BBC First

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.[1][2][3] It is supported by extended localised advertising breaks.

This article is about the international variant of BBC First. For the localised Australian version of BBC First, see BBC First (Australian TV channel). For the localised Dutch version of BBC First, see BBC First (Dutch TV channel).
Not to be confused with BBC One.

BBC First
BBC First logo
Broadcast areaAustralia
Netherlands
Belgium
Africa
Middle East and North Africa
Singapore
Malaysia
Poland
Turkey
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
SloganUnmissable
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerBBC Studios
Sister channelsBBC Earth
BBC UKTV
BBC HD
BBC Lifestyle
BBC Entertainment
BBC World News
BBC Brit
CBeebies
History
Launched3 August 2014 (2014-08-03)
ReplacedBBC Entertainment (Asia)
BBC HD (Poland)
Closed1 September 2020 (2020-09-01) (Africa)
Links
WebsiteBBCFirst.tv

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]

Hong Kong

On 1 November 2016, BBC First launched as a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service in Hong Kong. The channel replaced BBC On Demand and BBC Entertainment on Now TV.[5] On 14 November 2016, the service was launched on myTV Super OTT platform.

Malaysia

BBC First was launched as a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service on HyppTV Channel 812 on 1 October 2016, 10 months after BBC Entertainment was dropped from the provider.[6] The channel's content is also available in the "VOD" tab in the HyppTV Everywhere app for iOS and Android.

Singapore

BBC First launched a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service on StarHub TV Channel 522 on 4 April 2016.[7]

Australia
Main article: BBC First (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][8][9]

Netherlands & Belgium
Main article: BBC First (Dutch TV channel)

BBC First launched in the Netherlands on 16 May 2015.[10]

Central and Eastern Europe

BBC First made its debut as a linear channel in Poland on 26 October 2018, replacing BBC 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”.[11]

BBC First launched in Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia on 1 April 2019.[12]

Middle East & North Africa

On 7 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 the Middle East & North Africa and would feature comedy and drama content, with programming screening 48 hours after their UK premiere.

South Africa

The channel launched on DStv in South Africa on 18 October 2015.[13][14] On 4 August 2020, It was announced that BBC First will cease transmissions in South Africa on 1 September of that year after its current carriage agreement with MultiChoice was not renewed.[15][16][17] A number of British dramas were moved to sister channel, BBC Brit.

Turkey

The channel launched in Turkey on 27 May 2020

Programming blocks

There are BBC First programming blocks on the following channels:

Programming
Main article: List of television programmes broadcast by the BBC

References
  1. "BBC Worldwide and Foxtel unveil new channel name". BBC Worldwide. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  2. Knox, David (17 April 2013). "New BBC Drama channel headed to Foxtel". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  3. Knox, David (19 October 2013). "BBC First channel to launch on Foxtel in August". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  4. Middleton, Richard (18 October 2013). "BBCWW to scrap global iPlayer". C21 Media. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  5. BBC First debuts in Hong Kong. BBC Worldwide. 1 November 2016.
  6. "BBC First | Channels | BBC Asia | BBC Worldwide". Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  7. Premium British drama comes to Singapore with launch of BBC First, StarHub TV, 24 March 2016
  8. Knox, David (26 May 2014). "BBC First to launch on August 3rd". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  9. Knox, David (2 July 2014). "Foxtel Channel Changes". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  10. "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.
  11. "Premium British drama channel BBC First to launch in Poland". BBC. 13 August 2018.
  12. Chris Dziadul (18 February 2019). "BBC First expands in CEE". BroadbandTVNews.com.
  13. "BBC Worldwide launches BBC Brit, BBC Earth and BBC First in Africa" (Press release). BBC Worldwide. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  14. BBC First South Africa
  15. BBC FIRST SA Closure
  16. '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.
  17. "DStv kills off BBC First" Broadband TV News. 4 August 2020. Retrieved: 5 October 2020.
  18. "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 14 October 2017.
  19. "BBC First makes its debut in India on Zee Café" (Press release). BBC Worldwide. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
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