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BBC America
Launched	March 29, 1998
Owned by	BBC
Slogan	"A Little Brit Different"
Website	www.bbcamerica.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV	Channel 264
Dish Network	Channel 135
Cable
Available on many cable systems	Check local listings for channels

BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, which was launched on March 29, 1998, available on both cable and satellite. It is one of two BBC branded channels broadcast in the United States, the other being global news channel, BBC World.

Contents 1 History 2 Distribution and availability 2.1 Outside the U.S. 2.2 On Demand 2.3 BBC America HD 3 Programming 3.1 Current programming 3.2 Former programming 3.3 Original Programming 3.4 Newscasts 4 See also 5 External links

The channel launched in March 1998 and has always carried programming from the BBC and other British television networks, including comedy, drama, and lifestyle programmes. It has been said that the idea for BBC America began in a small room at the BBC Television Centre complex in West London. In its early beginnings, the channel focused on repeats of popular lifestyle shows such as Changing Rooms and Ground Force. But loyal British viewers tuned out due to the repeats. BBC America's head of programming later stated that it was important for the channel to establish a niche since non-UK viewers found the lifestyle shows appealing. The evening schedule is where most new programming would appear. When popular UK soap EastEnders was removed from the schedule, the network faced a backlash which caught the attention of the media. Noted for its repeats, the channel lost some of its core audience viewers. After CEO Paul Lee moved to ABC Family, the network appointed Bill Hilary from the Comedy Channel. He appointed Kathryn Mitchell in the newly created position of GM. Under Hilary's tenure, BBC America was restructured; it moved its main offices to New York City and saw its programming budget increase tremendously.

BBC America is distributed in association with Discovery Networks, the United States division of Discovery Communications and parent company of the Discovery Channel, which also handles the affiliate and advertising sales. Unlike the BBC's commercial-free domestic networks, which are supported through the licence fee, BBC America is wholly advertising-supported and its programs are interrupted by commercials.

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 programming on many U.S. 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.

An HD version of BBC America is slated to debut in 2008, per promos now airing on the network.

The following is a sample of programming currently offered by the channel.

• Absolutely Fabulous
• Afterlife*
• Bargain Hunt
• BBC World News America
• Cash in the Attic
• The Catherine Tate Show
• Changing Rooms
• Coupling (UK)
• Doctor Who
• Gordon Ramsay's The F Word*
• The Graham Norton Show
• Hollyoaks*
• Hotel Babylon
• House Invaders
• How Clean Is Your House?* (UK Version)
• Life On Mars
• Little Britain
• The Mighty Boosh
• My Family
• The Naked Chef
• Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares*
• Robin Hood
• Talking Movies
• Torchwood
• Waterloo Road
• What Not to Wear
• Weakest Link (UK)
• Wire In The Blood
• You Are What You Eat

• As Time Goes By
• Are You Being Served?
• The Avengers*
• Bad Girls*
• Benny Hill
• EastEnders
• Father Ted
• Goodness Gracious Me
• Hex*
• Hollyoaks: In The City*
• Jekyll
• Keeping Up Appearances
• The Kumars at No. 42
• Monty Python's Flying Circus
• Murphy's Law
• My Hero
• Parkison
• Shameless*
• Fawlty Towers
• Footballers' Wives*

Note: Programmes marked with * have not originally been broadcast by the BBC but were either original ITV, Channel 4 or Sky One productions.

Most of the non news programming is edited either for adult content or to allow for commercials. However, many comedy programs run in specially formatted 40-minute blocks that allow them to run unedited, though some with adult content are edited.

BBC America began producing its own shows and joint productions in 2004. This has included Sharpe's Challenge, part of the Sharpe series of TV movies and co-produced with ITV; also The State Within, a co-production with the BBC; and Jekyll.

BBC America simulcasts news bulletins from its sister concern, BBC World, a global news channel seen in 200 million homes around the world.

In the mornings (6-9am ET), the network airs a full, three-hour simulcast of BBC World. The simulcast consists of editions of BBC World News, World Business Report, Sport Today, Asia Today and a one-hour bulletin called World News Today.

In the evenings at 7-8pm ET and repeated at 10-11pm ET, BBC America airs BBC World News America, presented from Washington by Matt Frei. Katty Kay serves as Washington correspondent on the programme; Rome Hartman (formerly of CBS Evening News) is executive producer.

In the autumn of 2007, the network will unveil a weekly series called Paxman. The show will be fronted by Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman. He is to introduce a synopsis of Newsnight items with an international aspect and is expected to bring his brash interviewing style to bear on American politicians. "Jeremy Paxman is the sort of person that Americans will just eat up," Garth Ancier told the Financial Times.

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. However, BBC World itself is not currently widely available in the U.S. as a separate channel (although it does appear on several cable systems throughout the United States).

• List of DirecTV channels
• List of Dish Network channels

• BBC America website
• Anglophenia - BBC America's blog
• BBC America On Demand Webpage

v • d • e BBC Television
UK channels	BBC One (in Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales) · BBC Two (in Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales) · BBC Three · BBC Four · BBC News 24 · BBC Parliament · CBBC Channel · CBeebies · BBC HD · Gaelic Digital Service
International channels	BBC America · BBC Canada · BBC Food · BBC Kids · BBC Prime · BBC Entertainment · BBC World · BBC Knowledge · BBC Lifestyle · BBC Arabic Television
Joint ventures	Animal Planet · People+Arts · UKTV (UK and Ireland) · UK.TV (Australia and New Zealand)
Closed channels	BBC Knowledge · BBC Choice · BBC World Service Television · BBC TV Europe · BBC Japan