BBC Japan explained

BBC Japan
Country:Japan
Area:Japan
Language:Japanese
English
Launch Date:1 December 2004
Closed Date:30 April 2006
Owner:BBC Worldwide
Japan Mediarc
Picture Format:NTSC 480i (SDTV)

BBC Japan was a short-lived subscription television channel co-owned by BBC Worldwide and SKY PerfecTV! subsidiary Japan Mediarc that was available via satellite in Japan. The channel's aim was to showcase the BBC's programming to the Japanese market, but it suffered from financial issues from its co-owner that led to the channel's closure a year later.

History

The channel was announced by the BBC on 8 October 2004 for a launch on 1 December.[1] The channel launched as planned on that day, broadcast on Sky PerfecTV! satellite channel 110.[2] The channel launched with solid figures, with reports at the BBC citing that the audience was mainly Japanese.[3] On 14 June 2005, the channel was added to Online TV Company's IPTV service.[4]

On 20 March 2006, BBC Worldwide announced that the channel would cease operations in April, citing that financial problems at Japan Mediarc emeant they could no longer honour it contractual commitments to distribute the network.[5] On 24 April 2006, the closure date of 30 April was announced, and the channel closed as planned on that day.[6]

Programming

Being the Japanese counterpart to BBC Prime, BBC Japan aired programmes normally sourced from BBC Worldwide or the mainstream BBC archives, as well as third-party content from companies like Granada Media. With BBC Japan being a commercial network; programs were edited to fit the time slot, meaning a normal hour-long production would be shortened to 42 minutes on the channel.

While some shows were dubbed or voiced over, the majority of the channel's content was broadcast in English with Japanese subtitles.

Notes and References

  1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3726608.stm BBC to entertain on Japanese TV
  2. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2004/12/02/business/subscribers-get-first-view-of-bbc-japan-channel/#.VUev5_lVgoI Subscribers get first view of BBC Japan channel
  3. Web site: BBC Japan off to a solid start, despite distribution gripes . 28 April 2005 .
  4. http://www.c21media.net/bbc-deutsche-welle-launch-on-japan-iptv/ BBC, Deutsche Welle launch on Japan IPTV
  5. Web site: BBC Japan website, 24 April 2006 . 21 March 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050728091253/http://www.bbcjapan.tv/news.aspx?menu=news . 28 July 2005 . dead .
  6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4830518.stm BBC Japan set to close in April
  7. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051212163452/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/comedy/index.htm . 12 December 2005 .
  8. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20060210005044/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/kids/index.htm . 10 February 2006 .
  9. Web site: BBC JAPAN JapaneseSite [110CS-025ch] . https://web.archive.org/web/20050204083857/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/entertainment/index.htm . 4 February 2005 .
  10. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20060210005044/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/kids/index.htm . 10 February 2006 .
  11. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/09/business.japan BBC has cunning plan for Japan with Blackadder
  12. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051212163452/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/comedy/index.htm . 12 December 2005 .
  13. Web site: BBC JAPAN JapaneseSite [110CS-025ch] . https://web.archive.org/web/20050204082629/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/drama/index.htm . 4 February 2005 .
  14. Web site: BBC Japan Lifestyle . BBC Japan . August 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125154623/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/lifestyle/index.htm . November 25, 2005 . dead.
  15. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125153446/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/drama/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  16. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/09/business.japan BBC has cunning plan for Japan with Blackadder
  17. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125154316/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/entertainment/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  18. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125154623/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/lifestyle/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  19. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125153446/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/drama/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  20. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051212163452/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/comedy/index.htm . 12 December 2005 .
  21. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125153446/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/drama/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  22. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051212163452/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/comedy/index.htm . 12 December 2005 .
  23. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051212163452/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/comedy/index.htm . 12 December 2005 .
  24. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125154316/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/entertainment/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  25. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20060210005143/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/cooking/index.htm . 10 February 2006 .
  26. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051212163452/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/comedy/index.htm . 12 December 2005 .
  27. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125154316/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/entertainment/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  28. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125153608/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/music/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  29. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125153608/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/music/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  30. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125154316/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/entertainment/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .
  31. Web site: BBC JAPAN JapaneseSite [110CS-025ch] . https://web.archive.org/web/20050212040417/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/music/index.htm . 12 February 2005 .
  32. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20060210005044/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/kids/index.htm . 10 February 2006 .
  33. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051212163452/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/comedy/index.htm . 12 December 2005 .
  34. Web site: BBC Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051125154316/http://www.bbc-japan.com/genre/entertainment/index.htm . 25 November 2005 .