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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]
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 drama and comedy programming.[4]
On 17 April 2013, it was announced that the 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] 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.[5] 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.[5] 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][6] 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][7][8]
On 1 February 2015, BBC First launched on Australian IPTV service Fetch TV – ending Foxtel's exclusivity.[9][10]
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.[11] KPN simultaneously withdrew BBC Three and BBC Four.
The channel launched in Belgium on 4 June 2015.[12][13]
The channel launched in South Africa on 18 October 2015.[14][15]
There are BBC First programming blocks on the following channels:
Bbc, BBC Radio 4 Extra, Channel 5 (UK), BBC Four, Virgin Media
Fox Sports (Australia), Foxtel Movies, Telstra, Fox8, Eurosport
Torchwood, Dalek, EastEnders, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Family Guy
BBC News, Bbc, BBC World Service, Sky News, CBeebies
India, Canada, United Kingdom, Africa, Australia
CBeebies, BBC World News, Foxtel, Bbc, Sky Movies (New Zealand)
Bbc, Star Tv, CBeebies, News Corporation, BBC World News
CBeebies, BBC World News, Top Gear (2002 TV series), Mock the Week, Bbc
Bbc, CBeebies, BBC Radio, ITV (TV network), S4c
CBeebies, Foxtel, Bbc, BBC World News, United Kingdom