Learn English with BBC
Would you like to to learn BBC English directly from the BBC? There are more ways to watch BBC programs.
Watch BBC TV
The BBC offers many channels with various programmes. Unfortunately, few of these channels are readily available in Italy. BBC World News is no longer available on regular television but you can watch with a satellite receiver and it is ‘free-to-air’. Alternatively, for € 1.99 per month you can watch it online at livestation.com. Those who have a subscription Mediaset can also choose to receive the BBC Knowledge.
How to watch all the BBC channels in Italy
To watch all the BBC channels in Italy you have to use your PC (or tablet, ipad) and access the Internet through a VPN (virtual private internet). This gives you an English VPN IP and gives you access to a network in English. There are free VPN with advertising, such as Expat Shield VPN or those where a fee is required (these are more reliable and have no ads) such as Overplay or StrongVPN (there are many others).After you install and activate the VPN, you can download the BBC iplayer. Iplayer allows you to watch BBC TV live, as well as the recent episodes of many TV shows (and films).
If you don’t feel like downloading a VPN you can watch some BBC stations on Film On. Film On also has smartphone, tablet and Android application, as well as another one for iphone e l‘ipad.
Clearly in all these cases you have to watch TV on your PC (or tablet / smartphone) or connect your PC to your television.
{loadposition intextpos}
Watch BBC on your ipad
BBC has an app specifically for ipad which allows Italians to watch various programmes on BBC (over 2000 hours). The subscription costs € 7.99 per month or 49.99 a year. There is the possibility of adding subtitles. You can watch the programs directly on the iPad or connect the iPad to the television.
Online BBC Courses
Few know that the BBC offers several English courses online. Most are of the intermediate or advanced level. To view a complete list check out our page – Online BBC courses. Or else the BBC web page.
Classic TV series on BBC
The ‘costume drama’ TV series are famous in English for their quality also their ability to keep you on your toes. Some of these examples are: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë; Brideshead Revisited with Jeremy Irons; North & South.
Modern BBC TV Series
For those who prefer something more modern to watch, there are other DVDs to choose from. For example: Sherlock; Robin Hood; Hustle; Jonathan Creek; Doctor Who; The House of Cards (now there’s also an American version with Kevin Spacey which is still called House of Cards).
BBC Sit-coms
Sit-com stands for situation comedy. This is intended to be funny; set in a particular context (or situation, for example: a hotel, a school, a prison, a shop). Here are some enjoyable BBC sit-coms which English people love: Only Fools & Horses; Blackadder; The Vicar of Dibley; Goodnight Sweetheart; Porridge; Fawlty Towers.
BBC documentaries
BBC has produced some of the best documentaries ever. Here are some that you might like: Planet Earth; Blue Planet; and the documentaries by Michael Palin; Civilization; A Picture of Britain.
You can watch many BBC documentaries even for free on Documentary Heaven and also on Best Documentaries and Top Documentaries.
