MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has launched three of its channels, BBC Entertainment, BBC World News and BBC Lifestyle, on newly launched Indonesian pay TV platform, max3.

max3 is the retail brand of Biznet Networks, a leading telecommunication and multimedia operator in Indonesia whose services currently include unlimited broadband internet service and pay TV services.

With the debut of BBC Entertainment in Indonesia, the full suite of BBC?s channels will now be available in the country.

?Indonesia is a very important part of BBC Worldwide?s growth strategy in Asia, and we are very pleased to be working with Biznet to launch our channels on their new platform,? commented BBC Worldwide Channels Asia SVP and GM Mark Whitehead. ?We are confident that the high quality and award winning programmes on BBC Entertainment, together with BBC World News and BBC Lifestyle will be popular with max3?s viewers.?

2012 has been a year of tremendous growth for BBC World News. "The channel surpassed the 300 million household figure in May, and several international news events of the year allowed BBC World News to do what it does best. That Biznet sees the value in carrying us in what is a strategic Asian market does not come as a surprise. We look forward to working with them to build the BBC World News brand in Indonesia, especially as we are about to move into new state-of-the art studios in London,? said BBC Global New Director Distribution Colin Lawrence.

?We are very happy that three of the BBC channels will join us when we launch our platform. We are confident that high quality content is a key factor in driving our subscription growth. We are confident that BBC World News, BBC Lifestyle and BBC Entertainment will make max3?s offerings even stronger and more sought after by our subscribers," said Biznet Networks President Director Adi Kusma.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has laid out its strategy for creating more original programmes for its international portfolio of channels.

New strategy for commissioning original content has the aim of reaching 100 hours in 2014. The twin track strategy will see orders for both Global and Local programme formats.

In 2012, the business is aiming for a threefold increase in the number of original hours ordered for BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and UKTV (BBC Worldwide?s general entertainment channel in Australia and New Zealand). The roadmap developed by VP of commissioning Tracy Forsyth will see the business commissioning 100 hours a year by 2014 as the international portfolio diversifies from a largely acquisitions-based content pipeline.

Forsyth will have a twin track strategy for original programming; firstly to create global productions which will run in all markets including India and secondly, Local commissions targeting individual markets. Underlining the brief to producers is a requirement to match the quality of shows acquired from the BBC for BBC Worldwide?s international audiences.

BBC Worldwide Channels is seeking to make a long term investment in high volume formats with the potential to run up to 50 episodes. Forsyth?s brief to producers includes factual entertainment formats with strong British connectivity, which might be through talent, subject matter, or irreverent wit and humour, but still with a tangible takeaway for the audience.

BBC Worldwide Channels will be looking to fully fund and also co-produce projects, working with the independent production community as well as the BBC?s in-house production teams. In addition to ordering news shows from the BBC, Tracy Forsyth will commission international versions of some of the Corporation?s flagship shows, tailored for audiences outside the UK. Recent examples include Sport Relief Goes Global, a four hour extravaganza of comedy and entertainment hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram, and wildlife broadcast Planet Earth Live which was repackaged for viewers outside the UK on BBC Knowledge and BBC HD in May this year.

The commissioning strategy being implemented is part of Jana Bennett?s long term vision for the Channels business which she outlined in June 2011, shortly after her arrival as President BBC Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, and builds on work begun David Weiland, SVP Programming and TV Channels to increase the number of originations for BBC Worldwide?s international audiences.

Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, president Jana Bennett said, "I believe the addition of original commissions can play a key part to the ongoing success of our international portfolio of BBC-branded channels. We have already premiered a number of originations to a great reception from our audience and I?d like to build on this."

Forsyth said, "Since joining the business in January this year, I?ve been working with the regional programming teams within BBC Worldwide to clearly identify the gaps in our schedules that can?t be filled from our acquisitions pipeline. The new shows I am ordering will give the viewers of our BBC-branded channels around the world more of the quality British content and talent they love, in their first run, and tailor-made to suit their tastes.

"I look forward to working with independent producers as well as the BBC?s in-house teams to create a brand new slate of shows that will celebrate the best of British talent and creativity, and inform, educate and entertain audiences around the world."

In 2011, BBC Worldwide Channels aired over 20 hours of original programming including ?Year of Adventures? starring Ben Fogle for global audiences of BBC Knowledge, series one of ?Come Dine With Me South Africa? for BBC Entertainment in that market, and ?Some Say Love?, a comedy pilot for UKTV in Australia and New Zealand.

MUMBAI: Richard Hammond?s Crash Course, an adventurous new series which sees Hammond test drive some of America?s most hazardous vehicles, will be airing on BBC Entertainment this August and September.

The show kicks off on 27 August at 10 pm on BBC Entertainment.

The series follows Hammond, presenter of the motoring show ?Top Gear?. He travels across the US and faces the ultimate challenge of learning how to operate America?s largest and most dangerous vehicles. Immersed in some of the country?s most extreme environments, he has only days to master these monstrous machines, a task that takes years for most people to achieve. Throughout his journey, Hammond works alongside local experts who operate these machines daily, while getting a true taste of American hospitality.

BBC Worldwide Channels senior VP programming, TV channels David Weiland commented, ?We are delighted to deliver yet another distinctive and original series to our global audiences this August. The launch of Richard Hammond?s Crash Course is a fantastic example of our ongoing commitment to bring our viewers around the world closer together, and to provide original, high quality programmes that capture the very best of British talent.?

Having experienced more than his fair share of international auto-escapades, and whizzed along countless race tracks, Hammond has driven just about every high-powered and luxurious vehicle ever made, courtesy BBC Top Gear. Now, in Richard Hammond?s Crash Course, he experiences the world?s biggest and toughest vehicles that are made not for show, but to get a job done.

Visiting six locations, with just three days in each, he must learn how to handle a variety of complex and dangerous machines. Not only is he in a foreign land, he is now the student, getting his hands dirty and learning all aspects of the job from the men and women who operate these essential machines. In the end, the experts decide if he has successfully completed each challenge.

MUMBAI: BBC Entertainment will kick off Year of Adventures on 19 February at 7 pm. This is BBC Worldwide Channels first ever global original commission.

Based on the Lonely Planet book of the same name, this television series takes viewers to spectacular locations across the world, brining the adventure guidebook to life on the small screen.

Starring British adventure traveller Ben Fogle, this series follows the explorer as he goes to the ends of the earth in pursuit of action and adventure, which anyone can do; the world is his and your thrill ride.

BBC Entertainment transports viewers to the most extraordinary and unexpected places on our planet as we watch Ben?s pursuit of heart-in-the-mouth adventure. Ben?s exploits include competing in a 24-hour bike race across the US Moab desert, an off-road race across Australia?s outback, para-gliding in Italy, diving in Iceland and ?coasteering? along the jagged cliffs in Wales.

In the first episode, Ben Fogle tackles extreme challenges across every kind of terrain in order to prepare for the world?s largest adventure race in Australia. Adrenaline junkie Ben Fogle will need strength, endurance and to learn some new skills on the way. His goal is to take part in the world?s largest adventure race, the Augusta Anaconda in Australia ? where the Indian Ocean meets the Pacific at one of the Three Great Capes on the globe (Cape Leuwin).

To prepare for this Australian challenge of a lifetime, Ben begins his training in California. He throws himself in to the legendary mile and a half swim from the notorious Alcatraz Prison, through the icy waters across San Francisco Bay. This epic swim attracts solo swimmers, racers and military training camps from all over the world. Swimming these deadly waters requires supreme strength against the strong tides and Ben overcomes his fears as he takes to the shark-infested waters for his Alcatraz-style escape.

And finally with Ben now trained to the max, he is ready for his ultimate challenge ? The Anaconda Adventure Race team event. This gruelling 60 km (37 miles) cross country course involves mountain biking, off-road running, ocean swimming and kayaking and Ben is competing in all four disciplines on his own against 1,800 other competitors.

The Anaconda Adventure is the largest adventure race in the world and attracts riders from all over the globe who need sheer bravery to take on the challenge, as the course runs along the South Australian coastline.