BBC Studios and Tricolor, Russia’s largest digital TV operator, announce new agreement that will see content from BBC Studios Natural History Unit and leading independent UK production companies, made available in 4K quality to television audiences in Russia.

BBC Studios, the commercial production and distribution arm of the BBC, and Tricolor, Russia’s largest digital TV operator, today announced a new agreement that will see the most stunning, cutting edge and top rated natural history content from BBC Studios Natural History Unit and leading independent UK production companies, made available in 4K quality to television audiences in Russia.

The acquired collection of critically acclaimed series will include Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II as well as The Hunt, Shark, Spy in the Wild and more.

Planet Earth II allows us to experience the world from the viewpoint of animals themselves. Wandering through jungles, deserts, mountains, islands, grasslands and cities, this series explores the unique characteristics of Earth’s most iconic habitats and the extraordinary ways animals survive within them. The show is unquestionably a TV phenomenon. This UK’s most watched Natural History title was also the second highest rated program in the UK in its premiering year and its broadcast outshined all competition in its time slot.

Released a year later Blue Planet II took viewers on another magical adventure, this time across the greatest, yet least known parts of our planet - the oceans. Travelling from the icy polar seas to the vibrant blues of the coral atolls, this series reveals surprising new places, charismatic new characters and extraordinary new behaviors.

The natural history 4k bundle available to Tricolor’s subscribers will also include other popular titles such as The Hunt, a series that takes us on the incredible journey to the dramatic world of predation by offering an intimate look at the remarkable strategies of hunters and hunted; Shark two part program exploring enormous diversity of a group of this elasmobranch fish around the world; as well as Spy in the Wild a highly entertaining series where each episode is themed around a familiar aspect of our own lives - love, intelligence, friendship and mischief and new generation of spy cameras allow us to have a very close look at how similar we are to animals. Viewers will also gain access to Wild Japan, Earthflight and Predators series.

Commenting on the agreement, Salim Mukaddam, Senior Vice President for Co-Production and Content Sales Markets, EMEA at BBC Studios said: We are allowing audiences around the world to experience the beauty of our planet by taking them closer than ever before in glorious ultra-high definition. We are very proud our audiences for this incredible and genre defining content is growing around the world and will now also be available to Tricolor subscribers in Russia.

Arsen Khomutov, Content Director of Tricolor said: Tricolor has the largest package of UHD TV channels, being ahead of all Russian and European operators. The new agreement with BBC Studios outlines Tricolor’s leading position in broadcast of high-quality 4K content. The operator offers a series of unique documentaries that are expected to stimulate the clients to connect a package of UHD channels. The users who already enjoy 4K TV will appreciate our efforts on creating more diverse content.