BBC Studios announced yesterday that BBC First, the premium British drama brand from BBC Studios’ portfolio, is to launch as linear channel in Poland on 26th October 2018. The channel, which will be available with full English and Polish subtitles, will replace BBC HD and will be accessible through DTH, cable and IPTV providers alongside BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News. The introduction of BBC Firstwill see the full BBC channel portfolio offered to viewers in Poland for the first time. 

BBC First, which is also available in Australia, South Africa, Benelux and the Middle East, will now become the destination for Polish audiences seeking original, innovative and premium British drama. With award-winning talent in front of and behind the camera, the channel gives audiences the chance to see unforgettable stories that challenge, immerse and entertain. The finest writers, directors and actors, complex characters, suspense-filled thrillers, stunning design and photography will now be available in one place.
 
The channel launches with a raft of critically acclaimed series including the territory premiere of BAFTA-award-winning Broken starring Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) as a Catholic priest haunted by his past in a tale of redemption, compassion and forgiveness.   

Other programming highlights include Unforgotten, a compelling, BAFTA-nominated crime drama starring Nicola Walker (River, Collateral) as a police detective uncovering long buried secrets while looking for justice for the victim of a cold case.

A territory premiere of three-part psychological thriller Paula will have audiences gripped from start to finish. The drama tells a heart-pounding story of a self-destructive schoolteacher whose one-night stand sends her life spiraling out of control.

The specially chosen launch schedule also includes mini-series In Plain Sight based on the true story of the quest to bring a notorious serial killer and rapist who terrorized Great Britain in the 1950’s to justice. And Tasmania-set mystery drama The Kettering Incident, a dark and brooding eight-part series with a sci-fi twist starring Elizabeth Debicki (The Night Manager).

BBC First will also be the home of the all new series of Doctor Who, with Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor. 

Jacek Koskowski, General Manager and Vice President for Poland, BBC Studios commented: “We’re living through a golden era of British drama with outstanding talent producing some of the very best television in the world. Increasing the drama hours on BBC HD was integral to that channel’s recent growth and now we are going further by bringing viewers even more of what they want. Coupled with the addition of Polish and English subtitles for the first time, I’m delighted to be introducing a dedicated premium drama channel to Poland. 

The line-up of the rebranded channel will see the biggest premiering titles sit along new seasons of audiences’ favorite light crime series such as Father Brown and Death in Paradise, as well as more family skewed entertainment like The Durrells, Our Zoo and Sinbad. All programming will be available with Polish and English subtitles from the start.