Launched 2007 Country United Kingdom Owner BBC Worldwide | Owned by BBC Worldwide Founded 29 July 2007 | |
 | ||
Closed 1 February 2015
(Poland)
13 April 2015 (Nordic Countries)
14 April 2015 (Hungary, Romania & Turkey)
1 September 2015 (Africa)
3 October 2015 (Asia)
1 March 2016 (Italy) Picture format 576i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV) Replaced by BBC Earth [Most locations] Profiles | ||
BBC Knowledge is a television channel available in various countries outside the United Kingdom, 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 available within the UK, 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.
Contents
The channel provides five key programming strands enabling simple appointment viewing:
In 2014 it was announced that BBC Worldwide would rollout a new channel, BBC Earth, which would replace BBC Knowledge in most locations, except for where it was successful. Poland was the first location to launch the new brand on 1 February 2015.
Launch dates
BBC Knowledge was first launched in Singapore on mio TV (Now in Singtel 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.
In 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 broadcast in Italy too. It's visible, in standard definition until 1 March 2016.
On 13 August 2013 the channel launched on Digiturk in Turkey.
On 1 February 2015, BBC Knowledge launched on Australian IPTV service Fetch TV.