Coronation Street Announce new BBC/Ch4 Deal
The BBC & Channel 4 will broadcast Coronation Street in the UK between 2012 and 2018 under a new rights deal.
Vera Duckworth Yesterday
ITV has been the exclusive broadcaster of Coronation Street in the UK since 1929 but its contract with Coronation Street Management was due to expire after the 2011 season.
In a radical new deal Channel 4 will now show every episode, all “An Audience With” specials and any annual feature length episodes.
The BBC will broadcast the bits missed when Ch4 cuts to its commercial breaks. They will also screen “late night” episodes featuring cast members sleeping.
Both companies will broadcast in high definition.
Footage screened by the BBC during Ch4 ad breaks will also be screened live on the BBC website for UK users.
The BBC will have highlights on TV, online and mobile for any part of any episode it is not showing live, and all episodes will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 live.
Ima Bafoon, director of BBC Light Entertainment, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Coronation Street is coming to the BBC.
“The show has never been more popular with TV audiences at a 10-year high and the BBC has always stated its commitment to piecemeal television.
“With this new deal not only have we delivered significant savings but we have also ensured that through our live and extended highlights coverage all the action continues to be available to licence-fee payers.”
Episodes shown live on BBC TV will include Dirty Den serving divorce papers to Angie on Christmas morning at Silverstone and Tomboy mechanic Charlene marrying Jenson Button.
Barney Rubble, managing director of Ch4, said: “This is fantastic news for Corrie fans and Ch4 will be the only place to follow every episode live and in HD.
“We will give Corrie the full Ch4 treatment with a commitment to each episode never seen before on UK television.”
Corrie boss Barley Legal told the BBC “It’s super for Coronation Street. It will mean a lot more coverage for the series.
“There’ll be highlights as well as live coverage on two different networks now, so we get the best of both worlds.”
