BBC First

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

BBC First
BBC First logo (2022–present)
Broadcast areaAustralia and New Zealand
Europe
Southeast Asia
Canada
Western Asia
North and South Africa
Programming
LanguageVarious
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 News (International)
BBC Brit
CBeebies
History
Launched3 August 2014; 11 years ago (2014-08-03)
ReplacedBBC Entertainment (Asia)
BBC HD (Poland)
Closed1 September 2020; 5 years ago (2020-09-01) (Africa) 31 July 2024; 20 months ago (2024-07-31) (Australia) 15 May 2025; 10 months ago (2025-05-15) (Netherlands)
Links
WebsiteBBC First Asia BBC First Canada BBC First Netherlands
BBC First New Zealand

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.

History

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In October 2013, the BBC announced that in 2014 they would roll out three new brands – BBC Earth, BBC First, and BBC Brit, with BBC First to be dedicated to comedy and drama programming.[4]

International roll-out

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Asia

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Hong Kong

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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 until 31 January 2023.

Indonesia

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In April 2021, BBC First launched as a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service in Indonesia through Catchplay, which also serves as the platform's partner in Taiwan.[6]

Malaysia

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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.[7] The channel's content is also available in the "VOD" tab in the HyppTV Everywhere app for iOS and Android.

In mid-October 2021, BBC First launched as a SVOD service on Astro, along with BBC Brit.[8]

Singapore

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BBC First launched a Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) service on StarHub TV Channel 522 on 4 April 2016.[9] On 1 December 2021, BBC First launched a Video-On-Demand (VOD) service on Singtel TV.[10]

Taiwan

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In 2008, BBC Studios signed a cooperation agreement with Taiwanese OTT service myVideo to offer its drama content.[11]

Australia

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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][12][13] The channel exited Foxtel and Binge on 31 July 2024.[14]

The channel reappeared on Britbox in June 2025.[15]

Canada

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Main article: BBC First (Canadian TV channel)

In March 2021, Canadian broadcaster Blue Ant Media, which already operated the Canadian version of BBC Earth, announced that its HIFI channel would be rebranded as a Canadian version of BBC First on March 16, expanding the company's partnership with BBC Studios.[16] Unlike the other versions, the Canadian channel is not directly owned by BBC Studios, due to Canada's regulations around foreign ownership of Canadian media, but is operated by Blue Ant under a brand licensing agreement.

Previously, the market had been served by the similarly formatted BBC Canada, which was closed by then-owner Corus Entertainment at the end of 2020; many of the BBC programs carried by the prior channel carried over to BBC First. Blue Ant Media's founder Michael MacMillan is a former executive of BBC Canada's original parent company Alliance Atlantis.[17]

New Zealand

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On 1 October 2024 Sky launched BBC First on channel 207.[18]

Europe

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Netherlands & Belgium

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Main article: BBC First (Dutch TV channel)

BBC First launched in the Netherlands on 16 May 2015.[19]

On 15 May 2025 the channel was renamed to BBC NL in the Netherlands,[20] while remaining BBC First in Belgium.[21]

Central and Eastern Europe

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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”.[22]

BBC First launched in Croatia, North Macedonia and Slovenia on 1 April 2019,[23] followed by Romania on 12 October 2022[24] and Moldova on 6 June 2023.[25]

Malta

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The channel launched in Malta on 1st April 2024 and it is available on Melita EPG 300 and GOTV EPG 200, replacing BBC Entertainment. Both providers provide the channel in HD with catch-up features.

Turkey

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The channel launched in Turkey on 27 May 2020, replacing BBC HD.

Middle East & North Africa

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BBC First launched on OSN.

Africa

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South Africa

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The channel launched on DStv in South Africa on 18 October 2015.[26][27] On 4 August 2020, it was announced that BBC First would close in South Africa at the end of August 2020 after its current carriage agreement with MultiChoice was not renewed.[28][29][30] Some of its programming was moved to sister channel BBC Brit[31] and streaming service Britbox.[32]

Programming blocks

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There are BBC First programming blocks on the following channels:

Programming

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Main article: List of television programmes broadcast by the BBC

References

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  5. ^ BBC First debuts in Hong Kong. BBC Worldwide. 1 November 2016.
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  9. ^ Premium British drama comes to Singapore with launch of BBC First, StarHub TV, 24 March 2016
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  27. ^ BBC First South Africa (Archived)
    Redirect to BBC Brit
  28. ^ BBC FIRST SA Closure BBC South Africa. 4 August 2020.
  29. ^ '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.
  30. ^ "DStv kills off BBC First" Broadband TV News. 4 August 2020. Retrieved: 5 October 2020.
  31. ^ DStv shakes-up its British Entertainment line up News24. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  32. ^ New Streaming Service launches in South Africa: Here's everything you need to know a out Britbox. News24. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
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