BBC Entertainment


BBC Entertainment is an international television channel broadcasting comedy, drama, light entertainment, reality and children's programming from the BBC, Channel 4 and other UK production houses. The channel broadcasts regional versions to suit local demands and replaced BBC Prime. It is wholly owned by BBC Studios.

Launch dates

The channel was launched in October 2006, replacing BBC Prime in Asian markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and South Korea. On 28 December 2006, it was launched on the Astro platform in Malaysia. The channel was launched in India in May 2007 on the Tata Sky platform and on India online Broadband Public Limited, but ceased broadcasting at the end of November 2012 due to "commercial considerations".
The channel was launched in Poland, on Cyfrowy Polsat, in December 2007, and replaced BBC Prime on DStv in South Africa on 1 September 2008. It was launched together with its sister channels in the Nordic countries in November 2008, when it replaced BBC Prime on Canal Digital, Com Hem, Telia Digital-TV and FastTV. The Nordic countries get a separate feed of the channel which differs from that in the rest of Europe. It was also launched in Mexico on the SKY México digital satellite platform in August 2008 in a deal with Televisa, and it has since extended to other Central and South American countries.
The channel replaced BBC Prime in the rest of Europe and the Middle East & North Africa in November 2009. In Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, BBC Entertainment is carried alongside BBC One and BBC Two on the Telenet, Ziggo, and Naxoo cable networks.
On 1 December 2009, Astro dropped the channel and replaced it with ITV Choice. On 1 March 2010 in Italy Sky Italia also dropped the channel. In 2010 Kabel Deutschland made it a pay-TV channel.
In August 2012, Unifi picked up the channel, thus making the channel available in Malaysia once more after a 3-year hiatus. However Unifi dropped the channel in December 2015.
On 13 April 2017, BBC Entertainment ceased its transmissions in Latin American countries, along with BBC Earth and CBeebies.
Finally, BBC First was launched in some Asian regions on 19 March 2016. Singapore Via Starhub TV broadcasts ceased on 29 April 2015, while in Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia, broadcasts ceased on 1 January 2017. In Myanmar and Mongolia, broadcasts ceased on 1 March 2018. In Taiwan, broadcasts ceased on 10 March 2017 and were replaced by CBeebies.

Programming

This table is not complete
Programme nameFormat / GenreFirst broadcastFirst seen on
BBC Entertainment
Absolutely FabulousSitcom1992–2002
After You've GoneSitcom2007–2008April 2013
Comedy chat show2009-March 2013
As Time Goes BySitcom1992–2005March 2013
BedlamSupernatural drama2011–2012
Being EricaComedy drama2009–2011May 2013
Big Barn FarmChildren's TV2008-
Blue PeterChildren's TV1958-April 2016
CasualtyMedical drama1986-April 2013
CoastTravelDecember 2012
Come Dine with MeCooking2005-
DoctorsSoap opera2000-March 2013
Doctor WhoSci-fi drama1963-89 2005-February 2013
Dragons DenEntrepreneurial reality TV2005-
EastEndersSoap opera1985-February 2013
Reality TV2003–2012
Fawlty TowersSitcom1975-1979May 2015
Full Circle Michael PalinTravel documentary1997March 2013
The Graham Norton ShowComedy2007-October 2016
Grandpa in My PocketChildren's TV comedy2009-
Holby CityMedical drama1999-
HumfChildren's TV2009-11
HustleDrama2004–2012
IdealComedy drama2005–2011March 2013
Lark Rise to CandlefordPeriod drama2008–2011April 2013
Lead ballooncomedy2007–2011March 2013
Live at the ApolloStandup comedy2004-March 2013
LutherPsychological crime drama2010–2011March 2013
Masterchef Cooking2005-March 2013
Merlindrama2008-2012September 2014
Monarch of the GlenDrama2000–2005March 2013
Documentary2007
My FamilySitcom2000–2011February 2013
New TricksCrime drama2003-March 2013
Ocean GiantsNatural history2011
One Foot in the GraveSitcom1990–2000November 2012
Orphan BlackDrama2013–2017
Penelope K, by the wayChildren's TV2010–2012
Sahara with Michael PalinTravel documentary2005May 2013
Secret Millionaire, TheReality TV2006-May 2013
SilkLegal crime drama2011-May 2013
Smart sharksNatural history2003
South PacificNature documentary2009
SpooksDrama2002–2011May 2013
Strictly Come DancingTalent show2004-October 2016
Top GearMotoring/Entertainment2002-
Twenty TwelveComedy2011–2012November 2012
Ty's Great British AdventureReality TV2008–2010
The UndergroundSketch comedy2006
The Voice UKTalent show2012-May 2016
Waking the DeadPolice procedural drama2000–2011February 2013
Walking with DinosaursDocumentary1999
Walk on the Wild SideComedy2009-April 2013
WaybulooChildren's TV2009-
Weakest Linkgame show2000–2012January 2013
Would I Lie to You?Comedy2007-October 2016
Waterloo RoadDrama2006-2015
Yes MinisterPolitical satire1980–1984