Country | UK |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Worldwide |
Network | BBC |
Headquarters | BBC Television Centre |
Programming | |
Picture format | 576i (4:3 SDTV) |
Ownership | |
Owner | BBC |
Sister channels | CBBC news BBC news learn |
History | |
Launched | 11 March 1991[1] |
Replaced | BBC TV Europe |
Closed | 1 April 1995 |
Replaced by | BBC World BBC learning |
BBC World Service Television, often abbreviated to WSTV (World Service Television), was the name of two BBC international satellite television channels between 1991 and 1995. It was the BBC's first foray into worldwide television broadcasting. In Europe, it was the successor to BBC TV Europe, which it replaced on 11 March 1991.[1] The service was also launched in Asia as a 24-hour news and information service with minor differences, a precursor to BBC World News, launched on 14 October 1991.[2]
Unlike the BBC World Service at the time, it was not funded by the British government through a grant-in-aid.[3] Instead, it was funded either by subscription or by commercial advertising, with advertisements inserted locally by individual cable or satellite providers. News headlines, trailers and other updates, known as "break fillers", were inserted to fill gaps in cases where no commercials were broadcast by the local provider.