Atmosphere Communications takes over the publicity contract of BBC Worldwide South Africa's BBC channels from Total Exposure.

Atmosphere Communications has taken over the PR account of BBC Worldwide South Africa's set of BBC branded pay-TV channels and content from today, from Total Exposure.

Atmosphere Communications is now responsible for communicating to the media regarding BBC Worldwide Africa's channels - BBC First, BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies - and the BBC Worldwide brand.

The BBC Worldwide South Africa switch to Atmosphere Communications from Total Exposure is noteworthy in that within South Africa's TV industry the BBC's PR representation by Total Exposure was a record.

While various TV channels, shows, even streaming services like Netflix South Africa, as well as pay-TV channels are repped by different external PR agencies and boutique publicists across South Africa, the set of BBC channels made use of Total Exposure for the longest time.

No other TV channel, show or channels set with a presence inside South Africa had been continuously represented by the same external publicity agency for such a long time as what Total Exposure had the BBC contract.

Now it has switched to Atmosphere Communications.

"We are excited to partner with a significant global brand such as BBC Worldwide and look forward to keeping local audiences updated on all the exciting British television content coming their way," says Megann Outram, atmosphere regional director: Johannesburg, in a statement, announcing the BBC contract switch from Total Exposure to Atmosphere.

"With choices like Come Dine with Me South Africa, brand new Top Gear as well as a range of popular drama’s and of course the phenomenal Blue Planet II voiced over by Sir David Attenborough, and much more, viewers will continue to be spoilt for choice".

Atmosphere Communications, a partner firm of PROI Worldwide, has offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg and says it is "the most awarded public relations consultancy in the country".

BBC Worldwide Africa's office in South Africa is headed up by Joel Churcher, the general manager and vice president, BBC Worldwide Africa.

Besides its content being accessible on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, BBC Worldwide shows are also licensed to Cell C black's where a raft of titles are available on an on demand basis, as well as Naspers' subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, Showmax.

BBC Worldwide formats are also being produced in South Africa like Dancing with the Stars SA currently on M-Net (DStv 101), while BBC Worldwide Africa is also producing local content from other formats holders like Come Dine with Me SA from ITV Studios, and Great South African Bake Off from Love Productions. 

BBC Worldwide to simulcast the debut episode of Blue Planet II on its BBC Earth and BBC Brit channels on DStv at the same time.

BBC Worldwide will now simulcast the debut episode of the upcoming Blue Planet II natural history documentary series that will be shown on BBC Earth (DStv 184), on the BBC Brit (DStv 120) channel as well.

When the Sir David Attenborough narrated, aqua-exploratory series starts on 4 February at 16:00 on BBC Earth on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa, it will also be simulcast to more viewers in South Africa, and across Africa, at the same time on the BBC Brit channel.

BBC Earth is an exclusively DStv Premium channel for its highest paying subscribers, with the channel that also has more limited distribution elsewhere through Africa on MultiChoice Africa with very few African nations where BBC Earth is available on DStv. The more generic BBC Brit however enjoys bigger carriage availability on DStv in Africa.

BBC Brit is also available on the lower DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscription tiers.

The Blue Planet II simulcast on BBC Earth and BBC Brit accomplishes two goals.

Firstly the simulcast of the premium series serves as an upsell marketing opportunity to expose lower-tiered DStv subscribers to what content is available on BBC Earth - something that might prompt some upgrades to DStv Premium.

Secondly it enlarges the potential audience that gets access to the show if they want to watch it with the combined channels' reach that could yield higher viewership and an increase in ratings - a plus for both BBC Worldwide South Africa as well as for MultiChoice.

BBC Worldwide South Africa will preview Blue Planet II to the media next week at an event screening; its PR agency told TVwithThinus this week that it will be for Johannesburg press only with no media from elsewhere invited to see the series beforehand.

Blue Planet II follows 16 years after the first BBC series and has been released as DVD and Blu-ray sets since 27 November 2017 on Amazon. The production team spent over 6 000 hours diving underwater, including filming in South Africa.

The BBC will follow up Blue Planet II with programmes looking at how ocean plastic and clothing manufacture are impacting nature.