frequently asked questions

We are here to help our viewers and potential customers get the most from the channel.

Through the links below you might be able to get an instant answer to your problem or query, so look here first, but if not you will be able to get in touch with us for the answer or to give us your opinion of a programme or the channel, by clicking here.

1. Is BBC Entertainment available over the internet?

At present, the channel is not available on the internet. Although, we will continue to look into the possibility of making the channel available online and suggest you continue to check the website from time to time for more information.

2. How can I buy a copy of a programme I have seen on BBC Entertainment?

Not all programmes are commercially available. For more information on video/DVD availability, please speak to BBC Sales: bbcsales@galleon.co.uk / www.bbcshop.com or call them on +44 (0)870 600 7080. For many of the series being shown there are books and videos released by the programme-makers. You may like to check with a reputable High Street or online retailer for local availability.

3. I would really like to work for the BBC - how do I find out about employment opportunities? Can I send you my C.V.?

Please don't send your C.V. to us! We at BBC Entertainment can't help with enquiries about working at the BBC. When there are vacancies they are advertised in the most relevant newspapers and on the BBC's main website. For general information, advice and the latest vacancies, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/jobs.

4. Can you explain your repeat pattern?

Like all commercial channels in a multi-channel environment our channels will normally repeat programmes at a different time of the day and/or at weekends. This allows for people coming to the channel at different times of the day to still see a selection of our great programmes, or to catch up on shows that they might have missed. We schedule the first run of programmes at key times, usually in the evenings. We have made a considerable investment in programming for our Scandinavian channels, there are thousands of hours of fresh content planned in the first year alone. Even with all those hours it is necessary to run series more than once. As the channels grow, we hope to bring an even higher percentage of new material every month.

5. What is the reason for including older programmes in the schedule?

For the majority of our viewers, this is the first chance to see these programmes, and often the only way to view them. However, it is likely that British people currently overseas will have already seen some of our programmes - but there is also plenty of fresh and recent programming on the channel.

6. Why can’t we get our favourite BBC shows on the BBC channels in Scandinavia?

BBC Worldwide Channels are put together by an experienced group of programme schedulers who fill each day with the best programmes they believe our audiences will enjoy. We buy programmes from the BBC and other broadcasters. Sometimes, the rights to broadcast some programmes have already been sold to other broadcasters in Scandinavia, and therefore the rights are not available for the BBC channels. Furthermore, BBC Worldwide must compete for programmes and pay a fair market rate to secure programme rights, and this includes the buying of BBC content. We always buy the best shows possible and have made a large investment in programmes for Scandinavia.

7. Why are there advertisements in BBC programmes on the channels?

Unlike the BBC’s Public Service channels in the UK which are uniquely funded by the Licence Fee, BBC Worldwide’s channels are commercial. As with those structures operated by other commercial broadcasters, generating funding through advertising and share of subscription enables us to buy new content for our channels.

8. Why are there “promotional breaks” in programmes on the channels?

All programmes on our channels are edited for commercial breaks. The promotional breaks provide us with an opportunity to tell viewers about upcoming series or particular programming strands where commercials are not placed, while ensuring that the schedule runs to time. The number of promotions in between programmes will depend upon the length of the programme and the scheduled time for the next programme to appear.

9. Why do we see the same trailers again and again?

Our aim is to bring you the best programmes possible and we’re keen for viewers who come into the channel at different times of the day and night to know what we have available for them. Research also indicates that viewers need to see a trailer a number of times before they register with them. We work with audience feedback to identify key programmes that we think audiences would like and are careful not to over produce trailers in order to maximise what we spend on programming for the channels. That said, we do air a number of trailers to showcase the breadth of our output, so you should be seeing new things coming up, as well as trailers you’ve seen before.

10. Why is the EPG sometimes showing the wrong programme? Why are programmes shown not always the ones advertised?

Unfortunately, there are times when a programme cannot be played due to either technical or scheduling issues. This is rare, but often very last-minute, which means there is little time to update the EPG. We will of course continue to make every effort to avoid any essential last-minute schedule changes and provide EPG updates in such circumstances.

11. Why are the subtitles out of synch with the programme? Why are the languages mixed up?

There are several reasons why this can happen.

  1. Most commonly the satellite receiver/set top box, like all computers, may occasionally need to be reset by removing and re-inserting the viewing card or in some circumstances by removing the power for a minute before switching back on. Different models and brands of set top box will behave in different ways, so please consult your user guide or the manufacturer for more advice. We would recommend trying this first if you are experiencing problems as we know this is the most common cause.
  2. If you are watching on cable, it is possible that the satellite receiver at the cable company may need to be reset in a similar way. Sometimes these receivers are in remote locations with no staff watching them, so there can be a delay in fixing the problem. Please report any problems to your cable operator in the first instance.
  3. Some set top boxes/receivers have two separate language preferences, one for the language of the menus themselves and one for the preferred subtitle language. These are sometimes in different menus in the box software. A percentage of such boxes have a software flaw which becomes apparent if different languages are selected in each menu. The problem is that the box will use both sets of preferences to choose which subtitle language to display, resulting in it becoming overloaded as it searches for, and tries to display, two languages at once. This can cause subtitles to be delayed or display inconsistently. When both languages are available as subtitles, you may see subtitles mixing, being delayed or not being displayed. We would recommend that you set all languages in all of the set top box/receiver menus to the same language to see if this fixes the problem.
  4. Finally, and most rarely, the subtitle file can be out of synch with the programme at the point of transmission for a number of reasons. We do monitor subtitles as they are broadcast and are able to look back at recordings of what was sent. We have very rarely found a problem with what is being sent.

If none of these solutions fix the problem, please check whether your query has been answered in our community, and if not, post a message with as much detail as possible, e.g. the model of your set-top box or cable operator, when the problem occurs and during which programme(s).

12. Why are my subtitles positioned over text or graphics in the picture of the programme making them hard to read?

The subtitles you display from your set top box/receiver (closed caption subtitles) should be made to display in a part of the picture where there is no text within the programme itself. Very occasionally we do get this wrong and apologise if this spoils your enjoyment of the programme. Every effort is made to make sure the subtitles are tailor made for the programme material.
It is also sometimes possible that your set top box/receiver can attempt to display two subtitle languages at once. See also Why are the subtitles out of synch with the programme? Why are the languages mixed up?

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