First on March 16, expanding the company's partnership with BBC Studios. Unlike the other versions, the Canadian channel is not directly owned by BBC Studios, due to Canada's regulations around foreign ownership of Canadian media, but is operated by Blue Ant under a brand licensing agreement. Previously, the market had been served by the similarly formatted BBC Canada, which was closed by then-owner Corus Entertainment at the end of 2020; many of the BBC programs carried by the prior channel will carry over to BBC First. Europe Netherlands & Belgium BBC First launched in the Netherlands on 16 May 2015. Central and Eastern Europe BBC First made its debut as a linear channel in Poland on 26 October 2018, replacing BBC HD. Commenting on the development, Jacek Koskowski, general manager and VP for Poland, BBC Studios, said: “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”. BBC First launched in Croatia, North Macedonia and Slovenia on 1 April 2019. BBC First launched in Romania on 12 October 2022. Turkey The channel launched in Turkey on 27 May 2020 replacing BBC HD. Africa South Africa The channel launched on DStv in South Africa on 18 October 2015. On 4 August 2020, It was announced that BBC First will close in South Africa at the end of August 2020 after its current carriage agreement with MultiChoice was not renewed. Some of its programming were moved to sister channel, BBC Brit, and streaming service, Britbox. Programming blocks There are BBC First programming blocks on the following channels: AXN Mystery (Japan, since 7 May 2015) Zee Café (India, since 26 June 2017) Programming References International BBC television channels Television channels and stations established in 2014 Television channels in the United Kingdom BBC Worldwide 2020 disestablishments in South Africa