A series of red-emissive BODIPY derivatives 2-4 having five to seven phenyl groups on their periphery were synthesized., and their photophysical and electrochemical properties were investigated. While the 8-phenyl-substituted derivatives only have moderate fluorescence quantum yields in solution, they can show intense red fluorescence in the PMMA films. The peripheral phenyl groups also affect the redox reversibility in cyclic voltammetry.