BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC, expands its maritime entertainment offering with three new channels for cruise passengers worldwide.
- BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle join existing BBC HD channel on cruise ships
- BritBox makes debut as a linear channel, exclusively on board 116 ships worldwide.
BBC Studios has launched BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle and a BritBox channel as part of its maritime entertainment portfolio, through partner Anuvu’s MTN-TV service. These additions join the existing BBC HD channel and will be available on 116 cruise ships across 25 cruise lines, enhancing the viewing experience for passengers globally.
The BBC HD channel, which still uses the branding of the long since defunct UK channel of the same name, continues to offer a mix of British programming including Call the Midwife, Strictly, Eurovision and selected live sport, including some sports not shown by the BBC in the UK. Its current sports line-up includes the FA Cup, Guinness Six Nations rugby, EFL Championship football and the Solheim Cup golf. BBC HD also features soaps shortly after UK broadcast.
It is now joined on board by:
- BBC Earth: brings nature documentaries like Planet Earth III, showcasing the wonders of the natural world.
- BBC Lifestyle: focuses on food, travel, fashion, and wellness, with shows such as The Great British Bake Off, Rick Stein’s Secret France and DIY SOS.
BritBox goes linear
Meanwhile, streaming service BritBox is now available as a scheduled channel for the first time with acclaimed British dramas and comedies filling the schedule. Highlights include Blue Lights, Father Brown, The Office and Silent Witness.
BritBox was originally launched as a joint venture between the BBC and ITV. The UK and international versions of BritBox are now completely separate, explaining why the BBC can now offer a BritBox branded service outside of the UK.
In 2024, ITV sold its stake in BritBox international. Meanwhile, the BBC sold off its 10% stake in BritBox UK in 2022, allowing ITV to incorporate the brand within ITVX.
Selected titles from each channel will also be available on-demand for catch-up viewing.
You can find out which ships include the BBC’s Maritime channels via the BBC HD Maritime website.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: BBC