Jump to content

BBC Prime

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BBC Prime
Image
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaEurope, Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Asia Pacific
Programming
Picture format576i (4:3/16:9 SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerBBC
History
Launched30 January 1995; 31 years ago (1995-01-30)
ReplacedBBC World Service Television
Closed11 November 2009; 16 years ago (2009-11-11)
Replaced byBBC Entertainment
Links
Websitebbcentertainment.com
(redirects to bbcstudios.com)

BBC Prime was the BBC's general entertainment TV channel in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Asia-Pacific from 30 January 1995[citation needed] until 11 November 2009.[1]

The network resulted from the division of BBC World Service Television (1991–1995) into two services: BBC Prime and BBC World (now BBC News).[citation needed] On 11 November 2009, BBC Prime was replaced by BBC Entertainment.

Launch

[edit]

BBC Prime launched at 19:00 GMT on Thursday, 26 January 1995, when BBC World Service Television was split into two stations:[2]

  • BBC World: a 24-hour English, free-to-air international news channel, launched on 26 January 1995.
  • BBC Prime: a 24-hour English, subscription-based lifestyle, variety, and entertainment channel, launched on 30 January 1995.[2]

The change was part of a new BBC strategy for Europe, in which the former service was to be split and given over to European Channel Management, the joint venture created with Pearson.[citation needed] The goal was to reach 10 million households in Europe by year-end 1995; the existing service reached 2.3 million households.[3] 75 percent of the output was drawn from the BBC, while the remaining 25 percent came from Thames.[4][5]

BBC Prime broadcast the Princess of Wales's interview with Panorama on 24 November 1995, simulcasting with BBC One and BBC World.[6]

In 1996, the channel was to be joined by two further services, BBC Learning and a nature channel.[7] In November, the channel launched on the DF1 platform in Germany and Austria via a deal with Kirch Media.[8] A deal was also signed with the French satellite platforms Canalsatellite Numérique and TPS.[9]

On 4 March 1999, BBC Prime launched in sub-Saharan Africa on the DStv platform.[10]

The channel was removed from HOT in Israel at the end of 2006, replaced by ethnic channels for the Ethiopian (IETV) and Georgian (GTV) diasporas.[11]

Programming

[edit]

The channel broadcast drama, comedy, and lifestyle programmes, repeated on a monthly basis.[citation needed] Following the 2000 rebrand, it allocated six hours daily to educational programmes from BBC Learning, shown between 01:00 and 07:00 CET.[12] It also included a children’s strand branded as CBBC on BBC Prime.

When it first launched, BBC Prime carried programming from Thames Television due to a joint venture between BBC Worldwide, Pearson, and Cox Communications.[13] The venture was dissolved in 1998 when the BBC became sole owner.[14]

BBC Prime explained its use of older programmes: “For the majority of our viewers... this is the first chance to see these programmes.”[15]

Funding

[edit]

BBC Prime was funded by subscription and advertising, unlike the BBC’s domestic channels.[16] It was not available in the UK.

Presentation

[edit]

BBC Prime's first ident consisted of five shining diamonds on a black background.[citation needed]

After the BBC’s 1997 rebrand, BBC Prime introduced new idents designed by Martin Lambie-Nairn.[citation needed]

On 4 December 2000, BBC Prime rebranded again with the “Festival” idents.[17]

The final rebrand took place on 23 July 2006.[citation needed]

Availability

[edit]

The channel was available in many regions via satellite and cable:

  • In the Netherlands and Belgium, it was available on cable.
  • It was available on DTT in the Netherlands and Malta.
  • In Gibraltar, GBC relayed BBC Prime on VHF and UHF channels.[18]
  • In Turkey, it was available on Türksat Cable TV and Digiturk.
  • In Italy, it was available on SKY Italia.
  • In MENA, it was available on the Orbit Network Bahrain.
  • In South Africa, it launched on DStv on 4 March 1999.[citation needed]
  • The Asia service launched on 1 December 2004.

BBC Prime carried subtitles in multiple European and Asian languages.[citation needed]

A similar channel, BBC Japan, launched on 1 December 2004 but closed on 30 April 2006.[citation needed]

Replacement

[edit]
Main article: BBC Entertainment

In September 2006, it was announced that BBC Prime would be replaced by BBC Entertainment.[19]

The transition began with the Asian services on 6 October 2006, followed by South Africa on 1 September 2008.[20] BBC Prime was fully replaced on 11 November 2009.[1][21]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "BBC Prime rebranded as BBC Entertainment". Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  2. ^ a b "BBC World & BBC Prime launch (1995)". TVARK. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2026. Contains video of the pre-launch caption and the simultaneous launch of BBC World and BBC Prime.
  3. ^ "Two new BBC channels for Europe, one to vie with CNN for viewers". The Straits Times. AP. 21 January 1995. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  4. ^ "BBC, Pearson to launch 24-hour TV news channel to rival CNN". Business Times. AFP. 25 January 1995. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  5. ^ "BBC embraces old enemy and ads in new world service". The Straits Times. International Herald Tribune. 2 February 1995. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  6. ^ Garner, C. (17 November 1995). "BBC gets $1m for Diana interview". The Independent.
  7. ^ BBC to launch two more satellites. (1996). Broadcaster, 55(3), 16-17.
  8. ^ BBC signs exclusive digital deal with Kirch. (1996). New Media Markets, 14(37), 13.
  9. ^ Prime moves for BBC channels across Europe. (1996). New Media Markets, 14(39), 7.
  10. ^ "Multichoice increases its stable". Africa Film & TV Magazine. No. 21. May–July 1999.
  11. ^ "Chinese, Georgians and Ethiopians Instead". Haaretz. 28 December 2006.
  12. ^ BBC Prime – FAQs: Why has BBC Learning ended?
  13. ^ From us to them; How the BBC became a world player, The Independent, 11 October 1997
  14. ^ BBC to buy out int'l partners, Variety, 16 March 1998
  15. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". BBC Prime. Archived from the original on 14 July 2001. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Radio 1 tightens belt for Chris Evans". The Independent. 21 June 1995. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022.
  17. ^ "BBC Knowledge, BBC Prime and BBC Parliament at TV Home". 1 December 2001. Archived from the original on 1 December 2001. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  18. ^ Handbook – Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, 1997, p. 59
  19. ^ Clarke, Steve (7 September 2006). "BBC Worldwide bows new channels". Variety. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  20. ^ "Four BBC Worldwide channels for DStv". Bizcommunity.com. 11 June 2008. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  21. ^ "BBC Worldwide Channels to launch BBC Entertainment across Europe and the Middle East". BBC Press Office. 18 August 2009.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BBC_Prime&oldid=1359070287"