New BBC Brit channel to rival Dave with endless re-runs of Top Gear

BBC Brit will provide manly viewing for manly men, it has been reported.

A new international BBC channel will go on air later in 2014. ‘BBC Brit’ will be aimed at male viewers and will feature “the best of British content from motoring, business, documentaries and adventures to food, music and sport”. It’ll also feature numerous re-runs of flagship show Top Gear — a bit like the television channel Dave, then.

Dragons Den, documentaries by Lous Theroux and Frank Skinner’s Room 101 are expected to make up part of BBC Brit’s viewing schedule. The exact list of programmes that will feature is still unconfirmed. The channel is expected to air in numerous territories outside of the UK.

“There is a gap in the global market for a male-skewing factual entertainment destination,” BBC Worldwide chief executive Tim Davie announced at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch. “BBC Brit will capture the maverick spirit of our premium factual entertainment programming.”

Bit of trivia: BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the British Broadcasting Company – owns 50 per cent of the UKTV network, which is responsible for closest competitor, Dave.

The first show in a new series of BBC2’s Top Gear will air at 8pm on February 2nd.

Looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of Jeremy Clarkson and his motley crew. Does the world need another male-oriented channel, or is that demographic underrepresented? Let us know.