BBC Studios has launched its streaming service BBC Player on the Spanish television platform Movistar Plus+, bringing a large catalogue of British television programmes to viewers across Spain.

The new service became available to Movistar Plus+ customers on 15 October, offering access to a wide range of BBC content through the platform’s on-demand interface. At launch, BBC Player included more than 700 hours of programming, with a mix of drama series, documentaries, entertainment shows and lifestyle programmes drawn from the BBC Studios catalogue.

BBC Player is designed as a catch-up and on-demand platform rather than a traditional live TV channel. Instead of following a broadcast schedule, viewers can browse the available catalogue and watch programmes whenever they choose. The service includes well-known BBC productions across several genres, including British drama, natural history documentaries, travel shows and factual programming.

For viewers in Spain, one of the key advantages is that much of the content is available with Spanish dubbing or subtitles, making it accessible to both Spanish audiences and English-speaking expats living in the country.

In terms of pricing, BBC Player is not sold as a separate subscription service. Instead, it has been integrated into the existing Movistar Plus+ ecosystem and is included as part of selected Movistar television packages. Customers who already subscribe to Movistar Plus+ packages that include BBC channels can access BBC Player at no additional cost through the platform’s apps, set-top boxes and compatible smart TVs.

The launch is part of a wider agreement between BBC Studios and Movistar Plus+ to expand the presence of BBC content in Spain. Alongside BBC Player, Movistar also added two additional BBC television channels: BBC Earth and BBC Lifestyle.

These channels joined several other BBC-branded channels already available on the platform, including BBC Drama, BBC History and BBC Food.

BBC Earth focuses mainly on wildlife, science and nature programming, featuring documentaries about the natural world and exploration. BBC Lifestyle offers programming centred on cooking, home design, travel and lifestyle inspiration.

The addition of BBC Player significantly expands the amount of British content available on Movistar Plus+. Instead of relying solely on scheduled broadcasts of BBC channels, viewers can now explore a large library of programmes on demand.

BBC Player should not be confused with the full BBC iPlayer available in the United Kingdom. While BBC iPlayer provides live streams of BBC television channels and a large catch-up library, BBC Player offers a smaller curated catalogue of on-demand programmes only. The service does not include live BBC TV channels, and instead focuses on a selection of dramas, documentaries and entertainment programmes available to watch on demand through Movistar Plus+.

For BBC Studios, the move reflects the continued international demand for British television programming and forms part of the company’s strategy to expand its streaming distribution through partnerships with major television platforms around the world.

For Movistar Plus+, the launch strengthens its position in Spain’s increasingly competitive streaming and television market. By adding a recognised international brand such as BBC Player to its catalogue, the platform is aiming to broaden its entertainment offering and attract viewers interested in premium British television content.

For viewers in Spain — particularly British expats — the arrival of BBC Player provides another way to watch a wide range of BBC programmes without relying on UK satellite services or overseas streaming platforms.

How to Watch BBC Content in Spain

For viewers in Spain, there are several different ways to watch BBC programmes. Traditionally, many British expats relied on UK satellite television using the Astra satellites at 28.2°E, which carry BBC channels used by platforms such as Sky and Freesat. However, reception in southern parts of Spain can be difficult due to the tightly focused UK satellite beam, meaning very large satellite dishes may be required.

Some viewers also access BBC programmes online using official services such as BBC iPlayer, although this platform is normally intended for viewers located in the United Kingdom. Because of this restriction, some people attempt to access the service from overseas using a Virtual Private Network, which can make a device appear as if it is located in the UK.

Others turn to unofficial internet television services that offer large bundles of international channels via pirate IPTV apps. These services are widely advertised online, but they often operate without the proper broadcast rights and can be unreliable or subject to shutdown, which is becoming more common these days.

The launch of BBC Player on Movistar Plus+ provides another option for viewers in Spain who want to watch BBC programmes through an authorised local television provider. The service includes hundreds of hours of BBC content available on demand within the Movistar Plus+ platform.