BBC World in the UK

OK, a lot of you can get analogue BBC World in the UK via the Hotbird satellite. However, how would you like to recieve DIGITAL BBC World and DIGITAL BBC Prime ? Well, it will be possible within the next few months. My digital satellite provider here in Turkey, DigiTurk, is extending into Europe under the name DigiTurk Euro...its currently only in Germany but they plan to go into France and the UK before the end of year, and they carry, amongst other channels, BBCs World and Prime on their platform. Their website is http://www.digiturkeuro.com, though its only in Turkish and German at the moment (logically). Anyway, just thought I'd tell you that!

That's very interesting news!

Can the rule of not being allowed to broadcast in the UK apply when a 3rd party (DigiTurk Euro) is involved? It'll be interesting to see the costs.

Cheers, Asa

I would be surprised if this happens.

I think the BBC would almost certainly have a clause in their contract with DigiTurk precluding the broadcast of BBC World and Prime to viewers in the UK.

The BBC would not wish advertising funded BBC channels to be broadcast to the UK (in fact this may well be illegal under UK broadcast law) - and there may well be Equity rights issues with BBC Prime being broadcast?

It would not surprise me in the least if UK Digiturk subscribers found that the BBC Channels were removed from their subscriptions. (

I guess thats a possibility, but the primary aim of DigiTurk is to serve the Turkish Community abroad...perhaps they'll come up with some kind of agreement with the government surrounding this clause...

What equity rights issues would be aroused with BBC Prime's broadcast in the UK? To be honest, I would not be suprised if BBC Three just joined BBC Prime when it broadcasts (was it from 7 pm until 1 am?), because Prime doesn't broadcast advertisements at all, and evenings always consist of entertainment programmes.

I would not be at all surprised if the Equity agreements for programme sales/broadcast abroad are different to those for UK broadcast by the BBC.

As for BBC Three and BBC Prime simulcasting - I doubt it - the BBC Three-ness (and programmes aimed at a younger market) would not really make sense as a unique channel operating without BBC One and Two. I have always thought BBC Prime shared much more in schedule terms with UK Gold.

It is...albeit with only BBC programmes...although before the corporate identity change of 1997 BBC Prime was a joint Thames/BBC production - that was great, because we got the best of both broadcasters...in '97 the BBC bought out Thames/Pearson/whatever.

Well it would be great to get these BBC global channels, in particular BBC World, it would be wonderful if we could receive that in W I D E S C R E E N!