BBC Knowledge (Worldwide)
Encyclopedia
BBC Knowledge is an international television channel showcasing factual and non-fiction entertainment programming from the BBC
and independent UK production houses. Wholly owned by BBC Worldwide
, it is not related to the previous channel known as BBC Knowledge
, an early digital channel which closed down in 2002 in favour of BBC Four
and CBeebies
. On 15 November 2009, BBC Knowledge in Australia changed their channel location from Channel 619 to Channel 612.
The channel provides five key programming strands enabling simple appointment viewing:
on mio TV
in July 2007. It has been available on now TV
in Hong Kong
since October 2007 and on the Cyfrowy Polsat
digital satellite platform in Poland
from December 2007 (Cyfra Plus in Poland plans its launch only on 1 Feb 2011 due to prior exclusive BBC deals with Polsat). BBC Knowledge launched in Indonesia
on Indovision
in April 2008, and in South Africa
on DStv
in September 2008. It has since also launched in the Scandinavian countries in November 2008 when it replaced BBC Prime on Canal Digital
and several cable systems. It was launched in Australia
on Foxtel
and Optus Television
on 1 November 2008; in South Korea
on CJ HelloVision on 1 December 2008 and on GS Gangnam Broadcasting on 26 May 2009.
On June 2009, citing the lack of viewership, the BBC terminated its carriage deal with SingTel's mio TV
to air BBC Knowledge, (along with CBeebies
and Lifestyle), and entered into an agreement with StarHub TV to carry the channels from 1 August 2009.
BBC Knowledge was launched on Cable TV Hong Kong
on 29 October 2009.
The channel was launched in New Zealand
in March 2011 replacing the Documentary Channel
following that channel's sale to BBC Worldwide
.
From 1 March 2011 the channel is broadcasted in Italy too. It's visible, in standard definition, on Mediaset Premium
.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and independent UK production houses. Wholly owned by BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
, it is not related to the previous channel known as BBC Knowledge
BBC Knowledge
BBC Knowledge was an early BBC digital television channel, available by cable, satellite, or terrestrial digital broadcasting, providing a programme of documentary, cultural and educational television.-Launch:...
, an early digital channel which closed down in 2002 in favour of BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
and CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
. On 15 November 2009, BBC Knowledge in Australia changed their channel location from Channel 619 to Channel 612.
The channel provides five key programming strands enabling simple appointment viewing:
- The World delves and explores new cultures around the world
- Science & Technology explores new frontiers, from space to motoring
- People explores aspects of the human body and mind
- The Past brings historical events, places and people back to life
- Business offers invaluable advice to help stay on top of today’s challenging business world.
Launch dates
BBC Knowledge was first launched in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
on mio TV
Mio TV
mio TV is a 24-hours pay-TV service, introduced by SingTel. It is transmitted through the company's SingNet broadband network via an IPTV service and uses Microsoft Mediaroom as its end to end software platform. It is a service that will allow multimedia content - including broadcast channels and...
in July 2007. It has been available on now TV
Now TV
Now TV is a 24-hour pay-TV service provider in Hong Kong.It is transmitted through the company's Netvigator broadband network via an IPTV service...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
since October 2007 and on the Cyfrowy Polsat
Cyfrowy Polsat
Cyfrowy Polsat is a Polish DTH platform. It was launched on December 5, 1999 and is owned by Cyfrowy Polsat S.A. It is the fourth largest digital platform in Europe and the largest in Central and Eastern Europe. Cyfrowy Polsat have 3,47 million subscribes.Cyfrowy Polsat S.A...
digital satellite platform in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
from December 2007 (Cyfra Plus in Poland plans its launch only on 1 Feb 2011 due to prior exclusive BBC deals with Polsat). BBC Knowledge launched in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
on Indovision
Indovision
Indovision is a subscription-based direct broadcast satellite or direct-to-home satellite television and radio service initially in Indonesia. Indovision is currently owned by PT MNC Skyvision.-History:Indovision began operations in 1994....
in April 2008, and in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
on DStv
DStv
DStv is MultiChoice's multi-channel digital satellite TV service in Africa, launched in 1995. It operates from two satellites over Africa, broadcasting on Ku band via Eutelsat W7 and Intelsat 7 , which only requires a small satellite dish...
in September 2008. It has since also launched in the Scandinavian countries in November 2008 when it replaced BBC Prime on Canal Digital
Canal Digital
Canal Digital is a Scandinavian television distributor and internet service provider that was founded in March 1997 as a joint venture between the French pay-TV company Canal+ and the Norwegian telecommunications operator Telenor...
and several cable systems. It was launched in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
and Optus Television
Optus Television
Optus Television is the cable television division of Australian telecommunications company Optus.-History:Its immediate predecessor was Optus Vision, a joint venture between, Optus and Continental Cablevision with small shareholdings by media companies Publishing and Broadcasting Limited and Seven...
on 1 November 2008; in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
on CJ HelloVision on 1 December 2008 and on GS Gangnam Broadcasting on 26 May 2009.
On June 2009, citing the lack of viewership, the BBC terminated its carriage deal with SingTel's mio TV
Mio TV
mio TV is a 24-hours pay-TV service, introduced by SingTel. It is transmitted through the company's SingNet broadband network via an IPTV service and uses Microsoft Mediaroom as its end to end software platform. It is a service that will allow multimedia content - including broadcast channels and...
to air BBC Knowledge, (along with CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
and Lifestyle), and entered into an agreement with StarHub TV to carry the channels from 1 August 2009.
BBC Knowledge was launched on Cable TV Hong Kong
Cable TV Hong Kong
Cable TV Hong Kong , previously known as Wharf Cable before October 1998, is owned and operated by i-CABLE Communications Limited...
on 29 October 2009.
The channel was launched in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in March 2011 replacing the Documentary Channel
Documentary Channel (New Zealand)
Documentary Channel is a digital television channel in New Zealand. Documentary Channel launched in 2007, is available via SKY TV on channel 074.-Concept:The channel airs documentary programming...
following that channel's sale to BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
.
From 1 March 2011 the channel is broadcasted in Italy too. It's visible, in standard definition, on Mediaset Premium
Mediaset Premium
Mediaset Premium is an Italian digital terrestrial television service provided by Mediaset. It provides pay tv and pay-per-view services through use of a smart card.-History:...
.
See also
- BBC World News
- BBC LifestyleBBC LifestyleBBC Lifestyle is an international television channel. The channel provides six key programming strands: Food, Home & Design, Fashion & Style, Health, Parenting, and Personal Development.-Launch dates:...
- BBC EntertainmentBBC EntertainmentBBC Entertainment is an international television channel showcasing comedy, drama, light entertainment and children's programming from the BBC and other UK production houses...
- CBeebiesCBeebiesCBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
- BBC HDBBC HDBBC HD is a high-definition television network provided by the BBC. The service was initially run as a trial from 15 May 2006 until becoming a full service on 1 December 2007...
External links
- www.bbcknowledge.com
- BBC Knowledge Australia
- BBC News OnlineBBC News OnlineBBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most popular news website in the United Kingdom and forms a major part of BBC Online ....
: BBC to launch global TV channels - Variety Magazine: BBC Worldwide bows new channels