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| Type | Encrypted Satellite & Cable television network |
|---|---|
| Availability | Europe, the Middle East |
| Founded | by BBC Worldwide |
| Owner | BBC |
| Launch date | January, 1995 |
| Website www.bbcprime.com |
|
BBC Prime is the BBC's general entertainment TV channel in Europe and the Middle East, first launched in January 1995. It is funded by subscription available either as part of a satellite package or as a stand-alone channel. As it may carry advertisements in some world regions, it is not available in the United Kingdom as, under the terms of the BBC's Charter, its domestic services cannot show advertising.
The channel broadcasts drama, comedy and lifestyle programmes via satellite and cable, which it repeats on a monthly basis. In the past, it allocated six hours per day for educational programmes from BBC Learning (shown in the European small hours); this practice was abandoned in August 2006 "with the intention of improving the relevance and appeal of the channel to the widest audience" .[1]
When it first launched, BBC Prime also carried programming from the former ITV company Thames Television, as BBC Worldwide had a joint venture, known as European Channel Management, with Thames' parent company, Pearson. This venture was later dissolved, and programmes like The Bill were no longer carried. Owing to rights issues, much of the current programming on BBC Prime is from the Corporation's archive.
The channel's emphasis on archive programming caused considerable annoyance to many British expatriate viewers, who had much preferred the mix of BBC One and Two previously offered by BBC TV Europe and BBC World Service Television. However, the BBC has defended the inclusion of older programmes in the schedule, on the grounds that "for the majority of our viewers, this is the first chance to see these programmes, and often the only way to view them."[2]
Consequently, many people in mainland Europe bought viewing cards to receive full broadcasts of BBC One and Two from the UK, when they became available on satellite in 1998. This prompted GBC in Gibraltar to end terrestrial retransmission of BBC Prime in 1999. Even after the BBC switched to broadcasting unencrypted on a satellite with a much weaker signal, many people in Spain and elsewhere could still receive these signals, particularly those who already had large satellite dishes.
BBC Prime is broadcast alongside BBC One and BBC Two in the Netherlands and Belgium, which have long been available on cable television locally, together with BBC World. It is also available on digital terrestrial television (DTT) in the Netherlands, as well as the Faroe Islands, Malta and Sweden. In Turkey, BBC Prime is broadcast by Türksat Cable TV and Digiturk. In Italy is broadcast by Sky Italia and Infostrada TV.
In order to cater to a wider audience, who do not have English their first language, BBC Prime carries subtitles in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Czech, Polish, Romanian, Hungarian, Italian, Hebrew and Serbian.
BBC Prime was launched in Africa in March, 1999, with some programmes different from the European service, as many had already been licensed to South African broadcasters, for example, such as BBC Learning. It was replaced by BBC Entertainment on September 1, 2008. [3]
A version of BBC Prime was launched in Asia on 1 December 2004. This had a completely different programme schedule, to take account of time zones and cultural differences, and offered subtitles in local languages like Chinese, Thai, and Korean. BBC Prime's Asian service was available in Hong Kong (on Now TV's Channel 529), Thailand (on TrueVisions' (Channel 35), Singapore (on StarHub TV's Channel 76) and South Korea (on Skylife's Channel 334). On October 6, 2006, it was replaced by BBC Entertainment.
A similar channel, called BBC Japan, launched in Japan on 1 December 2004, but ceased broadcasting on 30 April 2006 owing to problems with its local distributor.
Phasing out of the brand
See main article: BBC Entertainment
In September 2006 it was announced that the BBC Prime brand was to be phased out, replaced by BBC Entertainment, one of a number of new international channels planned by BBC Worldwide. BBC Worldwide's Managing Director of Global Channels, Darren Childs said: "BBC Prime will disappear as a brand. It is something we can do better. It was too non-specific. BBC Entertainment will do what it says on the tin."[4] To date, BBC Prime is still available in Europe (except Poland) and the Middle East, but will be replaced by BBC Entertainment in Scandinavia in December 2008.[5]
Notes
- ^ BBC Prime - faqs Why has BBC LEARNING ended?
- ^ BBC Prime - faqs What is the reason for including older programmes in the schedule?
- ^ "Four BBC Worldwide channels for DStv". Bizcommunity.com (2008-06-11). Retrieved on 2008-07-09.
- ^ "BBC Worldwide bows new channels". Variety (2006-09-07). Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
- ^ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a131587/bbc-launches-scandinavian-channels.html BBC launches Scandinavian channels]
External links
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More about BBC_Prime: bbc prime tv channel, bbc prime schedule,