BBC will launch premium drama channel on Foxtel on August 3

The BBC will launch its new premium drama channel on Sunday, August 3 with a boxset screening of The Musketeers.

BBC First, announced last year as a new service on Foxtel, will feature first run content from the UK’s public broadcaster with shows including Peaky Blinders and the TV movie Burton and Taylor about the relationship between screen giants Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor and starring Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West, set for the opening day of the channel.

The broadcaster hopes the new channel can help prevent piracy of its shows by fast tracking many from the UK to the new channel.

Natalie Edgar, director of television, BBC Worldwide Australia and New Zealand, said: “A Sunday launch gives us the chance to reach as many viewers as possible on our first day. We wanted to mark this exciting occasion with a very special line-up for viewers which gives them a real taste of the channel and delivers content to them in a way we know they like to enjoy it.”