MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has announced a deal with M-Net that will see the South African entertainment and sports channel screen a range of television movies.

The agreement, incorporating 23 television movies and over 35 hours of programming, represents the first such deal of its kind between BBC Worldwide and M-Net.

Included in the deal are such titles as Stephen Poliakoff's acclaimed Friends and Crocodiles; the classic family television movies, The Lost World and Carrie's War; adaptations of Nick Hornby's Man & Boy and Kingsley Amis's Take A Girl Like You; and the television movies, Cherished, Frances Tuesday, Passer By and Care.

BBC Worldwide dierctor emerging territories Monisha Shah said, "With this agreement, M-Net audiences in Africa will have the chance to enjoy some of the most acclaimed and popular television movies of recent years. The sheer range and quality of titles on offer makes this a breakthrough deal for us."

M-Net CEO Glen Marques says, "Our audiences expect the broadest-range of high-quality programmes from us, something this deal with BBC Worldwide genuinely delivers. Its fantastic to be continuing our important relationship with BBC Worldwide."