October launch confirmed for BBC EARTH as FOXTEL looks to refresh Entertainment line-up

Foxtel has confirmed the highly anticipated new channel BBC Earth will launch for the first time in Australia on Thursday, October 10.

The announcement from Foxtel comes as part of a series of announcements this week from the pay-tv broadcaster, which is promising to deliver a ‘wholesale repositioning and renewal’ of Foxtel’s entertainment and Lifestyle channels.

BBC Earth will become Australia’s home to world-class factual programming and documentaries showcasing the best of Sir David Attenborough from BBC Studio’s acclaimed Natural History Unit, alongside science programming, adventure series and human stories from inspiring and passionate experts including Louis Theroux, Michael Mosley, Kate Humble and Professor Brian Cox.

Customers can explore new worlds and escape with BBC Earth in a new High Definition channel connecting viewers with the incredible natural world around them exploring wild landscapes, remote locations, and getting up close and personal with all creatures great and small.

Announcing the new channel, Foxtel CEO, Patrick Delany said:

“The October debut of BBC Earth on Foxtel will form part of a larger announcement at the launch event of Foxtel Media, the media sales company formerly known as Multi Channel Network (MCN).”

Programs launching on BBC Earth from the first week include Sir David Attenborough’s much-loved series Blue Planet II, Frozen Planet, Planet Earth II, The Hunt, and Attenborough: The Sea Dragon, in addition to Tribes, Animals and Me, Rituals, Expedition Volcano, and Wild Mexico.

“With BBC Earth, Foxtel viewers will have access to the best of the BBC’s world-class documentaries made using the latest technology to record and share the extraordinary world around us.

The dedicated BBC Earth channel and the dramatically expanded on demand catalogue of BBC natural history shows are a great proof point that Foxtel provides the best of TV and on demand all in one place.

“BBC Earth is one element of Foxtel’s long-term relationship with BBC Studios, which cements our position as the go-to destination for premium British drama, entertainment, documentaries, natural history, children’s programming and news.”

In addition to Foxtel, BBC Earth will also be available to Fetch TV subscribers. The new channel will replace the existing BBC Knowledge channel on both platforms.

Many popular series from BBC Knowledge will be migrating across to the new BBC Earth channel including Africa with Ade Adepitan, Building Giants, Dangerous Earth, Tribal Bootcamp, Where the Wild Men Are, Weird Wonders of the World, World’s Busiest Cities, as well as documentaries from Ben Fogle, Brian Cox, Levison Wood, Louis Theroux, Michael Mosley, Simon Reeve, and Steve Backshall.

BBC Earth Launches October 10 on Foxtel and Fetch TV