Frequently Asked Questions

Thank your for visiting our website. Below is a list of questions frequently asked by our viewers. If you can't find what you're looking for, please send us a message via the contact page.

1. Are your channels available over the internet?
2. I would really like to work for the BBC - how do I find out about employment opportunities? Can I send you my C.V.?
3. Can you explain your repeat pattern?
4. Why do we see the same trailers again and again?
5. Can I obtain a video of a programme for use in a school/college/university?
6. Why do you repeat programmes?

Answers

1. Are your channels available over the internet?

   At present, the channels are 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. 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.

3. 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 Africa 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.

4. 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.

5. Can I obtain a video of a programme for use in a school/college/university?

   Possibly, it depends on many things, including copyright restrictions, but it is sometimes possible to arrange for legitimate educational establishments to obtain a copy for such uses. For more information, please contact BBC Education and Training Videos on +44 (0)20 8433 2541 or fax on +44 (0)20 8433 2916.

6. Why do you repeat programmes?

   Repeating popular shows is common for cable channels and it offers viewers another chance to see a much loved show or a first opportunity to see a show they may have missed before. As much as we appreciate the frustration repeats cause some viewers they are an unavoidable reality of cable programming. There are not many channels that would have the resources for continual premiere content. BBC Entertainment is set a minimum fresh hours remit by DSTV which we regularly exceed, and when premiere content is not available we carefully choose programming that we believe, overall, will be enjoyed by our viewers. We are proud to say that most of the time our ratings, as well as some of the positive comments we have received do support these choices.