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BBC America


 
 

BBC America is an AmericanUnited States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is...
 televisionTelevision

Television is a telecommunication system for...
 network, owned and operated by BBC WorldwideBBC Worldwide

BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a res...
, which was launched on March 29, 1998, available on both cableCable television Summary

Cable television or Community Antenna Television is a system of providing television, FM radio programming and other...
 and satelliteSatellite television

Satellite television is television delivered by way of communications satellites, as compared to conventional terrestrial te...
. It is one of two BBC branded channels broadcast in the United States, the other being global news channel, BBC World News.

History

BBC America was launched in March 1998. From the beginning it carried programming from the BBC and other BritishUnited Kingdom Summary

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state that lies off the northwest coast...
 television channels, including comedy, drama, and lifestyle programmes.

It has been said that the idea for BBC America began in a small room at the BBC Television CentreBBC Television Centre

BBC Television Centre in London is home to much of BBC television output and, since 1998, almost all of the corporation's na...
 complex in West LondonWest London

West London is the area of Greater London to the west of the central area....
. In the early days, the channel focused on repeats of popular lifestyle shows such as Changing Rooms and Ground Force. BBC America's head of programming later stated that it was important for the channel to establish a niche since non-UK viewers found the lifestyle shows appealing. The evening schedule is where most new programming would appear.

When popular UK soap EastEndersEastEnders

EastEnders is a popular BBC television soap opera, first broadcast on 19 February 1985 and continuing today....
was removed from the schedule, the network faced a backlash which caught the attention of the media.

After CEO Paul Lee moved to ABC FamilyABC Family

ABC Family is an American cable television network currently owned by Disney/ABC. ...
, the network appointed Bill Hilary from the Comedy Channel. He appointed Kathryn Mitchell to the newly created position of GM. Under Hilary's tenure, BBC America was restructured; it moved its main offices to New York CityNew York City

New York City is the largest city in the United States and the twelfth largest city in the world, making it a major global c...
 and saw its programming budget increase tremendously.

Distribution and availability

BBC America is distributed in association with Discovery Networks, the United States division of Discovery CommunicationsDiscovery Communications

See also Discovery Channel*The Science Channel was named Discovery Science until 2002...
 and parent company of the Discovery ChannelDiscovery Channel

Discovery Channel is a property of Discovery Communications primarily packaged as a network entertainment brand distributed ...
, which also handles the affiliate and advertising sales. Unlike the BBC's commercial-free domestic networks, which are supported through the licence feeTelevision licence Summary

A television licence is an official licence required in many countries for all owners of television receivers....
, BBC America is wholly advertising-supported and its programs are interrupted by commercials.

Outside the U.S.

BBC America is also available in BermudaFacts About Bermuda

Bermuda is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the North Atlantic Ocean, situated around 640 miles off the coas...
 on Bermuda CableVision's digital cable TV service.

On Demand

BBC America On Demand refers to a selection of BBC America programs available as video on demandVideo on demand

Video on demand systems allow users to select and watch video content over a network as part of an interactive television sy...
 programming on many U.S. digital cable systems. These video-on-demand programs are usually available for 2-4 weeks before being rotated out. These programs are offered commercial-free though some programs are interrupted for network promos.

iTunes Store

As of Q2 2008, select BBC America Shows are available on Apple' iTunes StoreITunes Store

The iTunes Store is an online music service run by Apple Computer through its iTunes application....
.

BBC America HD

An HD version of BBC America is slated to debut in 2008, per promos now airing on the network.

Programming

The following is a list of programming currently offered by the channel.

  • Absolutely FabulousAbsolutely Fabulous

    Absolutely Fabulous is a British sitcom written by and starring Jennifer Saunders with Joanna Lumley....
  • Bargain HuntBargain Hunt

    Bargain Hunt is a daytime television programme on BBC One, in which two teams, both made up of two people, are given 300...
  • BBC World News AmericaBBC World News America

    BBC World News America is a current affairs news programme produced by BBC News to be shown initially for American audiences...
  • Cash in the AtticCash in the Attic

    Cash In The Attic is a television show on the BBC....
  • Changing RoomsChanging Rooms

    A changing room, changeroom or dressing room is a room or enclosure in a clothing store where customers may try ...
  • Coupling
  • Doctor WhoDoctor Who

    Doctor Who is a long-running British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC about a mysterious time-tr...
  • Dragons' DenDragons' Den

    Dragons' Den is a television programme which originated in Japan....
  • The Graham Norton ShowThe Graham Norton Show

    The Graham Norton Show is a comedy chat show that has aired on BBC Two since 2007....
  • How Clean Is Your House?How Clean is Your House?

    How Clean Is Your House? is a UK entertainment/lifestyle television programme in which expert cleaners Kim Woodburn and ...
  • Monty Python's Flying CircusMonty Python's Flying Circus

    Monty Python's Flying Circus was a popular, surreal BBC sketch comedy show from Monty Python, and the group's initial c...
  • NewsnightNewsnight

    Newsnight is a British daily news analysis, current affairs and politics programme broadcast between 22:30 and 23:20 on ...
  • Not Going OutNot Going Out

    Not Going Out is a British sitcom that has aired on BBC One since 2006....
  • Ramsay's Kitchen NightmaresRamsay's Kitchen Nightmares Overview

    Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares is a Channel 4 television programme hosted by British celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay....
  • Robin Hood
  • SpacedSpaced

    Spaced is a British television situation comedy written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, directed by Ed...
  • That Mitchell and Webb LookThat Mitchell and Webb Look

    That Mitchell and Webb Look is a 6-part British television sketch show starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb....
  • Top GearTop Gear (current format)

    Top Gear is a BAFTA, multi-NTA and International Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, mainly c...
  • TorchwoodTorchwood

    Torchwood is a British television science fiction and crime drama created by Russell T....
  • You Are What You Eat
  • SpooksSpooks Overview

    Spooks is a British television drama series, produced by the independent production company Kudos for BBC One....
    (under the title MI-5)
  • Wire in the BloodWire in the Blood

    Wire In The Blood is an ITV television series which teams a university forensic psychologist profiler, Dr....



Most of the non news programming is edited either for adult content or to allow for commercials. However, many comedy programs run in specially formatted 40-minute blocks that allow them to run to their original broadcast length, though adult content is still edited. Some of the shows arent BBC produced programs, they are Channel 4Channel 4

Channel 4 is a public-service television broadcaster in the United Kingdom ....
 or ITVITV

ITV is the name given to the original network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent T...
 programs

Original Programming

BBC America began producing its own shows and joint productions in 2004. This has included Sharpe's Challenge, part of the SharpeSharpe (TV series)

Sharpe is a series of TV movies based on the novels by Bernard Cornwell featuring the character of Richard Sharpe focusi...
series of TV movies and co-produced with ITVITV

ITV is the name given to the original network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent T...
; also The State WithinThe State Within

The State Within is a six-episode British television political drama, written by Lizzie Mickery and Daniel Percival, pr...
, a co-production with the BBC; Jekyll and most recently BBC World News AmericaBBC World News America

BBC World News America is a current affairs news programme produced by BBC News to be shown initially for American audiences...

Newscasts

BBC America simulcasts news bulletins from its sister concern, BBC World News, a global news channel seen in 200 million homes around the world.

In the mornings (6-9am ET), the network airs a full, three-hour simulcast of BBC World News. The simulcast consists of editions of BBC World News, World Business ReportWorld Business Report

A discontinued programme of the same name was shown on Sk News. 2006.jpg|right|thumb|The World Business Report titles were upd...
, Sport Today, Asia TodayAsia Today

Asia Today is a programme produced by BBC News specifically for the continent of Asia....
and a one-hour bulletin called World News TodayWorld News Today

World News Today is a weekly analytical news programme on BBC World, the BBC's international news and current affairs televi...
.

At 7-8pm ET and repeated at 10-11pm ET, BBC America airs BBC World News AmericaBBC World News America

BBC World News America is a current affairs news programme produced by BBC News to be shown initially for American audiences...
, presented LIVE from Washington by Matt FreiMatt Frei

Matthias Frei is the BBC's Washington, D....
. Katty KayKatty Kay

Katty Kay is a Washington D.C. based English reporter and journalist covering politics for the BBC....
 serves as Washington correspondent on the programme; Rome Hartman (formerly of CBS Evening NewsCBS Evening News

CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS....
) is executive producer.

The network was in discussions to unveil a weekly news programme fronted by NewsnightNewsnight Overview

Newsnight is a British daily news analysis, current affairs and politics programme broadcast between 22:30 and 23:20 on ...
 presenter Jeremy PaxmanJeremy Paxman Summary

Jeremy Paxman is an English BBC journalist, news presenter and author....
. He was to introduce a synopsis of Newsnight items with an international aspect and was expected to bring his brash interviewing style to bear on American politicians. "Jeremy Paxman is the sort of person that Americans will just eat up," Garth AncierFacts About Garth Ancier

Garth Ancier is an American television executive....
 told the Financial Times. An international edition of NewsnightNewsnight

Newsnight is a British daily news analysis, current affairs and politics programme broadcast between 22:30 and 23:20 on ...
 debuted on Friday, February 29th in the 10pm time slot. It presents select stories from the week's UK Newsnight.

During major breaking news situations, the network will sometimes take BBC World News's coverage and pre-empt regular programming. The London Bombings in July 2005 were one such example. However, BBC World News itself is not currently widely available in the U.S. as a separate channel (although it does appear on several cable systems throughout the United States, generally in lieu of BBC America).

See also


External links

  • - BBC America's blog