BBC Prime

2025-11-02T02:17:36Z

2402:8780:1022:7FD9:6879:D27C:C0B7:75B:

{{Short description|Former television station}}
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{{Lead too short|date=December 2021}}
{{Copy edit|date=November 2025}}
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{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = BBC Prime
| logo = [[File:BBC Prime.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_alt =
| image =
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1995|1|30|df=y}}
| closed_date = {{End date and age|2009|11|11|df=y}}
| picture_format = [[576i]] ([[4:3]]/[[16:9]] [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])
| network =
| owner = BBC
| country = United Kingdom
| area = [[Europe]], [[Middle East]], [[Africa]], [[South Asia]] and [[Asia Pacific]]
| headquarters =
| former_names =
| replaced = [[BBC World Service Television]]
| replaced_by = [[BBC Entertainment]]
| sister_channels =
| timeshift_service =
| website = {{URL|bbcentertainment.com}} <br /> (redirected to bbcstudios.com)
| terr_serv_1 =
| terr_chan_1 =
| cable_serv_1 =
| cable_chan_1 =
}}
'''BBC Prime''' was the BBC's general entertainment TV channel in [[Europe]], [[Middle East]], [[Africa]], [[South Asia]] and [[Asia Pacific]] from 30 January 1995 until 11 November 2009, when it was replaced by [[BBC Entertainment]].

The network was the result of [[BBC World Service Television]]'s split up, making the channel and BBC World (now known as BBC News).

==Launch==
BBC Prime was launched at 19:00 [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] on Thursday, 26 January 1995 when the former [[BBC World Service Television]] was split into two separate television stations:
*'''[[BBC News (international TV channel)|BBC World]]''' (since renamed to BBC News): 24-hour English free-to-air terrestrial international news channel on 26 January 1995.
* '''BBC Prime''' (since replaced by [[BBC Entertainment]]): 24-hour English cable lifestyle, variety and entertainment channel on 30 January 1995.<ref name=TVARK1995>{{cite web|title=BBC World 1995|url=http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/news/bbcworld/1995.html|publisher=TVARK|access-date=18 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318042746/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/news/bbcworld/1995.html|archive-date=18 March 2012|url-status=usurped}} Contains video of pre-launch caption, and of the simultaneous launch of BBC World and BBC Prime.</ref>

The goal was part of a new BBC strategy for Europe, in which the former service was to be split and given over to European Channel Management, the joint-venture created with Pearson. The goal was to reach 10 million households in Europe by year-end 1995; the existing service reached 2.3 million households.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two new BBC channels for Europe, one to vie with CNN for viewers|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19950125-1.2.23.3|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=21 January 1995|archive-date=14 January 2024|access-date=14 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114123141/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19950125-1.2.23.3|url-status=live}}</ref> 75% of the output was drawn in from the BBC, while the remaining 25% came from Thames.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC, Pearson to launch 24-hour TV news channel to rival CNN|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19950125-1.2.23.3|newspaper=The Business Times|date=25 January 1995|archive-date=14 January 2024|access-date=14 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114123141/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19950125-1.2.23.3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=BBC embraces old enemy and ads in new world service|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19950202-1.2.62.3.2|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2 February 1995|archive-date=14 January 2024|access-date=14 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114123140/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19950202-1.2.62.3.2|url-status=live}}</ref> It carried Diana's interview to ''Panorama'' on 24 November 1995, simulcasting with BBC1 and BBC World.<ref>Garner, C. (1995, Nov 17). BBC gets $1m for Diana interview. The Independent</ref>

In 1996, the channel was to be joined by two further services, BBC Learning and a nature channel.<ref>BBC to launch two more satellites. (1996). Broadcaster, 55(3), 16-17.</ref> In November, the channel launched on the DF1 platform in Germany and Austria, thanks to a deal with Kirch Media, enabling the channel to be in the Astra fleet for the first time.<ref>BBC signs exclusive digital deal with Kirch. (1996). New Media Markets, 14(37), 13.</ref> Simultaneously, a deal was signed with the two competing French satellite platforms, Canalsatellite Numérique and TPS.<ref>Prime moves for BBC channels across Europe. (1996). New Media Markets, 14(39), 7.</ref>

On 4 March 1999, BBC Prime launched in sub-Saharan Africa, on the [[DStv]] platform.<ref>"Multichoice increases its stable", ''Africa Film & TV Magazine'', nº. 21, May–July 1999</ref>

The channel was removed from [[HOT (Israel)|HOT]] at the end of 2006 in [[Israel]], being replaced by ethnic channels for the Ethiopian ([[Israeli-Ethiopian Television|IETV]]) and Georgian ([[GTV (Israeli TV channel)|GTV]]) diasporas. Some of its programmes were made available on HOT's video-on-demand service.<ref>Chinese, Georgians and Ethiopians Instead, ''Haaretz'', 28 December 2006</ref>

==Programming==
The channel broadcast drama, comedy and lifestyle programmes which it repeated on a monthly basis. Every day since the channel's 2000 rebrand, it allocated six hours per day to educational programmes from BBC Learning (shown in the European [[small hours]], between 01:00 and 07:00 CET); this practice was abandoned on 23 July 2006 "with the intention of improving the relevance and appeal of the channel to the widest audience".<ref>[http://www.bbcprime.com/faq.aspx?menu=FAQs#1428e2f1-b0be-4cfa-b1f4-f13160d22b1b BBC Prime – faqs Why has BBC LEARNING ended?]{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It also included a special children's strand, using the [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] brand and idents, by the name of CBBC on BBC Prime, or CBBC Prime.

When it first launched, BBC Prime also carried programming from the former [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] company [[Thames Television]], since [[BBC Worldwide]] had a joint venture with Thames's parent company, [[Pearson PLC|Pearson]] and [[Cox Communications]], known as European Channel Management.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/from-us-to-them-how-the-bbc-became-a-world-player-1235473.html From us to them; How the BBC became a world player] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928151650/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/from-us-to-them-how-the-bbc-became-a-world-player-1235473.html |date=28 September 2017 }}, ''[[The Independent]]'', 11 October 1997</ref> This was dissolved in 1998, when the BBC became the sole owner of the channel, as its sister service BBC World was struggling financially. Pearson and Cox, on their behalf, were heavily dissatisfied with the BBC's management ethos.<ref>[https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/bbc-to-buy-out-int-l-partners-1117468821/ BBC to buy out int'l partners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928103445/http://variety.com/1998/biz/news/bbc-to-buy-out-int-l-partners-1117468821/ |date=28 September 2017 }}, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', March 16, 1998</ref>

BBC Prime explained their decision to schedule older programmes in addition to newer ones: "For the majority of our viewers, who are European and African nationals, this is the first chance to see these programmes, and often the only way to view them."<ref name="FAQ 2001">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010714105118/http://www.bbcprime.com/faq.htm|archive-date=14 July 2001|title=Frequently Asked Questions|url=http://www.bbcprime.com/faq.htm|publisher=BBC Prime|access-date=18 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Funding==
Unlike the BBC's domestic channels, and some of their foreign channels paid for by the [[UK Foreign Office]], BBC Prime was funded by [[pay television|subscription]] available either as part of a satellite package or as a stand-alone channel. It was also funded by adverts placed on the channel in breaks, and because of this, it was not available in the UK. Much of BBC Prime's programming was available to watch through [[BBC One]], [[BBC Two|Two]] or the [[UKTV]] network, part owned by the BBC and showing archive programming.

== Presentation ==
BBC Prime's first ident consisted of five different diamonds shining, at first by each other, and then all of them, in a black background, with the BBC Prime logo placed in the bottom right corner. The logo at the time had the BBC logo, with "Prime" written in all capitals below in the Trajan Bold font. The ident had another version which had a jazz-styled music.

After the BBC went on its major rebrand, on 4 October 1997, BBC Prime rebranded for the first time. The logo now had the BBC blocks, with "Prime" in all capitals in the Gill Sans font next to it. The idents were designed by Martin Lambie-Nairn (along with the whole 1997 BBC branding) and start with epileptic water scenes with full of colours, before settling on the main part of the ident, which features the water in a blue to orange gradient with ripples and two marbles, reflected and inverted by each other. The logo is placed at the bottom.

On 4 December 2000, BBC Prime rebranded for the second time, also created by Lambie-Nairn. The idents were known as "Festival" and featured cartoon draws of famous UK sights, like the Big Ben, the Tower Bridge or the Stonehenge, shooting fireworks, followed by the looped, 15-second long sequence with exploding firework animations. The idents had a xylophone-and-trumpet music, with firework sounds playing in the background. Like the 1997 idents, the logo is placed at the bottom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-12-01 |title=BBC Knowledge, BBC Prime and BBC Parliament at TV Home |url=http://www.tvhome.uku.co.uk/bbc_other.shtml |access-date=2022-01-21 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011201023639/http://www.tvhome.uku.co.uk/bbc_other.shtml |archive-date=1 December 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

BBC Prime's final rebrand took place on 23 July 2006 with BBC Learning's discontinuation. The logo featured the 1997 logo being placed inside a turquoise circle (although the 1997 logo remained in use as the DOG). The idents consisted of differently coloured circles as people who do different situations, like going on a rollercoaster, jumping and swimming in the pool, or the grass being clipped with a lawnmower. These idents were used until BBC Prime was completely replaced by BBC Entertainment on 11 November 2009.

==Availability==
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2021}}
The channel was available in many areas through [[satellite television|satellite]] and [[cable television]]
*In the [[Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]], the channel was available on cable, alongside [[BBC One]], [[BBC Two]] and [[BBC World News]].
*It was available on [[digital terrestrial television]] (DTT) in the [[Netherlands]] and [[Malta]].
*In [[Gibraltar]], [[Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation|GBC]] relayed BBC Prime on its VHF and UHF channels with opt-outs.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=TTe4AAAAIAAJ&q=%22bbc+prime%22+ ''Handbook – Commonwealth Broadcasting Association''], Secretariat, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, 1997, page 59</ref> The terrestrial simulcast was cut in 1999 due to scheduling problems at GBC.<ref>{{cite news |title=£8 million luxury building for GBC: WHAT NEXT? |url=http://www.gibraltarpanorama.gi/164138 |access-date=3 November 2024 |work=Gibraltar Panorama |date=2 May 2019 |archive-date=11 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211114845/http://www.gibraltarpanorama.gi/164138 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*In [[Turkey]], it was available on [[Türksat (company)|Türksat]] Cable TV and [[Digiturk]].
*In [[Italy]], it was available on [[SKY Italia]].
*In [[MENA]], it was available on the [[Orbit Communications Company|Orbit Network Bahrain]].
*The [[South Africa]] service was launched in 1999 and contained some different programmes to that broadcast in Europe, due to some programmes already being licensed to other channels.
*The [[Asia]] service was launched on 1 December 2004 and had a different schedule to that of the Europe service to reflect the different time zones, and cultural practices. It was available in [[Hong Kong]] (on [[Now TV (Hong Kong TV channel)|Now TV]]'s Channel 529), [[Thailand]] (on [[TrueVisions]]' (Channel 35), [[Singapore]] (on [[StarHub TV]]'s Channel 76) and South Korea (on [[Skylife]]'s Channel 334).

In order to cater to a wider audience, who do not have English as their first language, BBC Prime carried [[subtitles]] in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Czech, Polish, [[Romanian language|Romanian]], Hungarian, Italian, [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Serbian language|Serbian]]. The Asian service also had subtitles in [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Thai language|Thai]], and [[Korean language|Korean]].

A similar channel, called [[BBC Japan]], launched in Japan on 1 December 2004, but ceased broadcasting on 30 April 2006 owing to problems with its local distributor.

==Replacement==
{{Main|BBC Entertainment}}

In September 2006 it was announced that the BBC Prime brand was to be phased out and replaced by [[BBC Entertainment]], one of a number of new international channels planned by [[BBC Worldwide]].<ref name="VarietyBBCPrime">{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Clarke |url=https://variety.com/2006/tv/news/bbc-worldwide-bows-new-channels-1117949607/ |title=BBC Worldwide bows new channels |publisher=Variety |date=7 September 2006 |access-date=8 May 2008 |archive-date=25 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125194920/http://variety.com/2006/tv/news/bbc-worldwide-bows-new-channels-1117949607/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The process began with the Asian services, which switched on 6 October 2006, followed by the South African service on 1 September 2008.<ref name="BizcommunityBBCEntertainment">{{cite web |url=http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/66/25366.html |title=Four BBC Worldwide channels for DStv |publisher=Bizcommunity.com |date=11 June 2008 |access-date=9 July 2008 |archive-date=20 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820151445/http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/66/25366.html |url-status=live }}</ref> BBC Prime was completely replaced by BBC Entertainment on 11 November 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbcprime.com/rebrand.html |title=BBC Prime rebranded as BBC Entertainment |access-date=4 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926052629/http://www.bbcprime.com/rebrand.html |archive-date=26 September 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd0C6WKP4_w BBC Prime Ident Compilation]
* [https://tvark.org/branding/international-tv/scandinavia/bbc-entertainment-scandinavia BBC Prime at TVARK]

{{BBC Television}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bbc Prime}}
[[Category:International BBC television channels]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1995]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:Defunct television channels in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Defunct television channels]]

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