CBBC (TV channel)

CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different channel position from BBC Three. CBeebies is its sister service for younger children.

The channel was named Channel of the Year at the Children's BAFTA awards in November 2008. ^[1]

History

The CBBC strand was originally launched on 9th September 1985 on BBC One, and was eventually launched as a separate channel running alongside the strand in 2002. It launched on all major platforms, however had to share bandwidth with another channel on the DTT platform: this was initially BBC Knowledge on the ITV Digital platform,^[2] however following their collapse, the channel shared bandwidth with BBC Choice on the replacement system Freeview. In both cases, the channels could be accessed by separate numbers.

From launch, the channel was notably separate from the strand it was created from. While on screen both used the same logos and many of the same presenters, the studios were different: the new channel using TC2 while the strand used the purpose built TC9. TC2 however was shared by the channel so other programmes, such as short Newsround bulletins, as well as the magazine show Xchange also came from the studio.

Throughout the channel's life, the channel became less and less distinctive from its strand counterpart and resources were reduced: the continuity presenters were reduced in number from two to one, with Simon Grant, Matt Edmondson and Angelica Bell leaving as CBBC studio presenters without being replaced, and the studios were replaced with a Colour separation overlay (CSO) set in studio TC12. In 2007, the BBC confirmed plans for a major rebrand of CBBC, with new channel idents and presentation launching on 3 September 2007.

Towards the latter part of its life, the channel has increased its accessibility to its audience: the new look links the service to the website heavily, and the rebrand of the website in 2011 has increased this access. On 22 August 2008, the BBC Press Office announced that the channel would be available live on the CBBC website from 16th September,^[3] with the possibility that the channels hours may extend to 9.00pm being announced as part of the BBC's review in strategy on 2 March 2010.^[4] CBBC's reach further expanded with the addition of the channel on the Sky EPG in the Republic of Ireland on 12 May 2011.^[5] On the same day BBC Three, BBC Four and CBeebies were also added to the Irish EPG.

Management

Along with CBBC, the CBBC channel is operated by the BBC Children's department within the BBC and is part of the BBC North group. BBC Children's was originally based in the East Tower of BBC Television Centre since the departments inception, but moved to MediaCityUK in Salford in September 2011, and the live presentation links used throughout the day are now recorded and broadcast from there. The channel is answerable to the CBBC Channel controller Damian Kavanagh, in post since 2009, and to the director of BBC Children's Joe Godwin, appointed in 2009 and in charge of the whole direction of the channel and its strand counterpart.

Programming

The remit of CBBC is to provide a wide range of high quality, distinctive content for 6-12 year olds, including drama, entertainment, comedy, animation, news and factual. The great majority of this content should be produced in the UK. CBBC should provide a stimulating, creative and enjoyable environment that is also safe and trusted. The service should have a particular focus on informal learning, with an emphasis on encouraging participation.

— CBBC Remit^[6]

The CBBC channel's programming output is very similar to the strand shown on BBC One and Two. The channel often complements this strand with programmes shown earlier than on the terrestrial channels, repeats or whole series shown in a day, alongside other exclusive commisions.

Class TV

As part of the channel's original remit, the channel originally needed to show 100 hours a year of factual and schools programmes.^[7] The service managed this by introducing the Class TV strand to the channel, which would air educational programming for approximately two hours each day in the late morning, with normal programming resuming in the early afternoon. Much of this programming was old BBC Schools programming shown, in some cases, decades before and which was for the most part still relevant. Very little new schools programmes were commisioned.

Presentation

The CBBC channel has had relatively similar presentation to that of its strand counterpart. The logo has consistently remained the same as the service; green coloured blobs at the beginning of its life and the current green and white logo since September 2007. The channel has mainly utilised presenters from the main service, with a few presenters appearing mostly on the new channel; Gemma Hunt and Anne Foy being notable examples and appearing consistently until August 2007. At the beginning of September 2007, along with the relaunch, the same presenters of the CBBC channel would also feature on the CBBC on BBC One and Two.

When the channel launched, presentation was located in TC2 at BBC Television Centre, where the channel shared studio facilities with the channel's original magazine show Xchange. This changed in Autumn 2004, when the channel moved to TC9 following the normal CBBC links move to TC10; however this was changed in March 2006 so that all CBBC and CBBC channel links were located in TC9. A further change was to take place on 4 December 2006 when all output moved to a Chroma key set within TC12, and was presented by only one presenter. This short live decision lasted until the 2007 relaunch, which involved a new 'office' set being constructed, initially in TC12 and then in a new studio facility in the East Tower of Television Centre.

The channel has now moved to MediaCityUK and is presented from there.

Other services

CBBC Extra

CBBC Extra is a free interactive television service from CBBC provided by the BBC Red Button. It is accessible from the CBBC channel by pressing red and then selecting CBBC Extra from the main menu. It can also be accessed from any other BBC channel by pressing red and going to page number 570. The service differs across digital platforms, for example Sky viewers can access a video loop. Its availability on Freeview is dependent upon BBC Red Button not showing other interactive services, such as major sports events coverage.^[8] The service offers numerous features including a CBBC Quiz, Horoscopes, Agony Uncle Chris, viewer content and jokes and other interactive elements.

CBBC Online

The CBBC website provides a wide range of activities for viewers aged 6–14, such as games, videos, puzzles, printable pages, pre-moderated message boards and frequently updated news feeds. It contains pages for the majority of its current programming with various content on each. There are also micro-sites from Newsround and Sportsround, providing children with news and sport, as well as the CBBC iPlayer to replay CBBC programmes for up to seven days.

See Also

• CBBC
• CBeebies
• BBC Children's idents
• History of BBC television idents
• History of BBC

References

External links

• CBBC at BBC Online