Discovery Lat Am scores BBC Worldwide deal

Discovery Networks Latin America / US Hispanic (DLA / USH) has entered into a first-look deal with BBC Worldwide.

The Discovery Lat Am channels will become the exclusive home to many of the BBC’s top unscripted titles such as Planet Earth II, the Top Gear franchise and the upcoming Blue Planet II (pictured).

The Matt LeBlanc-fronted UK Top Gear and the latest US remake are included in the agreement, as is baking competition series The Great British Bake Off, and fashion format What Not to Wear.

UK pubcaster the BBC and Discovery were long-term factual coproduction partners on shows such as Frozen Planet between 1998 and 2013.

That £150 million (US$193.6 million) agreement saw the BBC take UK free TV rights to copros, with Discovery taking pay rights elsewhere. However, it ended four years ago.

“Discovery has had a longstanding partnership with the BBC Worldwide and we are very excited to be the home of these world-famous franchises,” said Carolina Lightcap, ‎executive VP and chief content officer for DLA / USH.

“This extensive collection of programs will provide our viewers with some of the most engaging and entertaining content available anywhere, beginning with the iconic Planet Earth II, premiering in June. This agreement further solidifies Discovery’s commitment in offering high-quality programming throughout our networks in Latin America.”

BBCWW Latin America and US Hispanic EVP and managing director Anna Gordon said: “Discovery and BBC Worldwide are natural partners and we are very proud of our new strategic multi-year partnership. BBC Worldwide continues to be one of the world’s most important distributors of innovative, quality content and formats and this agreement will help ensure that Latin American audiences can experience the very best of the BBC.”