The BBC has made a deal with cable operator Comcast to distribute its BBC World News channel, significantly expanding the broadcaster’s presence in the US.
BBC World News is currently available in about six million households, but this pact will extend it to nearly 15 million homes through Comcast’s Xfinity TV Service by the end of 2012. While the BBC was already available in markets like New York and Washington DC, most Comcast customers in metropolitan areas from Philadelphia to Chicago to Minneapolis will now receive it as well.
Also being added are Indianapolis, Portland, Boston, Northern California, Michigan and Western New England.
“This deal represents huge progress for BBC World News in the most competitive TV marketplace in the world,” Peter Horrocks, the BBC’s director of global news, said.