NEW DELHI: Jana Bennett, President Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, today confirmed the network?s commitment to stage bold and ambitious global television events as she unveiled two new seasons for 2012 at MipTV.

London Calling and Planet Earth Live will run simultaneously across the BBC channels around the world, showcasing the very best of British programming and UK talent to the World.

As the eyes of the World turn to London this summer, the City of 2012 will be brought to life by the BBC through London Calling; a unique season of programmes that celebrate the music, fashion, art, culture and history of Britain?s capital city. The season will be led by live coverage from the spectacular Queen?s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Planet Earth Live is the biggest live wildlife broadcast ever undertaken by the BBC. It is an ambitious project which is the result of over ten years of innovation in techniques and formats at the BBC Natural History Unit. A unique and new project, it will bring real animals and their everyday dramas to a global audience in real time. Viewers will witness first-hand these incredible animals? struggle for survival in this animal soap opera, where nature writes the script.

Jana Bennett, said, ?By creating synchronised broadcasts, we unite our viewers around the world and give them a real appointment to view. Ours is the only network in the world which can deliver such massive global moments to an international audience and is what made our coverage of The Royal Wedding last year so successful. This year I want to go bigger and bolder.

?Planet Earth Live and London Calling will enable our audiences to feel part of a truly global viewing experience - whether it be witnessing the wonder of nature as it unfolds before them or revelling in the celebrations taking place across London without ever having to leave the comfort of their living room.?

The two new global events come hot on the heels of the first global viewing event of 2012 as BBC Worldwide gave an international stage to Sport Relief - one the UK?s biggest televised fundraising efforts. The special two week season culminated with Sport Relief Goes Global, a four-hour extravaganza featuring comedy highlights from the UK?s night of fundraising entertainment on BBC ONE.

London Calling will air between June and August on BBC Entertainment (India, Africa, Poland, the Nordic Region, Asia, Latin America and the channel?s pan-European service), BBC Knowledge (Africa, Poland, the Nordic Region, Italy, Asia and Australia), BBC HD (Latin America, Poland, The Nordic region and Turkey), UKTV (Australia and New Zealand) and BBC World News (global).

The season will also be available to users of BBC.com and to users of the global BBC iPlayer but will vary territory by territory.

Airing on BBC One in the UK, Planet Earth Live will air simultaneously4 to a global audience via BBC Knowledge (Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Poland, Italy, the Nordic Region) BBC Entertainment (India), BBC HD (Latin America) and in a selection of European countries on the global BBC iPlayer. The event excludes the US.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide president Worldwide Networks and global BBC iPlayer Jana Bennett has announced plans to launch BBC branded channels in Thailand early next year.

In her first appearance at Casbaa since joining BBC Worldwide in February this year, Bennett officially unveiled new channel launches in Taiwan and Indonesia.

BBC Worldwide will launch BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies in Thailand in January 2012.

In Taiwan, BBC Worldwide Channels has concluded a deal with Chung Hwa Telecom to launch BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and BBC Entertainment on MoD, the company?s IPTV platform. This is the first appearance for the channels in Taiwan, and they will be unveiled to press in Taipei on 23rd November.

Growing the portfolio in existing markets: In Indonesia, BBC Lifestyle is now available on NexMedia, joining BBC Knowledge and CBeebies in that market.

Serving audiences with the best content: 1 November sees the launch of Lonely Planet on BBC Knowledge, the ultimate destination of travel-related programming. Arctic with Bruce Parry will launch the new block and Free Rein - an original commission for BBC Knowledge from Lonely Planet?s production arm - will premiere in December.

Starting with season 18 which begins early next year, ?Top Gear? will air on BBC Knowledge within two weeks of going out in the UK.

 
MUMBAI: Viewers of BBC Entertainment in India will begin a new journey of discovery on 29 November 2011 with the launch of Lonely Planet branded programming blocks on the channel.

The news follows Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer president Jana Bennett?s announcement in June of plans to integrate the travel brand into BBC Worldwide?s international channel portfolio.

The block will feature on BBC Entertainment, as part of the multi-genre schedule that airs on the channel. Elsewhere the block will air on BBC Knowledge.

In India, Lonely Planet will debut with ?Free Rein? and ?Amazon With Bruce Parry?.

The Lonely Planet block will provide a dedicated home to the channel?s most compelling and immersive travel programming, including ?Free Rein?, specially commissioned by BBC Worldwide Channels from Lonely Planet?s production arm and Freehand.

The programme follows screen legends Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward (The Thorn Birds) as they set out on the ultimate adventure across The Kimberley, the Outback?s last frontier.

Also destined for the new programme block in 2012 is the action-packed series ?Year of Adventures?, starring Ben Fogle and based on the Lonely Planet book of the same name. Currently filming in Wales, Europe, the USA and Australia, the series is a Lonely Planet TV and BBC Bristol production for BBC Worldwide Channels.

Bennett said, "This dedicated home on BBC Knowledge marks a major step in our development of Lonely Planet as a television brand. BBC Worldwide will continue to support its growth through these programming blocks and through specially commissioned Lonely Planet productions. We hope that in time, the brand can evolve into a standalone television channel."

The new block will roll out across all of BBC Worldwide?s localised BBC Knowledge feeds around the world - Poland, Africa, Italy, the Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden), Australia, New Zealand and Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea).

The block will debut in Asia on 1 November, with ?Arctic With Bruce Parry? as the launch title and ?Free Rein? to follow in December.

Australia and New Zealand follow on 2 November, with ?Free Rein? premiering in Australia that day, and on 12 November in New Zealand. On 5 November, the block launches in Europe, Middle East and Africa with ?Tribe?, ?Long Way Round? and Lonely Planet TV production ?Roads Less Travelled? among the programme line up.

Further programmes set to roll out on Lonely Planet include ?Paul Merton in India?, ?Tropic of Cancer with Simon Reeve? and ?Russia: A Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby?.

BBC Worldwide senior VP Programming and TV Channels David Weiland said, "The Lonely Planet schedule is designed to take our viewers on a journey of exploration and discovery, and we?ve selected these titles to feed their passion for experiencing the world through travel. Along with our own growing roster of original commissions - like ?Free Rein? and ?Year of Adventures? - these programmes will find a natural home in the Lonely Planet block, with a host of engaging personalities and experts to transport viewers right to the heart of a place."

Lonely Planet was founded in 1973. In February 2011, BBC Worldwide took full ownership of the brand, having held a 75 per cent stake in the company since 2007.