BBC First launches in Czech Republic, Slovakia
June 3, 2024
BBC Studios has announced that its British drama channel BBC First is now available in Czech Republic through T-Mobile and O2, and in Slovakia through Slovak Telekom.
The BBC First brand debuted in Czech Republic and Slovakia as an SVoD collection via T-Mobile and Slovak Telekom back in November 2023, but this will be the first time the brand will be available as a linear channel in the countries.
June highlights on BBC First include Six Four, an acclaimed four-part thriller starring Grey’s Anatomy talent Kevin McKidd, which delves into the themes of kidnap, corruption, and betrayal when a police detective’s daughter goes missing. The series will premiere on June 5th. BBC First will also air seasons one and two of Maigret (pictured), starring Rowan Atkinson as legendary French detective Jules Maigret. The crime series set in 1950s Paris begin airing on June 7th.
Additionally, season one of Hope Street will premiere BBC First from June 20th. The show, set in the fictional town of Port Devine on the Northern Ireland coast, focuses on Port Devine’s police department and the mysterious arrival of English Detective Constable Leila Hussain played by Amara Karan, the first Muslim police officer in the town’s history.
“We are thrilled to witness the continuous growth and success of our global brand, BBC First, over the past decade. I cannot envision a better way to commemorate this milestone than by expanding its reach to new audiences, together with our great partners in Czechia and Slovakia, T-Mobile, Slovak Telekom and O2. BBC First presents a distinctive opportunity for British drama enthusiasts, offering a diverse range of content that includes both thought-provoking, gritty narratives and intricate storylines, as well as light crime dramas,” said Bartosz Witak, General Manager for CEE at BBC Studios.
The channel is fully localised with Czech subtitles to T-Mobile and O2 subscribers in Czech Republic and Slovak Telekom in Slovakia and joins BBC Earth and BBC News already available in both countries.