BBC Worldwide starts selling adverts on BBC First; propelled to number one international drama channel on DStv thanks to ITV Studios' Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge.

BBC Worldwide that runs BBC First (DStv 119) on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and some other African countries is now selling airtime for commercials on the channel.

BBC First launched in October on DStv as part of the relaunch and rebranding of the BBC Worldwide set of channels including BBC Brit and BBC Earth that replaced BBC Entertainment and BBC Knowledge.

Commercial airtime is now available on BBC First since Sunday 14 February, and with BBC First's first quarter ratings that's available.

Since its launch in October 2015 as a premium British drama channel, BBC First is now ranked as the number two international drama channel on MultiChoice's DStv among LSM8 to 10 Adults, and number two under LSM9 to 10.

Episodes of Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge on BBC First - both shows from ITV Studios that BBC Worldwide acquired for its channel - helped BBC First to attain enough DStv viewers to make it the number 1 international channel on DStv among all Adults, and the number 1 international drama channel on DStv respectively.

Britain's ITV Studios to follow the successful Downton Abbey with another period drama, Mr. Selfridge.

The United Kingdom's ITV responsible for the brilliant Downton Abbey which South African viewers can see currently on BBC Entertainment (DStv 120, Sundays, 20:30) is making another British period drama entitled Mr. Selfridge that's based on Harry Gordon Selfridge, the entrepeneur who created the department store Selfridge's.

Mr. Selfridge is a ITV Studios production and is set in London in 1909 when a new consumerism swept Britain and women started frequenting shops and department stores with disposable income.

The TV drama is based on the book Shopping, Seduction And Mr Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead. Production on the show will start next month with Kate Lewis as the executive producer.

The first season of Mr. Selfridge will have 10 episodes.