Body In Balance

Body in Balance (BiB) is a TV channel which broadcasts from London, UK. It was the UK's first health and wellbeing channel.

It airs programming about yoga, pilates, meditation, health & spiritual well being. There are regional versions of the channel for Germany and Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium, Luxembourg, Serbia and, more recently, Greece. In 2014, the channel plans to launch an online video on demand service.

Background

Body in Balance was established in 2005 as a German-language channel. An English-language version, the UK's first leisure and health channel, followed in 2007. The channels were founded in response to the increasing popularity of yoga in both countries.

Since 2008 the channel's European network has grown from four to 30. The UK version was broadcast in the UK, Ireland, and 12 other countries in Europe and south east Asia. The UK version was removed from Sky channel 275 on 13 February 2012 and its satellite feed on Eutelsat 28A also ceased broadcasting.

In November 2011, Body In Balance entered administration, with the channel to be sold as a going concern.^[1] Chief operating officer, Gerald Smith, left the company after concerns were raised over his employment despite being banned from acting as a director until 2021.^[2]

The company was purchased in November 2011 by Alfra TV Ltd and continues to broadcast in over 20 countries worldwide.

As of 2014, Body in Balance is now owned by Body in Balance Networks and continues to be grow.

Audience

Body in Balance describes itself as 'Europe's leading wellness and yoga channel'. The channel has 10 million viewers internationally, across 19 countries and 26 platforms.

In the UK and worldwide, a large proportion of the channel's audience are professionals with an enthusiasm for health and fitness. The channel estimates that in the UK alone there are 9 million professional women with an enthusiasm for fitness, and has announced its intention to further focus on this demographic for future expansion.

Teachers

The channel has worked with a number of notable teachers and instructors. Their yoga instructors include Maya Fiennes and Shiva Rea. Lynne Robinson, described by The Times as 'the Queen of pilates' has also taught for the channel, as has Doug Robertson, who is known for his Perfect Bum series. Wellness artists who have worked with Body in Balance include Danielle Collins, Lara Baumann and Ramona Braganza.

The channel also works with a number of experts in the field of diet and wellness including Maryon Stewart, who pioneered the field on non-drug medicine in Australia.

Programming

The company has a back catalogue consisting of over 400 hours of material. They license programmes and programme packages to producers throughout the world; recently the channel has made large sales in India and China.

Production

As well as commissioning and acquiring programmes, the channel is increasingly involved in producing them and has in-house producers and post production facilities

DVD distribution

Body in Balance has a DVD library of over 40 titles and releases two new ones each month. In the UK, the channel sells to high street stores and supermarkets through RSK, a major distributor. The channel also sells DVDs from its website shop, and on Amazon and other major online shops. In Germany, they have an agreement with Rough Trade, a major retailer. In the US, Body in Balance products appear on Amazon.com

Events

The channel has been a media partner to a number of health and fitness events in the UK and America. In 2010 they were a partner to Yoga on the Lawn in New York. 10,000 people attended the event in Central Park. In 2011 the channel will be an official media partner to the Wanderlust Festival, a festival of yoga and music held in various locations across the U.S.A.

In the UK, the channel was a media partner to the Vitality Show, which took place at the Earl's Court exhibition centre in West London. The event was marketed as 'the ultimate girls day out'. This summer, Body in Balance is holding a Summer Solstice Yoga Workshops with Shiva Rea in ZSL London Zoo.

Satellites

Body In Balance operates two satellite feeds. Eutelsat's 9A delivers to Europe and Eastern Europe in German. In 2010 the company started broadcasting on Chinasat, which currently delivers to Taiwan and the Pacific in Mandarin.

References

External links

• Official website