Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Don't forget PBS tonight

Check your PBS stations tonight - as Monarchy: Royal Family at Work premieres tonight at 8 p.m. I've noticed that a selection of PBS stations are also showing this week "Born to be King: Charles at 60," a new documentary. Check your local listings.

BBC America has no programs planned for the Big 6-0. But their website is advertising Monarchy: Royal Family at Work - click on the link, and you are taken to the PBS site.

BBC America is not the same as the BBC. BBC America is a separate network, and all of the programming you see on BBC America must be purchased from the BBC (through their international sales division.)

In some instances, BBC America allows PBS (or A&E) to purchase first rights to a BBC program. In time, the program might also appear on BBC America.

BBC Canada operates somewhat differently, however, due to a Canadian law that requires all Canadian stations to show 35 percent of original Canadian program. This programming must be shown during peak hours. This is why BBC Canada shows Canadian programs as well as programs purchased from the BBC. BBC America, on the other hand, is all Beeb, all the time.
I do not expect BBC's 24 hour World News Channel (seen on a very select number of cable companies in the USA, including Cox and Fios) to offer special programming.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Marlene,

As I started watching this tonight, I realized that I'd seen it before. I think ABC (20/20?) ran it earlier this year.

It's a good show!
kal

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

ABC condensed the four hours into one hour