Discovery launching its own global video streaming service in 2020 with iconic BBC Studios natural history content to supplement its own.

Discovery Inc. is entering the video streaming wars and will launch its own subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming service globally in 2020 with the streaming rights of the iconic BBC natural history content like the Planet Earth, Blue Planet, Life and other series that will be exclusive to Discovery's streaming service.

Discovery Inc. and BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC, have signed a 10 year licensing deal for the BBC's natural history and other factual programming content that Discovery will make available on its own video streaming service that it will launch next year globally except for the United Kingdom, Ireland and China.

BBC Studios is giving Discovery the SVOD rights to hundreds of hours of its natural history content, including shows like the recently-launched Dynasties series with Sir David Attenborough.

Discovery and BBC Studios will also be co-funding a dedicated development team at the BBC's production division to create new blue-chip wildlife series.

Discovery will combine the BBC Studios content with its own natural history and factual programming to create it as-yet-unnamed streaming service that will now battle services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Cell C black, Showmax, Disney's upcoming Disney+, Apple's upcoming Apple TV+ and others in the crowded video streaming sphere.

"All of this iconic content will form one of the pillars of a new global streaming service, which will also include some of the best of Discovery's programming library, original content created for the service, and experiences and offerings that go well beyond video," says Discovery in a statement.

"Discovery will be taking that expertise and creating the definitive global streaming product for curious and passionate viewers of all generations who want the most trusted, family friendly storytelling in the world, says David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery.

"From the planets to the poles, and documenting every species in between, the world has always been part of Discovery's DNA. It is who we are."

"Telling these stories is our mission and it is more important now than ever before. The new platform will be the first global direct-to-consumer service with the category's most iconic intellectual property including the Planet Earth series, future sequels and spin-offs to all existing landmark series, and new exclusive natural history and science programming coming in the future."

"There is tremendous value in the marketplace for these programming categories which have broad appeal and strong multi-generational engagement, and we hope to fill the void in the global marketplace for a dedicated high-quality product."

Tony Hall, BBC director-general, says "The BBC makes outstanding natural history and science programmes. They are ground-breaking and demonstrate the quality and depth of our know-how".

"It is vital that we keep investing and growing them for the future. This is our largest ever content sales deal. It will mean BBC Studios and Discovery will work together to take our content right across the globe through a new world-beating streaming service."

"Global subscribers are in for a real treat: the best content on a great new platform. This is brilliant news for audiences as it will enable the BBC to invest even more in factual programming for them."

BREAKING. BBC is ending its BBC Worldwide brand; folding it into BBC Studios as a new single commercial entity that will be known as BBC Studios.

The BBC is announcing that it is ending its BBC Worldwide commercial arm brand and folding it into BBC Studios. The combined, single commercial entity will be known as BBC Studios.

The BBC in a statement on Wednesday says that moving forward with one combined unit "will ensure the BBC is best placed to succeed both creatively and commercially and will better serve licence fee payers".

"At a time of an increasingly competitive and global market for production and distribution, this new organisational structure will bring the BBC into line with the rest of the industry, integrating programme production, sales and distribution in a single entity," says the BBC.

The commercial activities already carried out by BBC Worldwide - including content financing, sales and commercial channels - and BBC Studios, the BBC’s main programme production arm, is being combined into a simplified organisation.

BBC Studios launched as a commercial subsidiary in April 2017 and makes over 2 000 hours of programming a year.

Following the restructure, BBC Studios will employ approximately 3 000 permanent staff.

BBC Studios and BBC Worldwide already worked together on for instance the new documentary series Blue Planet II, currently shown in the United Kingdom, Asia and parts of Europe and set to debut on MultiChoice's DStv in Africa around February 2018.

"Joining forces will allow them to operate more simply and efficiently," says the BBC.

"All of the major established United Kingdom industry players integrate their programme production and distribution in this way."

"The TV industry has been changing fast and major global players are investing vast sums in content - but not primarily in British content reflecting British lives," says the BBC.

"A successful new BBC Studios will be better placed to make the investments others will not."

"Production arm BBC Studios is internationally recognised for making high-quality British programmes across a broad range of genres and specialisms. Boasting 81 awards so far this year, its output includes the highly acclaimed Blue Planet II, Strictly Come Dancing, Antiques Roadshow, EastEnders, Top Gear, the award-winning drama Three Girls, Louis Theroux’s latest documentary series and Drugsland".

"In a fast-changing TV industry, securing the future success of the BBC is vital," says BBC director-general, Tony Hall.

"Creating a single BBC Studios will bring the BBC in line with the industry, be simpler and more efficient."

The new BBC Studios will be led by Tim Davie as CEO and Mark Linsey as chief creative officer.

"Creating one company, in line with market norms, is a natural step in this market," says Tim Davie in the BBC statement.

"The new BBC Studios will be focused on the highest quality British content, underpinning our future financial return to licence fee payers."

"It will allow us to better serve customers, independent partners and the wider industry, resulting in world-class British productions for audiences in the UK and overseas. I am excited about the prospects ahead, and delighted to be part of the new organisation".

Mark Linsey says: "Bringing BBC Studios and BBC Worldwide together will help secure the BBC's future and guarantee our unrivalled creativity, risk-taking, quality and range."

BBC News boss James Harding quits to start a new media company 'with a distinct approach to the news and a clear point of view'.

James Harding (48) has quit as the boss of BBC News and will be starting his own media company.

James Harding will leave the British Broadcasting Corporation in early 2018 where he has been director of news and current affairs.

James Harding in an email to BBC staffers says "There is some journalism that the BBC, for all its brilliance, can't, and probably shouldn't, do. And that's what I want to explore: I am going to start a new media company with a distinct approach to the news and a clear point of view."

"I know I will enjoy the chance to do some more journalism of my own and, at such a critical time, I'm seriously excited about the prospect of building a new venture in news."

Knowing that his letter would be leaked, James Harding says of BBC News "We have our shortcomings, no doubt."

"But, in these fast-changing times and on the back of a crisis five years ago, I am proud to have worked for BBC News as we renewed our reputation for responsible, powerful journalism: agenda-setting coverage of politics, business and the society we live in; current affairs exposing controversial issues with discipline and determination; the best and bravest international reporting, when big moments in history unfold and when under-reported stories desperately need to be told."

Tony Hall, BBC director general, says "James has done an incredible job during a hugely complex and momentous period of British and world history".

"He has led the BBC's coverage through two referendums, two general elections, an astonishing US presidential election, not to mention a series of extraordinary events at home and abroad."

"In the years James has been with us he's played an important part in modernising and changing the BBC, but beyond that, he has been a first-class colleague and a pleasure to work with."

The BBC will announce a BBC News replacement for James Harding at the end of 2017.

BREAKING. Tony Hall appointed as the new director-general of the BBC; replacing George Entwistle from March 2013.

Tony Hall (61) has been appointed the new director-general of the BBC, charged to steer the venerable British Broadcasting Corporation back from scandal and repairing the damage that multiple scandals the past few months have inflicted on the BBC's sterling reputation and credibility.

In April 2001 Tony Hall, who made editor of the BBC's 9 o' clock news at age 24, became the CEO of the Royal Opera House.

Tony Hall will take up his position March 2013, replacing George Entwistle who left the BBC under a cloud of scandal at the British broadcaster after having served only 54 days.

Lord Patten, chairperson of the BBC Trust, said that Tony Hall's appointment will "prove invaluable as the BBC looks to rebuild both its reputation in this area and the trust of audiences".

Lord Patten wrote to BBC staff saying that Tony Hall was "an insider and is currently an outsider. As an ex-BBC man he understands how the corporation's culture and behaviour make it, at its best, the greatest broadcaster in the world."

"And from his vantage point outside the BBC, he understands the criticisms that are levelled at the corporation – both those that are justified and those that are not. But perhaps most importantly, given where we now find ourselves, his experience as a former BBC journalist will prove invaluable as the BBC looks to rebuild its reputation in this area."

In a statement Tony Hall says " I believe passionately in the BBC and that's why I have accepted Lord Patten's invitation to become director general. This organisation is an incredibly important part of what makes the United Kingdom what it is. And of course it matters not just to people in this country – but to tens of millions around the world too."

"It's been a difficult few weeks – but together we'll get through it. I'm committed to ensuring our news services are the best in the world."

"I'm committed to making this a place where creative people, the best and the brightest, want to work. And I know from my first days here as a news trainee, to my time as head of news and current affairs, to my time now at the Royal Opera House, that I can't do it on my own. Having the right teams working together, sparking off each other, is key. And I want to build a world class team to lead a world class BBC."