BBC America

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BBC America is the BBC Worldwide owned-and-operated television network in the United States, which was launched on March 29, 1998, available on both cable and satellite.

Since its launch, BBC America has carried programming from the BBC and other British television networks, including comedy, drama, and lifestyle programmes. During the daytime, the network shows repeats of comedies such as Benny Hill, home-improvement series like Changing Rooms and Cash in the Attic and news bulletins from BBC World. The evening schedule is where most new programming appears.

BBC America is distributed in association with Discovery Networks, the parent company of the Discovery Channel, which also handles the affiliate and advertising sales. Unlike the BBC's domestic networks which are supported through the licence fee, BBC America is wholly advertising-supported. Many comedy programs run in specially formatted 40-minute blocks that allow them to run unedited. Some shows with adult content are edited -- however, rear nudity and top frontal nudity for women have been shown on the channel, and some swear words have been allowed.

BBC America simulcasts news bulletins from BBC World with US commercials inserted. Previously, only individual 30 minute bulletins were simulcast — but in October 2005, the network began airing a full three-hour simulcast of BBC World in the mornings (from 6-9 AM ET, 3-6 AM PT). The simulcast consists of 30-minute news bulletins, editions of World Business Report, Sport Today, Asia Today and BBC News Extra, and a one-hour bulletin called World News Today - anchored by George Alagiah. A 30 minute bulletin also airs in the evening at 6-630 p.m. ET (3-330 p.m. PT), generally anchored by Katty Kay in Washington and another anchor in London.

During major breaking news situations, the network will sometimes take BBC World's coverage and pre-empt regular programming. The London Bombings in July 2005 were one such example. BBC World is not currently available in the US as a separate channel, but will be made available in 2006.

BBC America caused dismay to some viewers when it dropped the soap opera EastEnders in October 2003, but it argued that the show was one of the channel's least popular, although EastEnders, along with other BBC programming, also appears on PBS stations.

The network currently airs programs such as The Office, Are You Being Served?, Keeping Up Appearances, Benny Hill, Coupling, Monty Python's Flying Circus, My Hero, Cash in the Attic, Little Britain, Look Around You, Bargain Hunt and Location, Location, Location. It also regularly purchases the US broadcasting rights to non-BBC British programmes, such as Father Ted, So Graham Norton, Footballers' Wives, Bad Girls, Mile High, The Saint and the British version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Recently, the network acquired rights to the series Hex and Spaced.

BBC America is also available in Bermuda on Bermuda CableVision's digital cable TV service.

BBC America On Demand refers to a selection of BBC America programs available as Video on demand programing on many US digital cable systems. These Video on demand programs are usually available for 2-4 weeks before being rotated out. These programs are offered commercial-free though some programs are interrupted for network promos.

Examples of Idents

Image:IDBBCA2005.jpg|One of several of the current BBC America idents, used since 2005. Image:BBC-america-ident.jpg|A BBC America ident, used from 2003 until 2005. Image:IDBBCA1999.jpg|An ident used from the channel's launch in 1998 until 2003. This was simply the BBC One balloon with BBC America superimposed on it.

External links

BBC Television

UK analogue and digital channels
BBC One | BBC Two
BBC Two variants: BBC Two Northern Ireland

UK digital-only channels
General Entertainment: BBC Three | BBC Four
News and current affairs: BBC News 24 | BBC Parliament
Children's television: CBBC Channel | CBeebies
BBC Two Nations: BBC 2W | BBC Two NI
Interactive Television: BBCi
High Definition: BBC HD

International television
BBC World | BBC America | BBC Prime
BBC Kids | BBC Food | BBC Canada

Joint Ventures
Animal Planet | People+Arts | UKTV (UK and Ireland) | UK.TV (Australia and New Zealand)

Defunct channels
BBC Knowledge | BBC Choice | BBC World Service Television | BBC TV Europe | BBC Japan

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