BBC Entertainment (previously BBC Prime)

BBC Entertainment, formally called BBC Prime, is the BBCs general entertainment TV channel in Europe and the Middle East. It is operated by BBC Worldwide, the BBC commercial arm.

It was launched as BBC Prime in January 1995, rebranded as BBC Entertainment in October 2006.

BBC Entertainment is funded by subscription available either as part of a satellite package or as a stand-alone channel. As it may carry advertisements in some world regions, it is not available in the United Kingdom as, under the terms of the BBCs Charter, its domestic services cannot show advertising.

BBC Entertainment also carries programming from ITV and Channel Four.

The channels emphasis on archive programming caused considerable annoyance to many British expatriate viewers, who had much preferred the mix of BBC One and Two. However, the BBC has defended the inclusion of older programmes in the schedule, on the grounds that “for the majority of our viewers, this is the first chance to see these programmes, and often the only way to view them.”

How to receive BBC Entertainment in Spain

BBC Entertainment is available in Spain via satellite.

You will need an 80cm satellite dish, aligned to the Eurobird 9 satellite located at 9° East

You will also need a satellite receiver that is Viaccess compatible, for the BBC Entertainment viewing card.

BBC Entertainment is available in other countries, but in some central and eastern European countries it is not available via satellite but as part of your local cable network.

BBC Entertainment Viewing cards

To watch BBC Entertainment you will require a viewing card and pay a yearly subscription fee.

The viewing card currently only unlocks BBC Prime and no other channels. It may, in the future, unlock the other BBC Prime TV channels that are thought to be launching soon over Europe (they are already available in Poland as part of the Polish Satellite TV service)

Customers who wish to subscribe to the channel for the first time (annual subscription) can download a new subscription form here.

BBC Entertainment Frequency on Eutelsat 9

Frequency: 11996 MHz

Polarisation : Vertical

FEC: 3/4

Symbol Rate: 27.5

Modulation: QPSK