In October 2013, the BBC announced that in 2014 it would rollout three new brands—BBC Earth,
BBC First and
BBC Brit, with BBC Earth to be dedicated to premium factual programming. It was later announced that the channel would air series such as
Frozen Planet and
Wonders of the Universe. In addition, roughly 30 hours of new content would be ordered for the channel in its first year. The channel is set to replace
BBC Knowledge; however, if the existing channel is successful in certain markets, it may continue to operate.
International roll-out Poland BBC Earth launched in Poland on 1 February 2015, replacing BBC Knowledge. It was replaced by
BBC Nordic on 17 April 2023.
Hungary BBC Earth replaced BBC Knowledge on 14 April 2015.
Romania On 14 April 2015, BBC Earth was launched in Romania, replacing BBC Knowledge.
Turkey BBC Earth launched in Turkey, replacing BBC Knowledge on 14 April 2015.
Latin America BBC Earth launched in the Latin American countries of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela on 1 September 2015, replacing BBC HD. On 13 April 2017, the channel ceased its transmissions, along with
BBC Entertainment and
CBeebies.
South Africa The channel launched in South Africa on the
DStv (satellite) platform replacing BBC Knowledge on 1 September 2015.
Asia In
Asia, BBC Earth launched in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam on 3 October 2015, replacing BBC Knowledge. On 12 September 2017, it was announced to be launch via Laosat DTH in Laos. In Myanmar, the channel was available via
Sky Net and CANAL+. On 14 September 2021 BBC Earth HD, along with BBC Lifestyle HD, returned to Malaysian satellite TV service Astro. BBC Earth was among the other pay TV channels to launch in
Taiwanese cable TV providers on 1 January 2024, following the announcement of
National Geographic and
other Disney-owned linear channels to cease their operations in Taiwan.
Serbia In Serbia, BBC Earth was launched on 28 December 2015 replacing BBC Entertainment.
Eastern Europe BBC Earth launched in Eastern European countries on 1 January 2016, replacing BBC Entertainment.
Greece In Greece, the channel was launched on
Cosmote TV on 1 October 2017.
Middle East & North Africa (MENA) BBC Earth launched in Middle East & North Africa through the beIN DTH and STC TV services on 5 April 2018.
India BBC has entered into a joint venture with
Sony Pictures Networks India to launch the channel in India, branded as
Sony BBC Earth. It was launched on 6 March 2017, following regulatory approval of the joint venture.
Kareena Kapoor is the ambassador for this channel.
Canada On 6 December 2016,
BBC Worldwide and Canadian media company
Blue Ant Media announced plans to launch a
Canadian version of BBC Earth. The channel launched on 24 January 2017 and on 18 February 2017 hosted the Canadian premiere of
Planet Earth II, on the same date as the
United States, where it also aired on
BBC America. BBC Earth replaced
Blue Ant Media's
radX. Due to foreign ownership restrictions by the
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the channel is fully owned by
Blue Ant Media, with the BBC Earth brand and programming licensed from
BBC Worldwide.
New Zealand BBC Earth launched on
Sky on 22 October 2018 in
New Zealand, replacing BBC Knowledge.
Australia BBC Earth launched on
Foxtel and
Fetch TV in Australia on 10 October 2019, replacing BBC Knowledge.
United States In the United States, BBC Earth does not have a channel in the country, but airs all BBC Earth programs on
BBC America, and channels owned by
Warner Bros. Discovery, while
PBS also does the same thing, but also including partnerships in
Nature,
Nova and more. It also has a Roku streaming channel. == Programming blocks ==