BBC Japan

Not to be confused with Biwako Broadcasting.

BBC Japan

Country	Japan
Broadcast area	Japan
Programming
Language(s)	Japanese English
Picture format	NTSC 480i (4:3 SDTV)
Ownership
Owner	BBC Worldwide Japan Mediarc
History
Launched	1 December 2004
Closed	30 April 2006

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 meant they could no longer honour 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.

• Absolutely Fabulous^[7]
• Angelmouse^[8]
• Bargain Hunt^[9]
• Binka^[10]
• Blackadder^[11]
• The Catherine Tate Show^[12]
• Casualty^[13]
• Changing Rooms^[14]
• Doctors^[15]
• Fawlty Towers^[16]
• Friends Like These^[17]
• Ground Force^[18]
• Holby City^[19]
• Keeping Up Appearances^[20]
• Miss Marple^[21]
• My Family^[22]
• Only Fools and Horses^[23]
• Parkinson^[24]
• Ready Steady Cook^[25]
• Red Dwarf^[26]
• Shooting Stars^[27]
• Sounds of the 60s^[28]
• Sounds of the 70s^[29]
• Top Gear^[30]
• Top of the Pops^[31]
• Tweenies^[32]
• The Vicar of Dibley^[33]
• The Weakest Link^[34]

References

1. BBC to entertain on Japanese TV, BBC News, 8 October 2004
2. Subscribers get first view of BBC Japan channel, The Japan Times, 2 December 2004
3. "BBC Japan off to a solid start, despite distribution gripes". 28 April 2005.
4. BBC, Deutsche Welle launch on Japan IPTV, C21Media, 14 June 2005
5. "BBC Japan website, 24 April 2006". Archived from the original on 28 July 2005. Retrieved 21 March 2006.
6. BBC Japan set to close in April, BBC News, 8 October 2004
7. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 12 December 2005.
8. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 10 February 2006.
9. "BBC JAPAN JapaneseSite [110CS-025ch]". Archived from the original on 4 February 2005.
10. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 10 February 2006.
11. BBC has cunning plan for Japan with Blackadder, The Guardian, 9 October 2004
12. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 12 December 2005.
13. "BBC JAPAN JapaneseSite [110CS-025ch]". Archived from the original on 4 February 2005.
14. "BBC Japan Lifestyle". BBC Japan. Archived from the original on 25 November 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
15. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
16. BBC has cunning plan for Japan with Blackadder, The Guardian, 9 October 2004
17. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
18. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
19. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
20. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 12 December 2005.
21. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
22. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 12 December 2005.
23. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 12 December 2005.
24. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
25. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 10 February 2006.
26. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 12 December 2005.
27. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
28. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
29. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
30. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.
31. "BBC JAPAN JapaneseSite [110CS-025ch]". Archived from the original on 12 February 2005.
32. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 10 February 2006.
33. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 12 December 2005.
34. "BBC Japan". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.