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BBC First

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the international variant of BBC First. For localised versions, seeBBC First (Australian TV channel),BBC First (Dutch TV channel),andBBC First (Canadian TV channel).
Not to be confused withBBC One.

BBC First
BBC First logo (2022–present)
Broadcast areaAustralia
Netherlands
Belgium
Africa
Singapore
Malaysia
Poland
Moldova
Romania
Turkey
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Canada
Middle East & North Africa
Programming
Language(s)Various
Picture format1080iHDTV
(downscaled to16:9576ifor theSDTVfeed)
Ownership
OwnerBBC Studios
Sister channelsBBC Earth
BBC UKTV
BBC HD
BBC Lifestyle
BBC Entertainment
BBC News (International)
BBC Brit
CBeebies
History
Launched3 August 2014;9 years ago(2014-08-03)
ReplacedBBC Entertainment(Asia)
BBC HD(Poland)
Closed1 September 2020;3 years ago(2020-09-01)(Africa)
Links
WebsiteBBCFirst.tv

BBC Firstis an entertainmentsubscription televisionchannel featuring comedy, crime, drama and film programming, originating from UK and mostly from the BBC. The channel is wholly owned and operated byBBC Studios.The channel began rolling out internationally in 2014, launching first in Australia.[1][2][3]It is supported by extended localised advertising breaks.

History[edit]

In October 2013, the BBC announced that in 2014 they would roll out three new brands –BBC Earth,BBC First,andBBC Brit,with BBC First to be dedicated to comedy and drama programming.[4]

International roll-out[edit]

Asia[edit]

Hong Kong[edit]

On 1 November 2016, BBC First launched as a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service inHong Kong.The channel replaced BBC On Demand andBBC EntertainmentonNow TV.[5]On 14 November 2016, the service was launched onmyTV SuperOTTplatform until 31 January 2023.

Indonesia[edit]

In April 2021, BBC First launched as a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service inIndonesiathroughCatchplay,which also serves as the platform's partner in Taiwan.[6]

Malaysia[edit]

BBC First was launched as a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service onHyppTVChannel 812 on 1 October 2016, 10 months after BBC Entertainment was dropped from the provider.[7]The channel's content is also available in the "VOD" tab in the HyppTV Everywhere app for iOS and Android.

In mid-October 2021, BBC First launched as a SVOD service on Astro, along withBBC Brit.[8]

Singapore[edit]

BBC First launched a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service onStarHub TVChannel 522 on 4 April 2016.[9]On 1 December 2021, BBC First launched a Video-On-Demand (VOD) service onSingtel TV.[10]

Taiwan[edit]

In 2008, BBC Studios signed a cooperation agreement with Taiwanese OTT servicemyVideoto offer its drama content.[11]

Australia[edit]

Main article:BBC First (Australia)

On 17 April 2013, it was announced that theBBChad forged a new exclusive deal withAustraliansubscription television providerFoxtelwhich would see a new channel launched that would feature comedy and drama content, with programming screening as close to their originalUKtransmission as possible.[2]It was later announced the new channel would be namedBBC 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][12][13]

Canada[edit]

Main article:BBC First (Canadian TV channel)

In March 2021, Canadian broadcasterBlue Ant Media,which already operated theCanadian version of BBC Earth,announced that itsHIFIchannel would be rebranded as a Canadian version of BBC First on March 16, expanding the company's partnership with BBC Studios.[14]Unlike the other versions, the Canadian channel is not directly owned by BBC Studios, due to Canada's regulations around foreign ownership of Canadian media, but is operated by Blue Ant under a brand licensing agreement.

Previously, the market had been served by the similarly formattedBBC Canada,which was closed by then-ownerCorus Entertainmentat the end of 2020; many of the BBC programs carried by the prior channel carried over to BBC First. Blue Ant Media's founderMichael MacMillanis a former executive of BBC Canada's original parent companyAlliance Atlantis.[15]

Europe[edit]

Netherlands & Belgium[edit]

Main article:BBC First (Dutch TV channel)

BBC First launched in the Netherlands on 16 May 2015.[16]

Central and Eastern Europe[edit]

BBC First made its debut as a linear channel inPolandon 26 October 2018, replacingBBC HD.

Commenting on the development, Jacek Koskowski, general manager and VP for Poland, BBC Studios, said: “We’re living through a golden era of British drama with outstanding talent producing some of the very best television in the world. Increasing the drama hours on BBC HD was integral to that channel’s recent growth and now we are going further by bringing viewers even more of what they want. Coupled with the addition of Polish and English subtitles for the first time, I’m delighted to be introducing a dedicated premium drama channel to Poland”.[17]

BBC First launched inCroatia,North MacedoniaandSloveniaon 1 April 2019,[18]followed byRomaniaon 12 October 2022[19]andMoldovaon 6 June 2023.[20]

Malta[edit]

The channel Launched in Malta on 1st April 2024 and it is available on Melita EPG 300 and GOTV EPG 200, replacing BBC Entertainment. Both providers provide the channel in HD with catch-up features.

Turkey[edit]

The channel launched inTurkeyon 27 May 2020, replacingBBC HD.

Middle East & North Africa[edit]

BBC First launched a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service on Shahid VIP.

Africa[edit]

South Africa[edit]

The channel launched onDStvinSouth Africaon 18 October 2015.[21][22]On 4 August 2020, it was announced that BBC First would close in South Africa at the end of August 2020 after its current carriage agreement withMultiChoicewas not renewed.[23][24][25]Some of its programming was moved to sister channelBBC Brit[26]and streaming serviceBritbox.[27]

Programming blocks[edit]

There areBBC Firstprogramming blocks on the following channels:

Programming[edit]

Main article:List of television programmes broadcast by the BBC

References[edit]

  1. ^"BBC Worldwide and Foxtel unveil new channel name".BBC Worldwide. 18 October 2013.Retrieved3 May2014.
  2. ^abKnox, David (17 April 2013)."New BBC Drama channel headed to Foxtel".TV Tonight.Retrieved3 February2014.
  3. ^abKnox, David (19 October 2013)."BBC First channel to launch on Foxtel in August".TV Tonight.Retrieved3 February2014.
  4. ^Middleton, Richard (18 October 2013)."BBCWW to scrap global iPlayer".C21 Media.Retrieved28 March2014.
  5. ^BBC First debuts in Hong Kong.BBC Worldwide. 1 November 2016.
  6. ^"Catchplay+ joins hands with BBC Studios to bring the best of UK drama to Indonesia and Taiwan through BBC First".bbc.com.Retrieved24 May2021.
  7. ^"BBC First | Channels | BBC Asia | BBC Worldwide".Retrieved28 November2016.
  8. ^"Astro Promotions - Special Deals for New & Existing Customers".promotions.astro.com.my.Retrieved15 September2021.
  9. ^Premium British drama comes to Singapore with launch of BBC First,StarHub TV,24 March 2016
  10. ^"BBC Studios brings premium British content to new audiences in Singapore through partnership with Singtel".www.bbc.com.Retrieved8 January2022.
  11. ^"BBC Studios Signs First Deal With Taiwan's myVIDEO".bbc.com.Retrieved24 May2021.
  12. ^Knox, David (26 May 2014)."BBC First to launch on August 3rd".TV Tonight.Retrieved2 July2014.
  13. ^Knox, David (2 July 2014)."Foxtel Channel Changes".TV Tonight.Retrieved2 July2014.
  14. ^Ramachandran, Naman (3 March 2021)."BBC Studios, Blue Ant Media Team to Launch BBC First Channel in Canada (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved3 March2021.
  15. ^Ramachandran, Naman (3 March 2021)."BBC Studios, Blue Ant Media Team to Launch BBC First Channel in Canada (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved3 March2021.
  16. ^"A First for Europe as BBC Worldwide's premium drama channel debuts in The Netherlands"(Press release). BBC Worldwide. 29 April 2015.Retrieved30 September2015.
  17. ^"Premium British drama channel BBC First to launch in Poland".BBC. 13 August 2018.
  18. ^Chris Dziadul (18 February 2019)."BBC First expands in CEE".BroadbandTVNews.com.
  19. ^"Televiziunea BBC First HD, lansată în România în grila Digi Tv / RCS RDS".HDSatelit.com. 12 October 2022.
  20. ^"BBC First grows its footprint across CEE".BBC.co.uk.7 June 2023.
  21. ^"BBC Worldwide launches BBC Brit, BBC Earth and BBC First in Africa"(Press release). BBC Worldwide. 12 August 2015.Retrieved28 September2015.
  22. ^BBC First South Africa(Archived)
    Redirect toBBC Brit
  23. ^BBC FIRST SA ClosureBBC South Africa. 4 August 2020.
  24. ^'BREAKING. MultiChoice dumps the BBC First Channel from Dstv from September, calls it a 'refresh of it British entertainment line-up'.'TV with Thinus. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  25. ^"DStv kills off BBC First"Broadband TV News. 4 August 2020. Retrieved: 5 October 2020.
  26. ^DStv shakes-up its British Entertainment line upNews24. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  27. ^New Streaming Service launches in South Africa: Here's everything you need to know a out Britbox.News24. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  28. ^"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.Retrieved14 October2017.
  29. ^"BBC First makes its debut in India on Zee Café"(Press release). BBC Worldwide. 26 April 2017.Retrieved14 October2017.
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