BBC Knowledge (international)

This article is about the international version of BBC Knowledge. For the defunct TV channel of the same name in the UK that has been replaced by BBC Four, see BBC Knowledge.

BBC Knowledge
CountryUnited Kingdom
Programming
Picture format576i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
OwnerBBC Studios
Sister channelsCBeebies
BBC World News
BBC Lifestyle
BBC HD
BBC Entertainment
BBC First
History
LaunchedJuly 2007
Closed1 February 2015
(Poland)
13 April 2015 (Nordic Countries)[1]
14 April 2015 (Hungary,[2] Romania[3] & Turkey[4])
1 September 2015 (Africa)[5]
3 October 2015 (Asia)[6]
1 March 2016 (Italy)[7]
22 October 2018 (New Zealand)[8]
10 October 2019 (Australia)[9]
Replaced byBBC Four
Links
Website[1]
Availability (at the time of closure)
Streaming media
Foxtel GoChannel 612

BBC Knowledge was 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 Studios, 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.

At one time, the channel provided five key programming strands enabling simple appointment viewing:

  • The World delved and explored new cultures around the world
  • Science & Technology explored new frontiers, from space to motoring
  • People explored aspects of the human body and mind
  • The Past brought historical events, places and people back to life
  • Business offered invaluable advice to help stay on top of today's challenging business world.

On 15 November 2009, BBC Knowledge in Australia changed their channel location from Channel 619 to Channel 612.

In 2014 it was announced that BBC Studios would rollout a new channel, BBC Earth, which would replace BBC Knowledge in most locations, except for where it was successful.[10] Poland was the first location to launch the new brand on 1 February 2015.[11]

  1. ^ "BBC overhauls channels in Nordic region". Telecompaper. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  2. ^ "HD csatornát indított a BBC Magyar nyelven". Sat-TV-Radio.hu (in Hungarian). 14 April 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. ^ "BBC Worldwide has today launched its new genre brand BBC EARTH as a linear channel in Romania". BBC Worldwide (Press release). 14 April 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  4. ^ "BBC Expands Global Footprint across Turkey". BBC Worldwide (Press release). 14 April 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  5. ^ "BBC Worldwide's new global brands BBC Brit and BBC Earth prove a hit with South African audiences". BBC Worldwide (Press release). 17 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  6. ^ "BBC Earth to Launch in Asia" (Press release). 22 July 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Mediaset Premium spegne i canali BBC Knowledge e Discovery World da Marzo 2016" (Press release). MovieTele.it. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  8. ^ "BBC Earth to launch on Sky in New Zealand" (Press release). realscreen.com. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  9. ^ "BBC Earth to launch on Sky in New Zealand" (Press release). realscreen.com. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  10. ^ Parker, Robin (27 January 2014). "BBC Brit unveiled by Worldwide". BroadcastNow. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ "BBC BRIT and BBC EARTH to make their global channel debut in Poland". BBC Worldwide (Press release). 4 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.