Broadcast area United Nations | Language Various | |
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Launched 1 February 2015 (Official, Poland)13 April 2015 (Nordic Countries)14 April 2015 (Hungary, Romania & Turkey)1 September 2015 (Latin America & Africa)3 October 2015 (Asia)1 January 2016 (Eastern Europe)6th March 2017 (India, As SONY BBC EARTH) Replaced BBC KnowledgeBBC HD (Latin America only)BBC Entertainment (Eastern Europe only) | ||
BBC Earth is a documentary subscription television channel featuring premium factual programming. The channel is wholly owned and operated by BBC Worldwide. Originally set to rollout internationally in 2014, it was later announced it would launch in 2015, starting in Poland.
Contents
History
In October 2013, the BBC announced that in 2014 it would rollout 3 new brands - BBC Earth, BBC First, and BBC Brit, with BBC Earth to be dedicated to premium factual programming. It was later announced that the channel would air series such as Frozen Planet and Wonders of the Universe. In addition, roughly 30 hours of new content would be ordered for the channel in its first year. The channel is set to replace BBC Knowledge, however, if the existing channel is successful in certain markets it may remain.
Poland
BBC Earth premiered in Poland on 1 February 2015, replacing BBC Knowledge.
Nordic Countries
BBC Earth replaced BBC Knowledge in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland on 13 April 2015.
Hungary
BBC Earth replaced BBC Knowledge on 14 April 2015.
Romania
On 14 April 2015, BBC Earth launched in Romania, replacing BBC Knowledge.
Eastern Europe
BBC Earth premiered in Eastern European countries on 1 January 2016, replacing BBC Entertainment.
Turkey
BBC Earth launched in Turkey, replacing BBC Knowledge, on 14 April 2015.
Latin America
BBC Earth launched in the Latin American countries of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela on 1 September 2015, replacing BBC HD.
Africa
The channel launched in Africa replacing BBC Knowledge on 1 September 2015.
Asia
In Asia, BBC Earth launched in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam on 3 October 2015, replacing BBC Knowledge.
Canada
On December 6, 2016, BBC Worldwide and Canadian media company Blue Ant Media announced plans to launch a Canadian version of BBC Earth. The channel launched on January 24, 2017 and on February 18, 2017 will host the Canadian premiere of Planet Earth II, on the same date as the United States, where it will air on BBC America. BBC Earth replaced Blue Ant Media's radX. Due to foreign ownership restrictions by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the channel is fully owned by Blue Ant Media, with the BBC Earth brand and programming licensed from BBC Worldwide.
Programming blocks
There are BBC Earth programming blocks on the following channels:
Future
India
BBC have entered into a joint venture with Multi Screen Media to launch the channel in India, branded as Sony BBC Earth. A launch date is yet to be determined, following regulatory approval of the joint venture.