BBC Studios breaks into Thai market in partnership with pubcaster MCOT

BBC Studios has inked an agreement with Thai pubcaster MCOT that will see the Southeast Asia debut of a BBC First programme block – via MCOT’s 24-hour entertainment channel, Channel 9. The BBC First block, which will premiere in mid-February 2019, will be home to British premium drama such as McMafia – the fictionalised account of Misha Glenny’s bestselling nonfiction book and created and written for TV starring James Norton (War and Peace); Press, a drama series about the lives of the editors and journalists working at a left-leaning broadsheet and a populist tabloid; and the award-winning crime drama, Luther (series 1-4), starring Idris Elba as the titular character, DCI John Luther. “British drama is working remarkably well with audiences, with outstanding talent producing some of the very best television in the world,” said Myleeta Aga, SVP & GM of South & Southeast Asia, BBC Studios. “We are excited to be working with MCOT to bring premium British drama to Thai audiences, backed by the BBC First brand.” MCOT operates 62 radio stations across the country and 2 free-to-air television channels. In Asia, BBC First is also available as a SVOD channel in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong and as a block in Japan. It can be accessed via BBC Player online at bbcplayer.com and as an app in Singapore and Malaysia. (Photo courtesy: 123RF)