London Calling and Planet Earth Live to air on BBC Worldwide channels

Jana Bennett confirms commitment to staging ambitious global television events throughout 2012

April 4, 2012:

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.

Planet Earth Live, a unique and new project, 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 (Africa, Poland, the Nordic Region, Asia, India, 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 simultaneously 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.

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