BBC Worldwide to Launch Natural History Channel on YouTube

LONDON -- BBC Worldwide, the public broadcaster's commercial arm, will launch a fresh YouTube channel from its natural history division BBC Earth.

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YouTube will offer Earth Unplugged, a channel promising "a feast of new films created for a digital audience by BBC Earth Productions" which BBC Worldwide claims will become "a destination site for wildlife and nature."

Earth Unplugged marks BBC Worldwide’s first foray into original-content channel creation for YouTube and forms part of the company’s plans to build a consumer facing multi-channel network on the platform.

Amanda Hill, managing director for BBC Earth at BBC Worldwide said: "With Earth Unplugged we’re seeking to connect a new audience with the world around them. YouTube offers a fantastic opportunity to reach people and grab their attention with innovative nature content that will captivate and inspire."

A slew of content creators have built YouTube channels amid growing broadband and online video usage.

Unlike the BBC’ channel, some even have received money from YouTube to launch original content channels, including recent approval for 60-plus European content firms.