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Could someone explain the BBC to me?

post #1 of 4
4/5/09 at 5:25pm
Thread Starter 
I've been watching Extras quite a bit, and I can't help but feel I'm missing a few jokes in regards to how the different BBC stations (1, 2, 3, ect) work in relationship to each other. For example, FOX is known for more crass programming, while CBS is more for older crowds.

Also, are there any coaxial cable providers there like Time Warner or Comcast, or just Satellite providers? Are there premium channel equivalents to HBO and Showtime?

Just something I've been curious about for a while, and couldn't really find anything online to help me understand it from an American perspective.
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post #2 of 4
4/5/09 at 5:33pm
The BBC is a publicly funded organisation in the UK which provides television and radio programming. We have five, free to air, television channels in the UK. BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. The last three are all commercially funded and the best analogues would be ITV = Fox, Channel 4 = HBO, Channel 5 = ABC.

Then we have our digital networks, like cable in the US, which are owned by BSKYB, a subsidiary of Fox, which have extra 'niche' channels on it including two seperate BBC channels 3 and 4.

The BBC Channels operate as such

BBC1 - General viewing
BBC2 - Niche stuff
BBC3 - New entertainment
BBC4 - Factual programming
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post #3 of 4
4/5/09 at 5:34pm
There are five terrestrial channels here that you can get through a conventional aerial, BBC1, BBC2, ITV (3), Channel 4, and Channel 5 (or just Five, as it's branded). BBC has no commercials, the other three do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_...United_Kingdom

The BBC is paid for by the license fee.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_license
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Televis...United_Kingdom

Our main satellite provider is Sky
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Sky_Broadcasting

Others include
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Media
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telewest


We don't really have anything akin to HBO or Showtime, AFAIK.
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post #4 of 4
4/5/09 at 6:07pm
Thread Starter 
Very informative, thanks all!
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