abney and Teal‘ to ABC4Kids (Australia), and Starz Kids and Family in the US has licensed teen comedies ‘Wingin‘ It‘ and ‘Sadie J‘.

BBC Worldwide children‘s genre manager, sales and distribution Nathan Waddington said, "We have really bolstered our children‘s titles right across the age range, so it‘s brilliant to see series from pre-school animations to teen titles being snapped up by broadcasters all over the globe."

BBC Worldwide is launching a new children‘s title at MIPJunior - ‘Sarah and Duck‘, a quirky animation about a seven-year-old and her manic but endearing best friend Duck. Also on the slate is the second season of ‘Leonardo‘ following the further adventures of the teenage Leonardo Da Vinci.

‘Baby Jake‘ follows the toddler‘s adventures into space, to tropical forests, and under the ocean. The series uses a mixture of live action, 2D animations and photorealism to create a truly distinctive style. Baby Jake been picked up by Kazakhstan TV, RTP2 (Portugal), RAI (Italy) and TVB (Hong Kong).

Ragdoll Productions‘ ‘The Adventures of Abney and Teal‘ features two rag dolls who live in a park, and is based on stories created by established children‘s author and illustrator, Joel Stewart. Teen comedy ‘Wingin‘ It‘ is about a reckless angel-in-training sent to help a hapless high school student. This new series is from Temple Street, the producers of ‘Being Erica‘. Coming-of-age comedy ‘Sadie J‘ tackles the various issues that a 13 year old has to deal with. The series follows Sadie as she tries to cope in an all-boy household.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has unveiled its Summer season of programmes exclusive to DStv viewers in South Africa.

The line-up presents talent such as Sir David Attenborough and Nigella Lawson, sitting alongside new faces like Rachel Khoo.

BBC Worldwide Channels VP programming Europe, Middle East and Africa Jon Farrar said, "This July Danny Boyle‘s much-lauded Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics uniquely captured the spirit of modern Britain which embraces tradition and quality alongside creativity, innovation and fun.

"In our Summer Channels Schedule these qualities can be found in abundance - from the stiff upper lips of worldwide smash hit Downton Abbey to the fun and realism of Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents. Traditional, high-quality programming such as landmark wildlife series Africa also sit alongside Embarrassing Bodies - a ground-breaking factual entertainment series with a social purpose. We are proud that our Summer line-up is rubber-stamped with the mark of ‘Made in Britain‘ and look forward to sharing our distinctive, innovative and high quality programming with our South African audience over the coming months."

Downton Abbey returns with a much-awaited third series of tales about the Crawley family. Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes picks up the story of the Downton householders as they adapt to life in the roaring twenties and a new cast member slips into costume Shirley MacLaine.

Nostalgic drama Call The Midwife makes its South African debut exclusively on BBC Entertainment. Miranda Hart, Jenny Agutter, Judy Parfitt, Pam Ferris and Vanessa Redgrave star in these tales of midwifery and families in Fifties‘ London.

Culinary stars Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson serve up brand new cooking series on BBC Lifestyle as the channel continues to showcase the best British cooking talent. Gordon Ramsay‘s Ultimate Cookery sees the larger than life chef strip away all the complexity and hard graft to take cooking back to basics and mouth-watering new series Nigellissima brings a taste of Italy to super cook Nigella Lawson‘s home cooking.

And fresh new faces also pepper the schedule. New cooking queen Rachel Khoo makes her debut in South Africa with her hugely popular series which puts a modern twist on French cooking - ‘Little Paris Kitchen‘.

Raising awareness and informing viewers is health show Embarrassing Bodies which debuts this season on BBC Knowledge. One of the most popular and influential health shows on British television, the series aims to de-stigmatise ‘embarrassing‘ body parts and medical conditions.

Africa takes centre stage this Summer as BBC Knowledge launches its new wildlife series, narrated by the peerless Sir David Attenborough. Airing exclusively on BBC Knowledge, this landmark five-part series from the BBC‘s Natural History Unit celebrates the wildlife and landscapes of this continent.

MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC Worldwide will be hosting the stars of the new crime drama Ripper Street at next month?s television trade event Mipcom 2012 in Cannes, France.

Matthew Macfadye, Jerome Flynn and Adam Rothenberg fly down to Cannes to launch the series at a special event on 8 October. Ahead of Mipcom, BBC Worldwide is pleased to announce two more pre-sales of the title with Canada?s Space and NRK in Norway picking up the eight-part series.

BBC Worldwide Sales & Distribution, president, MD Steve Macallister said, "Acclaimed writers, superb acting talent and the highest of production values are all evident in our rich and varied Mipcom drama slate. With such shows as Ripper Street and The Paradise, set in the Victorian era; WW2 drama Spies of Warsaw; Jane Campion?s Top of the Lake set in modern day New Zealand and the futuristic Doctor Who (S7) we can offer truly unrivalled storytelling spanning three centuries and beyond."

Ripper Street has already pre-sold to Network Ten in Australia and is a co production with BBC AMERICA. The drama is set in and around Whitechapel in London?s East End in 1889, during the aftermath of the Jack the Ripper murders. The action centres on the notorious H Division, which is charged with keeping order in the chaotic dark streets of London.

BBC Worldwide will also launch Oscar winner Jane Campion?s new 6 part mystery drama Top of the Lake starring Elisabeth Moss and Holly Hunter. Jane Campion will take centre stage at MIPCOM for a unique Creative Talks interview, alongside her co-writer Gerard Lee, on 9 October.

Other drama titles brand new to the market are The Paradise, Spies of Warsaw and A Young Doctor?s Notebook. The Paradise, set amidst the Victorian splendour of Britain?s first department store, stars Sarah Lancashire (Upstairs Downstairs, Lark Rise to Candleford), Patrick Malahide (Game of Thrones, The World is Not Enough) and Matthew McNulty (Misfits, Lark Rise to Candleford) amongst others. The two ninety minute film adaptations of Alan Furst?s acclaimed novel, Spies of Warsaw, evoke a Europe stumbling into the Second World War. Filming took place in Poland earlier this year with David Tennant and Janet Montgomery in the lead roles. Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe star in A Young Doctor?s Notebook, a wry comedy drama about a young doctor?s fledgling career as he begins his new life in a small, backwards Russian village. The series is based on semi-autobiographical short stories by Bulgakov.

The returning shows Doctor Who and Misfits complete BBC Worldwide?s drama slate for Mipcom 2012.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Australasia has unveiled a new partnership with the Nine Network which will see the motoring entertainment show ?Top Gear? premiere on Foxtel?s BBC Knowledge before being transmitted on Nine and on GO!.

Under this new arrangement, BBC Knowledge will be the first Australian channel to screen the new series of Top Gear, bringing the program to subscription TV viewers in a consistent slot and only days after the UK transmission.

Nine Network viewers can enjoy the new shows shortly after their BBC Knowledge premieres. Once it has transmitted on the Nine Network, Top Gear will be available for catch up on Nine MSN and topgear.com/au, on DVD from Roadshow Entertainment and for download to own.

Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Richard Hammond and The Stig will have their BBC Knowledge premiere with Series 19 in the new year and some exciting one-off specials.

The deal was negotiated by BBC Worldwide Director of Sales Julie Dowding who said, "This is a significant deal for BBC Worldwide Australasia and for Australian Top Gear fans. We are fast-tracking ?Top Gear? to Australia by closing the transmission window, offering premium value to viewers on our wholly owned channel, BBC Knowledge, and ensuring that all Australians get the opportunity to view Top Gear by continuing our successful relationship with the Nine Network."

Nine director of television Michael Healy said, "We?re delighted to be continuing our successful relationship with Top Gear, bringing one of the world?s biggest shows to all Australians on Nine."

BBC Worldwide GM, director of channels Deirdre Brennan said, " ?Top Gear? is a premium brand that appeals to a broad audience, from families to motoring fans, with its infectious mix of credibility and character. It?s very exciting to be able to bring it to Australian Foxtel customers first on BBC Knowledge."