BBC First is an entertainment subscription television channel featuring comedy, crime and drama programming, originating from UK and mostly from BBC. The channel is wholly owned and operated by BBC Studios. The channel began rolling out internationally in 2014, launching first in Australia. It is supported by extended localised advertising breaks.
History
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 comedy and drama programming.
On 1 November 2016, BBC First launched as a Subscription Video-On-Demand service in Hong Kong. The channel replaced BBC On Demand and BBC Entertainment on Now TV. On 14 November 2016, the service was launched on myTV Super OTT platform.
Malaysia
BBC First was launched as a Subscription Video-On-Demand service on HyppTV Channel 812 on 1 October 2016, 10 months after BBC Entertainment was dropped from the provider. The channel's content is also available in the "VOD" tab in the HyppTV Everywhere app for iOS and Android.
Singapore
BBC First launched a Subscription Video-On-Demand service on StarHub TV Channel 522 on 4 April 2016.
Australia
On 17 April 2013, it was announced that the BBC had forged a new exclusive deal with Australian subscription television providerFoxtel 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. 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.
Europe
Netherlands & Belgium
BBC First launched in the Netherlands on 16 May 2015.
Central and Eastern Europe
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”. BBC First launched in Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia on 1 April 2019.
Middle East & North Africa
On 7 January 2016, BBC Worldwide and OSN have announced that they had forged a new and exclusive deal which would see the launch of BBC First HD on the first of February 2016. The new channel would broadcast to the Middle East & North Africa and would feature comedy and drama content, with programming screening 48 hours after their UK premiere.
