THE BBC’s commercial arm stepped up its international television expansion yesterday, announcing the launch of a new advertising-funded entertainment channel in Japan.

BBC Japan will carry classic British programmes, such as Fawlty Towers, Ready Steady Cook and Tweenies, when it is launched at the beginning of December — and its distributors believe that it will help Japanese viewers to improve their grasp of English.

Masaaki Sugura, president of Japan MediArk, the local broadcaster with responsibility for distributing BBC Japan, said: “I sincerely hope that it will help all generations, from small children to business people, to learn ‘the Queen’s English’.”

BBC Japan is the second BBC channel available in the Far East country. The news channel BBC World is already on offer in 1.6 million homes, which has given the Corporation the confidence to invest further in the territory.

The Corporation also operates a similar general entertainment channel, BBC Prime, in Europe, India, the Middle East and Africa. Prime is available in about 20 million homes and broadcasts in English, although it is subtitled in ten languages.

The BBC is currently reviewing the status of all its commercial activities, the bulk of which are housed under the umbrella of BBC Worldwide.

Michael Grade, the Chairman of the BBC, has said that in future all commercial activities have to be “programme-related” and there is speculation that the BBC will seek joint-venture partners for other commercial activities, such as its magazine and book operations.

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