BBC UK regional TV on satellite

Since 30 May 2003 [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/03_march/12/digital_sat.shtml|title=BBC goes in the clear on digital satellite|date=12 March 2003] the BBC has provided all of the BBC One and BBC Two regional variations on the UK digital satellite service, providing local news inserts and (outside England) regional presentation. The BBC refers to the whole UK local network as "BBC Nations and Regions".cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/nationsregions.shtml | title=BBC Press Office, Key Facts, BBC Nations and Regions | date=August 2004|accessdate=2007-08-29] UK-wide programming is referred to as "national" or "network".

For Sky Digital subscribers, ex-subscribers or those with "Freesat from Sky" cards in their decoder the local version associated with the address to which the card was issued will appear on channels 101 and 102. To watch other regional and national services the viewer chooses the channel numbers listed below. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/digital_tv/dsat_epg_numbers.shtml|title=BBC channels in the Sky EPG] Those using a Sky Digibox without any card are treated as being in London.cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/keyfacts/stories/regional_tv.shtml | title=BBC Press Office, Key Facts, BBC Regional Television|date=August 2004]

Non-Sky Digital satellite parameters for the Astra 2D system are also available. [cite web|url=http://www.lyngsat.com/28east.html|title=Lyngsat: Eurobird 1 & Astra 2A/2B/2D at 28.2°E|date=12 February 2007]

BBC regional news and satellite channel numbers

BBC One

England

Local inserts weekdays at 6:28, 6:58, 7:28, 7:58, 8:28, 8:58, 13:30-13:40, 15:28, 18:30-19:00, 19:59 [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/07_july/11/bbcone.shtml|title=BBC - Press Office - BBC One Autumn 2007 press pack|accessdate=2007-08-19] and 22:25-22:35 and at the end of weekend network news programmes. [cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2843069.stm | title=BBC News: BBC ends Sky digital deal|date=12 March 2003]

(BM) Midlands Today (West Midlands, Birmingham) 979
(MR) North West Tonight (Manchester) 978
(HL) Look North (East Yorkshire & Lincolnshire, Hull) 977
(LS) Look North (Yorkshire & North Midlands, Leeds) 976
(NO) East Midlands Today (Nottingham) 980
(NC) Look East (East, Norwich) 981
(CB) Look East (East (West), Cambridge) 982
(BS) Points West (Bristol) 986
(TW) South East Today (Tunbridge Wells) 983
(SO) South Today (Southampton) 984
(PY) Spotlight (Plymouth) 987
(NT) Look North (North East & Cumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne) 975
(OX) BBC Oxford News (Oxford, opt-out) / South Today (Southampton) 985
(LDN) BBC London (London) 974

Rest of UK

Times as England plus some additional localised programming and rescheduled network programs.

Scotland: BBC One Scotland, Reporting Scotland 971
Wales: Wales Today 972
Northern Ireland: BBC Newsline 973

Elsewhere

Opt out from Plymouth:
Channel Islands: BBC Channel Islands 988

Also note that North West Tonight from Manchester also covers the Isle of Man although there is no island-specific "opt out".

BBC Two

Scotland has regional programming such as Newsnight Scotland (Monday-Thursday) 23:00-23:20 and Gaelic programmes. Northern Ireland also has regional programming. BBC 2W has its own [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/2w/listings/ schedule] from 20:30-22:00, though there are additional opts-out from the network which are carried simultaneously with BBC Two Wales.

England: 989
Scotland: BBC Two Scotland 990
Wales: BBC 2W 991
Northern Ireland: BBC Two Northern Ireland 992

History

From the launch of digital satellite on 1 October 1998 until 31 March 2001, there were four variants (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) of both BBC One and the new BBC Choice carried on all digital platforms. Only one version of BBC Two was available digitally, and this was shown throughout the UK.

BBC English regions became gradually available via Digital Terrestrial Television (later known as Freeview) over the next few years, as did the "national" versions of BBC Two. Announced by the BBC on 16 October 2001 [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1604952.stm|date=17 October 2001|title=Digital viewers get BBC regional news] and operating from 28 January 2002 until 29 May 2003 transponder space was allocated to the five largest English regions: BBC London News, South Today, Midlands Today, North West Tonight and Look North (for Yorkshire & Lincolnshire), 'covering 70% of England’s population', [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/01_january/10/satellitenews.shtml|title=English Regions launch first phase of digital satellite news service|date=10 January 2002] and were accessed 'using new interactive technology'. [cite web|url=http://www.bbcgovernorsarchive.co.uk/annreport/report02/review_nations.txt|title=BBC Review of services: Nations & Regions] This meant that viewers had to press the "red button" to access the programmes, and could only watch the 6.30pm edition. Later all regions became available as standard, full-time channels.

Eventually, programming via digital mirrored that available via analogue, with the exception of any (now rare) regional variations on BBC Two in England and the extra "opt outs" on BBC Two in Wales.

References

ee also

*BBC English Regions