BBC Earth is a documentary subscription television channel featuring premium factual programming. The channel is wholly owned and operated by

BBC Studios BBC Studios Limited is a British content company. It is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC that was formed in April 2018 through the merger of the BBC's commercial production arm and the BBC's commercial international distribution arm, BBC Wor ...

. Originally set to roll out internationally in 2014, it was later announced that it would launch in 2015, starting in Poland.

History

In October 2013, the BBC announced that in 2014 it would rollout three 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 continue to operate.

International roll-out

Poland

BBC Earth launched 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. It was replaced by BBC Nordic on 17 April 2023.

Hungary

BBC Earth replaced BBC Knowledge on 14 April 2015.

Romania

On 14 April 2015, BBC Earth was launched in Romania, replacing BBC Knowledge.

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. On 13 April 2017, the channel ceased its transmissions, along with BBC Entertainment and

CBeebies CBeebies is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the brand used for all BBC content targeted for children aged six year ...

South Africa

The channel launched in South Africa on the DStv (satellite) platform replacing BBC Knowledge on 1 September 2015.

Asia

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

, BBC Earth launched in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam on 3 October 2015, replacing BBC Knowledge. In the Philippines, it was launched on 1 April 2017 along with BBC World News. On 12 September 2017, it was announced to be launch via Laosat DTH in Laos. In Myanmar, the channel was available via Sky Net and CANAL+. On 14 September 2021 BBC Earth HD, along with BBC Lifestyle HD, returned to Malaysian satellite TV service Astro. BBC Earth was among the other pay TV channels to launch in Taiwanese cable TV providers on 1 January 2024, following the announcement of

National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly ''The National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as ''Nat Geo'') is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. The magazine was founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine ...

and other Disney-owned linear channels to cease their operations in Taiwan.

Serbia

In Serbia, BBC Earth was launched on 28 December 2015 replacing BBC Entertainment.

Eastern Europe

BBC Earth launched in Eastern European countries on 1 January 2016, replacing BBC Entertainment.

Greece

In Greece, the channel was launched on Cosmote TV on 1 October 2017.

Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

BBC Earth launched in Middle East & North Africa through the beIN DTH and STC TV services on 5 April 2018.

India

BBC has entered into a joint venture with

Sony Pictures Networks India Culver Max Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., trading as Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN or SPNI), is an Indian media conglomerate owned by Sony Pictures Television. SPN manages and operates 26 television channels, the streaming media platform SonyLIV ...

to launch the channel in India, branded as Sony BBC Earth. It was launched on 6 March 2017, following regulatory approval of the joint venture. Kareena Kapoor is the ambassador for this channel.

Canada

On 6 December 2016,

BBC Worldwide BBC Worldwide Ltd. was the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in January 1995. The company monetised BBC brands, selling BBC and other British programming for broadcas ...

and Canadian media company

Blue Ant Media Blue Ant Media Inc. is a Canadian broadcasting and media company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The company was founded by Michael MacMillan and formed in 2011 following the acquisition of Glassbox Television. Its name was chosen in reference ...

announced plans to launch a Canadian version of BBC Earth. The channel launched on 24 January 2017 and on 18 February 2017 hosted the Canadian premiere of '' Planet Earth II'', on the same date as the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, where it also aired on

BBC America BBC America is an American basic cable network that is owned by AMC Networks. The channel primarily airs sci-fi and action series and films, as well as selected programs from the BBC (such as its nature documentary series). Unlike the BBC's ...

. BBC Earth replaced

's radX. Due to foreign ownership restrictions by the

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC; ) is a public organization in Canada tasked with the mandate as a regulatory agency tribunal for various electronic communications, covering broadcasting and telecommunic ...

, the channel is fully owned by

, with the BBC Earth brand and programming licensed from

New Zealand

BBC Earth launched on

Sky The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the planetary surface, surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from ...

on 22 October 2018 in

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, replacing BBC Knowledge.

Australia

BBC Earth launched on

Foxtel NXE Australia Pty Ltd, trading as the Foxtel Group, is an Australian pay television company that operates cable television, direct-broadcast satellite, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April ...

and Fetch TV in Australia on 10 October 2019, replacing BBC Knowledge.

United States

In the United States, BBC Earth does not have a channel in the country, but airs all BBC Earth programs on

, and channels owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, while PBS also does the same thing, but also including partnerships in ''

Nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

'', '' Nova'' and more. It also has a Roku streaming channel.

Programming blocks

There are BBC Earth programming blocks on the following channels: * ProSieben Maxx (Germany; since 3 September 2013) * #0, previously Canal+ (Spain; since June 2015) * Eén (Flanders; since Autumn 2015) * WOWOW (Japan; since 2010)

References

External links

BBC Earth Official Website

BBC Earth
at

{{Subscription television channels in Australia International BBC television channels Television channels and stations established in 2015 Television channels in Poland Pan-Nordic television channels Television networks in Hungary Television stations in Romania Television stations in Turkey Television stations in South Africa 2015 establishments in the United Kingdom Television channels in North Macedonia Television networks in Australia English-language television stations in Australia BBC Worldwide