1 February 2015 (Poland) 13 April 2015 (Nordic countries) 14 April 2015 (Romania, Turkey & Hungary) 1 September 2015 (Latin America & South Africa) 3 October 2015 (Asia) 28 December 2015 (Serbia) 1 January 2016 (Eastern Europe) 6 March 2017 (India, as Sony BBC Earth) 1 April 2017 (Philippines) 12 September 2017 (Laos) 1 October 2017 (Greece) 1 February 2018 (Croatia) 5 April 2018 (MENA) 22 October 2018 (New Zealand) 15 November 2018 (Czech Republic and Slovakia) 10 October 2019 (Australia) 15 September 2021 (Astro, Malaysia)
BBC Earth is a documentary subscription television channel featuring premium factual programming. The channel is wholly owned and operated by BBC Studios. Originally set to roll out internationally in 2014,[1] it was later announced that it would launch in 2015,[2] starting in Poland.[3]
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.[1] 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.[4] The channel is set to replace BBC Knowledge; however, if the existing channel is successful in certain markets, it may continue to operate.[5]
International roll-out
Poland
BBC Earth launched in Poland on 1 February 2015, replacing BBC Knowledge.[3]
Nordic countries
BBC Earth replaced BBC Knowledge in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland on 13 April 2015.[6][7] It was replaced by BBC Nordic on 17 April 2023.[8]
Hungary
BBC Earth replaced BBC Knowledge on 14 April 2015.[9]
Romania
On 14 April 2015, BBC Earth was launched in Romania, replacing BBC Knowledge.[10]
Turkey
BBC Earth launched in Turkey, replacing BBC Knowledge on 14 April 2015.[11]
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.[12][13] On 13 April 2017, the channel ceased its transmissions, along with BBC Entertainment and CBeebies.[14][15]
South Africa
The channel launched in South Africa on the DStv (satellite) platform replacing BBC Knowledge on 1 September 2015.[16]
Asia
In Asia, BBC Earth launched in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam on 3 October 2015, replacing BBC Knowledge.[17] In the Philippines, it was launched on 1 April 2017 along with BBC World News.[18] On 12 September 2017, it was announced to be launch via Laosat DTH in Laos.[19] In Myanmar, the channel was available via Sky Net and CANAL+.[20]
On 14 September 2021 BBC Earth HD, along with BBC Lifestyle HD, returned to Malaysian satellite TV service Astro.[21]
BBC has entered into a joint venture with Multi Screen Media 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.[26]
BBC Earth launched on Sky on 22 October 2018 in New Zealand, replacing BBC Knowledge.[31]
Australia
BBC Earth launched on Foxtel and Fetch TV in Australia on 10 October 2019, replacing BBC Knowledge.[32]
United States
In the United States, BBC Earth does not have a channel in the country, but airs all BBC Earth programs on BBC America, and channels owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, while PBS also does the same thing, but also including partnerships in Nature, Nova and more. It also has a Roku streaming channel.
Programming blocks
There are BBC Earth programming blocks on the following channels:
^Curtis, Chris (12 December 2013). "BBCW lifts lid on male channel". BroadcastNow. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^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)