Yeah, the name means BBC broadcasting in the United States of America. PBS America's on screen name may have originally just been PBS, but it's official name was PBS UK - i.e. PBS broadcasting in the United Kingdom.
Also, unlike PBS, the BBC needed disambiguation because BBC World (now called BBC World News) already existed.
What's pointless about the name 'BBC America'? It has to have a name of some sort, it can't just be 'BBC'
I've thought names such as BBC Canada, BBC America and BBC Japan where a bit odd, as viewers are likely to know which country they are in and few others are doing it. The only examples I can think of in the UK would be CNBC Europe and the Food Network, which insists on calling itself "Food Network UK".
But I take your point that the BBC brand can't stand alone as a service name. One alternative would have been to call it "The BBC Network", but only use the BBC blocks as the logo (although that is probably against some guideline). Obviously, it is too late to change that now.
I see the Horror Channel is on Sky 198 and 319. I think 198 used to be a showcase channel, simulcasting with The Horror Channel sometimes and other movie channels at other times. It is now showing the Horror Channel permanently and it is also called The Horror Channel on the EPG too. I expect 198 is waiting to be used for something else or the EPG position sold on.
I've thought names such as BBC Canada, BBC America and BBC Japan where a bit odd, as viewers are likely to know which country they are in and few others are doing it. The only examples I can think of in the UK would be CNBC Europe and the Food Network, which insists on calling itself "Food Network UK".
'BBC1 Scotland' 'ITV1 Wales' etc
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But I take your point that the BBC brand can't stand alone as a service name. One alternative would have been to call it "The BBC Network", but only use the BBC blocks as the logo (although that is probably against some guideline). Obviously, it is too late to change that now.
They still have to make a distinction between the different versions because the schedules are different. Publicising a programme as being on at 9pm on 'The BBC Network (America only)' is very cumbersome.
Why would someone in Canada see an advert for BBC America anyway? Honestly, that isn't a problem.
I didn't say anything about adverts.
There is this new fangled thing called the internet, but programmes are promoted in many ways. Imagine a BBC star appearing on a late night US talk show to plug his show which starts on BBC America that week. That talk show is probably seen in Germany and Japan and Canada
I suspect in the BBC's case they're probably not allowed to call a BBC Worldwide channel just "BBC" - or anything which could be confused with a UK BBC channel.