BBC World Service Television

BBC World Service Television (WSTV) was the name given to two of the BBC's international satellite television channels between 1991 and 1993. It was the BBC's first foray into worldwide television broadcasting. In Europe, it was the successor to BBC TV Europe, replacing it on 11 March 1991, with minor differences in Asia, BBC WSTV was a 24-hour news and information service (a precursor to BBC World News), launched in Asia on 11 March 1991.

Unlike BBC World Service, it was not funded by the British government with a grant-in-aid; instead, it was funded by commercial advertising. Commercials were inserted locally by the cable or satellite providers. In the years that followed, the BBC would insert news headlines and other updates to fill the gaps, known as the break fillers.

Availability

Europe

In Europe, BBC WSTV replaced BBC TV Europe on 11 March 1991 as the BBC's subscription-funded entertainment service. Like BBC TV Europe, it was a mix of BBC1 and BBC2, but showed specially commissioned World Service News bulletins in place of the BBC's domestic ones. The BBC World Service News studio looked like the BBC's domestic news, though with different graphics and on-screen logo.

Outside Europe

Outside Europe, BBC WSTV was the name of the 24-hour news, information and current affairs service, launched in Asia on 11 March 1991, on STAR TV, available from Turkey to South Korea on AsiaSat. Competing against CNN International, it showed current affairs and documentary...
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