BBC First
| BBC First | |
|---|---|
|
BBC First logo | |
| Launched | 3 August 2014 |
| Owned by | BBC Worldwide |
| Picture format |
576i (16:9 SDTV) 1080i (16:9 HDTV) |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Broadcast area | Australia |
| Sister channel(s) |
BBC Knowledge BBC UKTV BBC World News CBeebies |
| Website | BBC.com/first |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Foxtel |
Channel 117 (SD/HD) Channel 214 (SD) |
| Cable | |
| Foxtel |
Channel 117 (SD/HD) Channel 214 (SD) |
| IPTV | |
| Streaming media | |
| Foxtel Go | Channel 117 |
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
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 drama and comedy content, with programming screening as close to their original UK transmission as possible.[2] The following day it was announced that this deal resulted in the end of a 50-year-old deal with Australian free-to-air broadcaster ABC which they were not consulted about.[4] Despite the new exclusive deal with the Foxtel, it does not affect 'grandfathering' agreements whereby series that are currently broadcasting on other networks are not affected and will remain on their current network.[4] The programming that is shown on the new channel will not air on Australian free-to-air for at least 12 months after its first airing, if ever.[2][5] 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.[3] The Australian channel is available in linear format and in high definition, launching on 3 August 2014.[3][6][7]
On 1 February 2015, BBC First launched on Australian IPTV service Fetch TV – ending Foxtel's exclusivity.[8][9]
Launch
On 3 August 2014 at 9:30am, BBC First launched in Australia exclusively on the Foxtel platform. The first programme broadcast was The Musketeers.
BBC First is due to launch 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 will be subtitled in Dutch[10]
Programming
Australia
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 1–8)
- 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)[11]
- Call the Midwife (2015)[12]
- New Tricks (2015)[12]
References
- ↑ "BBC Worldwide and Foxtel unveil new channel name". BBC Worldwide. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Knox, David (17 April 2013). "New BBC Drama channel headed to Foxtel". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Knox, David (19 October 2013). "BBC First channel to launch on Foxtel in August". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Knox, David (18 April 2013). "BBC quits 50 year deal with "disappointed" ABC". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ↑ Knox, David (17 October 2013). "BBC dramas "No delay from the UK"". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 February 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.
- ↑ Knox, David (9 December 2014). "Fetch TV adds BBC First". TV Tonight. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ↑ Perry, Kevin (9 December 2014). "Big Blow for Foxtel as they Lose Exclusive Rights for Premium Drama Channel BBC First". Nelbie. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ↑ Dempsey, Paul (29 April 2015). "A First for Europe as BBC Worldwide’s premium drama channel debuts in The Netherlands". BBC Media Centre - BBC Worldwide. Retrieved 29 April 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.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Knox, David (27 March 2014). "Curtain up on BBC First". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
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