BBC Studios Expands Maritime Line-Up with Three Channels

British Broadcasting Corporation offices
Corporate News Cruise Industry
By
Updated Published

BBC Studios has unveiled three new premium television channels designed specifically for cruise ship audiences, available exclusively through its maritime entertainment partner, Anuvu.

The additions — BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, and BritBox — broaden BBC Studios’ international out-of-home entertainment offering, delivering a handpicked selection of acclaimed British programming to travelers at sea.

Zina Neophytou, SVP of BBC Studios Out Of Home, stated: “Increasing our maritime offering with three more distinct BBC Studios channels showcases the very best of British storytelling and offers an amazing breadth of entertainment for global cruise ship passengers to choose from.”

Travis Peterson, VP of Product for Cruise and Ferry at Anuvu, added, “We’re excited to expand our content offering with BBC Studios to enhance the onboard experience for our cruise line partners.”

According to BBC Studios, the new channels are distributed via Anuvu’s MTN-TV service, already installed on 116 ships across 25 cruise lines. This move builds on the established success of BBC HD, which has served cruise passengers since 2017.

Cruisers will also be able to enjoy selected shows on demand, while live sports coverage will include the Guinness Six Nations, EFL Championship football, and the Solheim Cup.

The channel line-up features:

  • BBC HD – A 24/7 English-language flagship channel showcasing a variety of genres, including dramas, soaps shortly after UK broadcast, and major live sports via BBC HD and the Anuvu Special Events channel.
  • BBC Earth – A channel dedicated to exploring nature and wildlife through documentaries such as Planet Earth III.
  • BBC Lifestyle – A feel-good mix of programmes covering food, travel, home, fashion, and wellbeing, including The Great British Bake Off, Rick Stein’s Secret France, DIY SOS, and Wilderness with Simon Reeve.
  • BritBox – For the first time available as a scheduled channel at sea, BritBox offers a curated mix of classic and contemporary British dramas, comedies, mysteries, and documentaries.