BBC Worldwide signs deal with American Airlines

BBC Worldwide’s in-flight sales team have concluded a major deal with American Airlines at the corporation’s annual programmes sales market BBC Showcase.
The airline have renewed their contract for an in-flight, BBC-branded channel on their transatlantic routes.
Hosted by Karen Mullally and themed around core titles on a monthly basis, the two-hour channel features more than 48 hours of programming per year. The schedule includes 'S Club 7', 'Captain Pugwash', 'Hot Wax', 'Ainsley’s Gourmet Express', 'JK Rowling – The Muggle behind the Magic', 'The Blue Planet', 'Back to the Floor' and 'Absolutely Fabulous'.
American Airlines and BBC Worldwide will work together to highlight the channel through a series of promotional activities including competitions and marketing campaigns.
The BBC Showcase event attracted buyers from more than 30 national and international airlines including Virgin Atlantic, which secured 18 hours of programming including 'The Office', 'Clocking Off', 'Tweenies', 'Teletubbies', 'How to Build a Human' and 'Linda Green'.
Also represented were UK Merchant Ships, which negotiated a package of programming that included 'Ray Mears’ Extreme Survival', 'Big Knights', 'Linda Green', 'Coupling' and 'Judge John Deed'.
Julia Lewis, BBC Worldwide’s Sales and Marketing Manager of In-flight Entertainment, said: “Our airline sales business has been consistently strong. It was very encouraging to see so many of the world’s in-flight buyers at this year’s market, most of which were keen to secure some of our most popular contemporary comedies, powerful dramas, children’s and family programming.”
BBC Worldwide, www.bbcworldwide.com
(GB)