MUMBAI: BBC World CEO Richard Sambrook and BBC Worldwide Global Channels managing director Darren Childs have announced their plans to merge airtime and distribution sales teams from 2 April. The move will present a single sales face to market for all the BBC's international channels.

While BBC World Ltd will remain responsible for the strategic direction and management of BBC World, the sales teams will come under the remit of Global Channels and the latter will represent BBC World's commercial interests.

Both BBC World and Global Channels believe that a united sales operation will be of mutual benefit to both businesses.
Sambrook said, "BBC World is having its most successful year to date. It's the BBC's biggest channel, watched by more people each week than any other BBC channel. We are in good shape to take BBC World to the next level. BBC Global Channels has ambitious development plans, and in that respect, it makes sense for an integrated sales approach in the market."

Commenting on the development Darren Childs said, "The change in how we have organised the client-facing divisions within the international channels business will allow us to better serve distribution and advertising clients worldwide. Being able to represent a large portfolio of both BBC branded channels and non-linear platforms allows us to better represent the BBC brand overseas, provide a consistent approach to customers and broaden the offer and range of BBC branded products and services we can offer to the market."