PBS chooses Channel 4 for UK ad sales

US public service broadcaster PBS has selected Channel 4 to manage ad sales for its soon-to-launch UK channel.

The channel will debut on BSkyB’s DTH platform on November 1, with Channel 4 acting as the sales house. Jonathan Allan, Channel 4’s sales director said: “PBS and Channel 4 have a natural synergy – in becoming their sales house we’re helping bring the best public service programming from the US to a UK audience. The deal reinforces Channel 4 Sales’ position as the premium sales house for high quality public service content.”

PBS UK is a joint venture between Canadian-born oil entrepreneur David Lyons, the chairman and CEO of Orca Exploration Group, and PBS Distribution, which holds the rights to most PBS output. It will air the UK premiere of Prohibition, a five part film by Ken Burns, and Special When Lit, a film on the history of pinball, alongside established PBS programming including Nova, American Experience and Frontline, which will broadcast every weeknight.