International BBC television channels

Last updated January 21, 2024

The BBC is forbidden under its charter to directly undertake any commercial operations on-air within the United Kingdom; however, no such restriction applies to operations in other countries. Therefore, the BBC exploits its massive television archive by operating a number of commercial television channels outside the UK through its BBC Studios subsidiary.

Wholly owned channels

BBC News Arabic – Arabic news channel available in the Arab world
BBC Brit – an entertainment channel available in the Nordics, Poland and South Africa. Replaced by BBC Nordic in the Nordics in April 2023
BBC Earth – a documentary channel available in the Nordics, Romania, Poland, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Asia, South Africa and South America. Replaced by BBC Nordic in the Nordics in April 2023
BBC First – an entertainment channel focusing on comedy, crime and drama programming. Available in Asia, Australia, Benelux, Central and Eastern Europe (Croatia, North Macedonia, Poland and Slovenia), MENA and South Africa
BBC Lifestyle – available in Poland, South Africa and Asia
BBC Persian – an Iranian/Afghan news channel available in Europe, Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan
BBC UKTV – an entertainment channel available in Australia and New Zealand (formerly in a 20% joint venture with Foxtel (60%) and RTL (20%), but as of 1 July 2008 wholly owned^[1]^[2])
BBC News – an International news channel from the BBC available worldwide (not related to the UK-only BBC News)
CBeebies – a channel for children aged 6 or under. Available in Poland, South Africa, Asia, Australia and MENA, with the domestic channel also available in Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland
BBC Nordic – an entertainment and documentary channel, replacing BBC Brit and BBC Earth in the Nordics

Other

The domestic BBC channels are not distributed outside of the United Kingdom. However, these channels are widely available on cable and IPTV in Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland.

BBC Studios also operate the UKTV network in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Defunct channels

BBC Entertainment – entertainment channel available in Europe (except the Nordics and Eastern Europe), Turkey and Israel; ceasing operations on 31 March 2024
BBC Food – Southern Africa/the Nordics; has been rolled into BBC Lifestyle
BBC HD – a high-definition television channel available in Turkey; ceased operations on 27 May 2020
BBC Japan – an entertainment channel available in Japan, ceased broadcasting in 2006, owing to the closure of its local distributor
BBC Knowledge – an educational and informational channel available in Australia and New Zealand (not related to the UK-only BBC Knowledge, which has been replaced); it was closed on 10 October 2019 and replaced by BBC Earth
BBC Prime – entertainment channel available in Africa, Asia and Europe; ceased operations on 11 November 2009 and subsequently replaced by BBC Entertainment

Joint ventures

United States

BBC America – entertainment channel available in US. Owned by BBC Studios (50.01%) and AMC Networks (49.99%).

Canada

In Canada, channels are required by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to have a certain quota of original Canadian content. The following BBC channels are operated in conjunction with Corus Entertainment and Knowledge West Communications respectively, with BBC having a 20% stake in each channel.

BBC Canada – entertainment channel available in Canada
BBC Kids – children's channel available in Canada

History

BBC World Service Television (1991–1994)

BBC World News (formerly known as BBC World Service Television ) was officially launched by Actress of the Republic of Indonesia's Djenar Maesa Ayu on 15 November 1991 at 20:00 HKT from the Hong Kong International Airport (formerly known as Kai Tak International Airport) in Kowloon Bay located of Kowloon Peninsula with 100-original staff members. It showed news programming from BBC1 and BBC2 in addition to BBC World Service News.^{[ citation needed ]}

Its schedule consists of some locally made programs in Hong Kong as well as news programmes from STAR News, it signed an agreement with CNN International News, allowing its access to that channel's programming. It also relayed Seputar Indonesia news programme from Indonesian free-to-air terrestrial television channel's RCTI which was also available in Hong Kong.^{[ citation needed ]}

STAR TV, would buy 20 per cent of BBC WSTV, giving it a firmer foothold in Asia.^{[ citation needed ]}

Following STAR TV acquisition by Rupert Murdoch, BBC WSTV was removed from the satellite beam that broadcast across East Asia on 1 March 1994. However, it was meant to still be on-air in South Asia until 31 March 1996.^[3]

In mid-1994, there was a commercial dispute between BBC World Service Television and STAR TV, where the proposed joint venture by the latter was inconclusive and News Corporation didn't pay for the support and services that BBC News provided after over 3 years. As a result, their license for using the name BBC Television would initially expire. At British Broadcasting Corporations request, the deadline was extended twice from 1 February and finally on 30 April 1994. Following that, Rupert Murdoch is asking for a compensation of about HK$102.5 trillion (US$250 million) from the said company. This situation is said to benefit new look and rebranded which may become the next service that completely replaces BBC News. The dispute also caused BBC World Service Television to lose its monopoly to broadcast the STAR News.^{[ citation needed ]}

BBC World Service Television was removed on STAR TV, which led the launch of 2-stations: it screened both English and Chinese movies on "STAR Movies", with both movie premiere satellite channels broadcasting each type of movies, launched on 1 May 1994 at 00:00 HKT such as:

" Fox Movies (was formerly known as STAR Movies )" – was a 24-hour movie channel based in the Hong Kong. It was showed movies made by 20th Century Fox and other distributors.
" STAR Chinese Movies " – is a 24-hour Chinese movie channel based in the Republic of China (Taiwan) were still copyrighted from Hong Kong with studio by STAR TV Filmed Entertainment, produced by Fortune STAR Entertainment & distributed by Media Asia Entertainment Group based in Kowloon Peninsula in 1993.^{[ citation needed ]}

BBC World and BBC Prime

The BBC's international operations initially consisted of a single channel – BBC World Service Television. On Thursday, 26 January 1995 at 19:00 GMT this was split into two television stations:

Launched Monday, 16 January 1995 at 19:00 GMT: 24-hour English free-to-air terrestrial international news channel named "BBC World" (now BBC World News).
Launched Monday, 30 January 1995 at 19:00 GMT: 24-hour English subscription lifestyle, variety & entertainment channel named "BBC Prime" (now BBC Entertainment).

The organisation subsequently launched localised stations focused on a particular area, such as BBC Food (the Nordics) and BBC America alongside BBC World and BBC Prime.

In October 2006, BBC Entertainment replaced BBC Prime in Asian markets, and went on to replace it in other territories during the period 2007–2009. Other channels that were rolled out internationally included BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle, and an international version of CBeebies. The aim of the new launches was to simplify and diversify the BBC Worldwide offering in the digital age. These launches absorbed some channels, such as BBC Food (into BBC Lifestyle), though channels focused on a particular local market (such as BBC America or BBC Persian TV) continued.

BBC World News

On 21 April 2008, BBC World was renamed BBC World News and new graphics were produced by the Lambie-Nairn design agency, accompanied by reworked music from David Lowe as part of a £550,000 rebranding of the BBC's news output and visual identity.

On 15 November 2010, BBC Worldwide sold 50% of its shares in Animal Planet and Liv to Discovery Communications for $156 million.

Internet, TV and film

BBC Television which includes BBC Red Button
BBC Radio
BBC iPlayer
BBC Online
BBC Earth Films
BBC Films
BBC Orchestras and Singers
S4C

Related Research Articles

BBC News is an international English-language pay television channel owned by BBC Global News Ltd.— a subsidiary of BBC Studios—and operated by the BBC News division of the BBC. The network carries news bulletins, documentaries, and other factual programmes; its programming is based out of studios in London, Washington, D.C., and Singapore. As of April 2023, the channel largely operates as an international feed of the BBC News channel in the UK, sharing the majority of its schedule.

Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and TVB Pearl as its main English service. TVB is headquartered at TVB City at the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC Television</span> Television service of the British Broadcasting Corporation

BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1927. It produced television programmes from its own studios from 1932, although the start of its regular service of television broadcasts is dated to 2 November 1936.

BBC Prime was the BBC's general entertainment TV channel in Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Asia Pacific from 30 January 1995 until 11 November 2009, when it was replaced by BBC Entertainment.

Star World is an English language entertainment television channel originally launched on 15 December 1991 by Star TV in Hong Kong as the old iteration of Star Plus.

Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific, was a Hong Kong-based commercial broadcasting company operating multiple specialty television channels. The company was founded in 1991 by Hong Kong businessman Richard Li.

BBC World Service Television, often abbreviated to WSTV, was the name of two BBC international satellite television channels between 1991 and 1995. It was the BBC's first foray into worldwide television broadcasting. In Europe, it was the successor to BBC TV Europe, which it replaced on 11 March 1991. The service was also launched in Asia as a 24-hour news and information service with minor differences, a precursor to BBC World News, launched on 14 October 1991.

Star Movies is a Asian-based pay television channel owned by Disney Entertainment. Star Movies was originally launched in 1994 as a single channel broadcast across Asia, but it was regionalized into different localized channels since then. Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific have since rebranded some of the network's international feeds in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia as Fox Movies, but retains the Star Movies brand in Middle East & South Asia.

Star Chinese Movies was a Chinese language pay television channel owned by Disney Networks Group Pacific Ltd. It features Chinese films.

BBC Entertainment was an international television channel broadcasting comedy, drama, light entertainment, reality and children's programming from the BBC, Channel 4 and other UK production houses. The channel broadcasts regional versions to suit local demands and replaced BBC Prime. It was wholly owned by BBC Studios.

BBC Knowledge was a television channel available in various countries outside the United Kingdom, showcasing factual and non-fiction entertainment programming from the BBC and independent UK production houses. Wholly owned by BBC Studios, it is not related to the previous channel known as BBC Knowledge, an early digital channel available within the UK, which closed down in 2002 in favour of BBC Four and CBeebies.

National Geographic Wild is a global pay television network owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (73%) and the National Geographic Society (27%). The channel primarily focuses on wildlife and natural history non-fiction programming. It is a sister network to National Geographic TV.

Mei Ah Entertainment Group Co., Ltd. is a major media distribution company in Hong Kong.

BBC Lifestyle is an international television channel wholly owned by BBC Studios. The channel provides six programming strands: Food, Home & Design, Fashion & Style, Health, Parenting, and Personal Development.

BBC HD was an international high-definition television channel owned by BBC Studios. In many countries the channel has been replaced by other BBC Studios operations. At present, the channel is only available in selected cruise ships and within the maritime industry.

BBC First is an entertainment subscription television channel featuring comedy, crime, drama and film programming, originating from UK and mostly from the BBC. The channel is wholly owned and operated by BBC Studios. The channel began rolling out internationally in 2014, launching first in Australia. It is supported by extended localised advertising breaks.

BBC Brit is an entertainment subscription television channel featuring factual entertainment programming. The channel is wholly owned and operated by BBC Studios. Originally set to roll out internationally in 2014, it was later announced it would launch in 2015, starting in Poland.

BBC Earth is a documentary subscription television channel featuring premium factual programming. The channel is wholly owned and operated by BBC Studios. Originally set to roll out internationally in 2014, it was later announced that it would launch in 2015, starting in Poland.

FX is a brand name used by a number of different television channels throughout the world owned by Disney Entertainment, a division of The Walt Disney Company. FX was originally established as a standard or premium cable television channel in the United States but has expanded worldwide.

References

↑ Foxtel and BBC Worldwide Announce Strategic Partnership
↑ BBC Worldwide Announces UK.TV Acquisition and New Channels in Australia
↑ Palmer, Rhonda (2 March 1994). "BBC, Star TV to split in parts of Asia". Variety . Retrieved 21 June 2023.

External links

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Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Foxtel and BBC Worldwide Announce Strategic Partnership

[2] BBC Worldwide Announces UK.TV Acquisition and New Channels in Australia

[3] Palmer, Rhonda (2 March 1994). "BBC, Star TV to split in parts of Asia". Variety . Retrieved 21 June 2023.

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v t e BBC Television
BBC
UK channels	BBC One Northern Ireland Scotland Wales BBC Two Northern Ireland Wales BBC Three BBC Four BBC News BBC Parliament BBC Scotland CBBC CBeebies
UK nations and regions	Scotland Wales Northern Ireland North East and Cumbria North West Yorkshire Yorkshire and Lincolnshire West West Midlands East Midlands East London South West South South East
Services and programming blocks	BBC iPlayer BBC Learning Zone BBC Music BBC News BBC Red Button BBC Schools BBC Sport BBC Switch BBC Weather CBBC CBeebies
UKTV channels	Alibi Dave Drama Eden Gold W Yesterday
International channels and joint ventures	Britbox BBC Alba BBC America BBC Arabic Television BBC Brit BBC Earth Canada India BBC Entertainment BBC First Australia Canada Netherlands and Belgium BBC HD (international) BBC Kids (Australia) BBC Lifestyle BBC Nordic BBC Persian Television BBC Player BBC Select BBC UKTV BBC World News Together
Defunct channels	BBC Canada BBC Choice Northern Ireland Scotland Wales BBC Food BBC HD (UK) BBC Japan BBC Kids (Canada) BBC Knowledge UK international BBC Living BBC Prime BBC Select BBC TV Europe BBC World Service Television BBC 2W BBC Two Scotland UKTV (various channels)
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