Darren Childs is Managing Director, BBC Worldwide Channels, the UK's number one international channel operator in terms of reach.

Darren sits on BBC Worldwide's Board of Directors and is responsible for BBC Worldwide's various commercialchannel interests both domestically and internationally. He also has responsibility for worldwide advertisingsales, across the channels business and digital media.

Under Darren’s leadership, BBC Worldwide Channels has achieved dramatic growth over the last two years, both interms of subscribers and revenues. In 2006, he oversaw the launch of a new suite of fully localised BBC-brandedthematic channels - BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Knowledge, CBeebies and BBC HD - which have so farrolled out across Asia, India, Australia, Africa, Latin America and Europe.  

In addition, BBC Worldwide Channels took full control of Australia’s UK.TV in 2008, having previously been a 20%stakeholder in the channel.

Other wholly owned BBC Worldwide Channels include BBC America and BBC Prime.  Through a joint venture in the UKwith Virgin Media, BBC Worldwide Channels also has 11 UKTV channel brands (including Dave, Alibi, Watch,Yesterday, Gold, Eden and Blighty), and other joint venture interests include BBC Canada and BBC Kids (withCanWest) and People+Arts and Animal Planet (with Discovery Communications Inc).

Showcasing the very best programming from the BBC and other UK production houses, the BBC's 42 internationalchannels connect audiences in over 285 million unique homes and are broadcast in 15 different languages around theworld.  

Together, these global brands add value to UK programming by making British television accessible to internationalaudiences and maximising revenues through channel subscription and advertising sales.

Prior to joining BBC Worldwide, Darren was Senior Vice President, International Networks for Sony PicturesTelevision International (SPTI), where he was responsible for International Networks in Europe, Middle East andAfrica.

He oversaw the company's six wholly owned channels, including AXN, and numerous joint-venture movie channels,including HBO, and was also responsible for initiating and developing new channel investments.

Before joining Sony Pictures Television, Darren spent several years in Asia, firstly as Director of Programmingfor MTV Asia and then as Director of Business Development at Channel V (part of the STAR TV platform).