BBC First Signs Cunard As Channel Sponsor

Premium drama channel BBC First has announced Cunard as its new channel sponsor with premiere dates revealed for its returning series.

The series include,Tin Star Series 2 starring Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) and Genevieve O’Reilly (Glitch) and Victoria Series 3 starring Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who).

Cunard will become the channel sponsor for BBC First from Sunday, February 3.

The sponsorship comes as BBC First continues to grow its audiences across the key ad sales demo of People 25-54, with live audiences up 46 per cent across the day and 27 per cent across primetime over the month of December.

The deal includes sponsorship of a string of highly anticipated returning dramas: Tin Star Series 2, Victoria Series 3, Death in Paradise Series 8 and Shetland Series 4.

Tin Star Series 2 begins Tuesday, February 19 at 8.30pm.

This new series picks up where we left our unlikely hero, cut off in the remote Rockies wilderness with his grieving and shell-shocked family struggling to come to terms with their ordeal.

Seeking refuge from her parents, Anna is taken in by the God-fearing Nickel family, members of the Ammonites – a strict religious community.

However, the peaceful prairie family are harbouring secrets of their own and it’s not long before Anna is forced to seek her father’s help, as an altogether more hellish threat emerges.

Beginning Thursday, March 14 at 8.30pm the third series of the lavish drama Victoria starts in 1848 and depicts a turbulent and uncertain time for both Europe and the monarchy.

With revolutions on the continent and the Chartist movement reaching its peak in London, Victoria is under pressure from the government to leave London for her own safety.

The eighth series of the much loved Death in Paradise continues to air on Fridays at 8.30pm and stars Ardal O’Hanlon as Detective Jack Mooney who is back to solve some fiendishly clever murders on the tropical island of Saint Marie.

Acclaimed murder-mystery Shetland returns soon for a new thrilling fourth series with DI Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) and his team back to investigate crimes within the close-knit island community of Shetland.

The four-month package, developed by Multi Channel Network, will see BBC Studios’ produce a suite of assets that will give Cunard the ability to align their brand seamlessly into premium environments across BBC First’s TV, and Social platforms.

These include integrated billboards, partnership spots and behind-the scenes footage giving viewers extra insight into these much-loved returning dramas.

BBC Studios, Australia and New Zealand head of brand partnership & channels advertising Kirsty Muir said: “With our live audience continuing to grow, we are delighted that Cunard has come on-board as our new channel sponsor for BBC First.

“The luxury brand is the perfect fit for our impressive slate of hugely popular returning dramas that, like Cunard, boast a strong heritage and take people on an exciting and unforgettable journey.”

MCN head of global partners Sarah Lattouf said: “We’re thrilled to have connected a first class broadcaster with a luxury brand like Cunard to provide audiences with relevant, engaging content.

“This partnership perfectly demonstrates the power of two brands coming together to deliver strategic outcomes.”

Cunard, Australia and New Zealand marketing manager Nicole Tomasella said: “Cunard is proud to work with BBC First in 2019, and views the sponsorship as strategically key to our continuing growth in the Australian market.

“With Queen Elizabeth arriving in less than a week for our inaugural homeport season, February is the perfect time to begin speaking to the BBC First audience.”

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