BBC First
| BBC First | |
|---|---|
|
BBC First logo | |
| Launched |
3 August 2014 (Australia) 16 May 2015 (Netherlands) 4 June 2015 (Belgium) 18 October 2015 (South Africa) 1 February 2016 (Middle East & North Africa) 4 April 2016 (Singapore) |
| Owned by | BBC Worldwide |
| Picture format |
576i (16:9 SDTV) 1080i (16:9 HDTV) |
| Slogan | Unmissable |
| Broadcast area |
Australia Netherlands Belgium Africa Middle East Singapore |
| Sister channel(s) |
BBC Earth BBC UKTV BBC HD BBC Lifestyle BBC Entertainment BBC World News BBC Brit CBeebies |
| Website |
BBC.com/first BBC.com/bbcfirst |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Foxtel (Australia) |
Channel 117 (SD) Channel 217 (HD) |
| DStv (Africa) | Channel 119 |
| OSN (Middle East & North Africa) | Channel 215 (HD) |
| Cable | |
| Foxtel (Australia) |
Channel 117 (SD) Channel 217 (HD) |
| Telenet (Belgium) |
Channel 561 (Flanders) Channel 741 (Brussels) |
| StarHub TV (Singapore) | Channel 522 (HD) |
| IPTV | |
| Fetch TV (Australia) | Channel 105 |
| KPN (Netherlands) |
Channel 23 (SD) Channel 729 (HD) |
| Telfort (Netherlands) |
Channel 23 Channel 729 (HD) |
| XS4ALL (Netherlands) |
Channel 23 Channel 729 (HD) |
| Lijbrandt (Netherlands) | Channel 116 |
| Streaming media | |
| Foxtel Go (Australia) | Channel 117 |
| Yelo TV | Watch live (Belgium only) |
| StarHub Go (Singapore) | Channel 522 |
BBC First is an entertainment subscription television channel featuring comedy and drama programming. The channel is wholly owned and operated by BBC Worldwide. The channel began rolling out internationally in 2014, launching first in Australia.[1][2][3]
History
In October 2013, BBC announced that in 2014 they would rollout 3 new brands - BBC Earth, BBC First, and BBC Brit, with BBC First to be dedicated to comedy and drama programming.[4]
International roll-out
Australia
On 17 April 2013, it was announced that the BBC had forged a new exclusive deal with Australian subscription television provider Foxtel which would see a new channel launched that would feature comedy and drama content, with programming screening as close to their original UK transmission as possible.[2] It was later announced the new channel would be named BBC First, a new global brand that would roll out in 2014, with Australia being the first location to launch the new channel, on 3 August 2014.[3][3][5][6]
Netherlands
BBC First launched in the Netherlands on 16 May 2015, initially exclusively on the KPN IPTV service (Interactieve TV van KPN) on channel 23. The programme mix will be specifically for the Netherlands with more emphasis placed on drama and crime series. All programming is subtitled in Dutch.[7] KPN simultaneously withdrew BBC Three and BBC Four.
Belgium
The channel launched in Belgium on 4 June 2015.[8][9]
South Africa
The channel launched in South Africa on 18 October 2015.[10][11]
Middle East & North Africa
On the 7th of January 2016, BBC Worldwide and OSN (Orbit Showtime Network) have announced that they had forged a new and exclusive deal which would see the launch of BBC First HD on the first of February 2016. The new channel would broadcast to Middle East & North Africa and would feature comedy and drama content, with programming screening 48 hours after their UK premier.
Singapore
BBC First launched a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service on StarHub TV Channel 522 on 4 April 2016.[12]
Programming blocks
There are BBC First programming blocks on the following channels:
- AXN Mystery (Japan, since 7 May 2015).[13]
Programming
Current programming
Original programming
Acquired programming
- A Young Doctor's Notebook
- Alan Partridge: Welcome to the Places of My Life
- Alan Partridge on Open Books with Martin Bryce
- Breathless
- Burton & Taylor
- Dates
- Dead Boss
- Derek (series 2)
- Doctor Who (series 1–9)
- The Fall (series 2)
- The Fear
- The Game
- The Honourable Woman
- This is Jinsy (series 2)
- Luther
- The Musketeers
- Peaky Blinders
- The Politician's Husband
- Quirke
- Roger & Val Have Just Got In
- The Village
- Wallander (series 4)
Future programming
- Wolf Hall (11 April 2015)[14]
- Call the Midwife (2015)[15]
- New Tricks (2015)[15]
References
- ↑ "BBC Worldwide and Foxtel unveil new channel name". BBC Worldwide. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- 1 2 Knox, David (17 April 2013). "New BBC Drama channel headed to Foxtel". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- 1 2 3 Knox, David (19 October 2013). "BBC First channel to launch on Foxtel in August". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ↑ Middleton, Richard (18 October 2013). "BBCWW to scrap global iPlayer". C21 Media. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
- ↑ Knox, David (26 May 2014). "BBC First to launch on August 3rd". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
- ↑ Knox, David (2 July 2014). "Foxtel Channel Changes". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
- ↑ "A First for Europe as BBC Worldwide’s premium drama channel debuts in The Netherlands" (Press release). BBC Worldwide. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ↑ "BBC First to Launch in Belgium" (Press release). BBC Worldwide. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ↑ "BBC First to launch in Belgium next month". TBI Europe. 2015-05-22.
- ↑ "BBC Worldwide launches BBC Brit, BBC Earth and BBC First in Africa" (Press release). BBC Worldwide. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ↑ BBC First South Africa
- ↑ Premium British drama comes to Singapore with launch of BBC First, StarHub TV, 24 March 2016
- ↑ "BBC Worldwide and Sony Pictures Television Networks join forces to launch BBC First programme block on AXN Mystery in Japan" (Press release). BBC Worldwide. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ↑ Higgins, D (March 30, 2015). "APRIL on FOXTEL: Game Of Thrones, Mad Men, Wentworth, Deadline Gallipoli and 200+ other new shows". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- 1 2 Knox, David (27 March 2014). "Curtain up on BBC First". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
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