BBC Kids

BBC Kids
Launched November 5, 2001
Owned by Knowledge West Communications (80%, managing partner)
BBC Worldwide (20%)
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
Slogan As Original as Kids Are
Country Canada
Language English
Broadcast area Nationwide
Headquarters Burnaby, British Columbia
Sister channel(s) Knowledge Network
Website www.bbckids.ca
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV Channel 558
Cable
Available on many Canadian cable systems Consult your local cable provider for channel availability
IPTV
Bell Aliant TV Channel 255
MTS Channel 252
Optik TV Channel 631
SaskTel Channel 94

BBC Kids is a Canadian English-language Category B cable and satellite specialty channel that is owned as a joint venture between Knowledge West Communications (which serves as managing partner and owns an majority 80% interest), an entity of the Government of British Columbia as a crown corporation under Knowledge Network, and BBC Worldwide (which owns the remaining 20%), the latter being a commercial division of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It operates as a commercial-free channel that airs programming aimed at youth ranging from preschoolers to teenagers.

History

In November 2000, Alliance Atlantis (AAC) was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch BBC Kids, described as "a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service devoted to top-quality educational and entertaining programming for children and youth (ages 2-17). It will feature programming primarily from the UK and around the world. 65% of the programming will target children ages 2 to 11, the majority of which will target 6 to 11 years old and 35% will target youth ages 12 to 17."[1]

The channel was launched on November 5, 2001 as a joint venture between AAC and BBC Worldwide.[2][3] The channel primarily aired programs from the UK, from which the vast majority were sourced from the BBC and its affiliated channels; however, throughout its history under the ownership of AAC and its subsequent incarnations under Canwest and Shaw, select programs were sourced from other countries and other British broadcasters such as Tots TV, Mr. Bean: The Animated Series and The Sleepover Club. In addition to British programs, the channel also broadcast Canadian programs, as required by the CRTC.

On January 18, 2008,[4] a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media,[5] acquired control of BBC Kids through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007.[6]

On October 27, 2010, the channel's ownership changed once again as Shaw Communications gained control of BBC Kids as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media.[7]

It was revealed through regulatory documents on December 22, 2010 that Shaw Media was in the process of selling the channel to an unknown third party.[8] On January 17, 2011, the Government of British Columbia's Knowledge Network Corporation announced it had finalized an agreement to purchase the channel through a subsidiary called Knowledge-West Communications Corporation from Shaw Media, while BBC Worldwide would retain its interest in the service.[9] Plans unveiled in the announcement were to transform BBC Kids into a commercial-free service and relocate its headquarters from Toronto to Burnaby, British Columbia, the headquarters of Knowledge Network Corporation. The transaction required CRTC approval, which was granted on April 29, 2011.[10] The CRTC's decision also imposed a condition of licence on the service requiring it to be distributed on a commercial-free basis, a condition Knowledge Network Corporation had asked for. The transaction closed on May 12, 2011, and ownership was transferred on May 13, 2011.[11]

Programming

BBC Kids broadcasts educational and entertainment programs from the BBC and Canadian series aimed at children ranging in age from 2- to 17-years-old in the form of live-action and animated programs.

Current

The following programs are currently airing on the channel as of August 2014:[12]

CBeebies

Former

BBCK

Programming blocks

Current

CBeebies

Main article: CBeebies
CBeebies logo.

"CBeebies" is a programming block aimed at preschoolers that airs weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. It was debuted on May 13, 2011. when Knowledge Network Corporation took ownership of the channel.

Former

BBCK

BBCK logo.

"BBCK" was a program block aimed towards pre-teen and teenage audiences that debuted on April 3, 2006, while BBC Kids was still under the ownership of Alliance Atlantis and BBC Worldwide, airing nightly from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time. With the block's launch, the channel also launched a separate website, making it appear as though BBCK was a separate channel similar to the former agreement between Noggin and The N in the United States. In early 2008, when Canwest and Goldman Sachs purchased Alliance Atlantis, the BBCK website was shut down; however, the block remained until May 12, 2011 when ownership changed hands from Shaw Media to Knowledge Network Corporation.

The Spot

Until May 12, 2012, BBC Kids aired a block called "The Spot", which aired weekdays from 12:00 to 9:00 p.m. and weekends from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. "The Spot" focused on programming aimed at grade school and pre-teen audiences. The block was discontinued when ownership changed hands from Shaw Media to Knowledge Network Corporation.

International distribution

References

  1. ↑ "Decision CRTC 2000-493". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. November 24, 2000.
  2. ↑ "Dates set for BBC Canada and BBC Kids launches". C21 Media. March 9, 2001.
  3. ↑ "BBC Worldwide Annual Review 2001/2 – Highlights" (Press release). BBC. July 17, 2002.
  4. ↑ "Canwest Global receives final CRTC approval for acquisition of Alliance Atlantis" (Press release). CNW Group. January 18, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Goldman's happy ending at CanWest". The Globe and Mail. May 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ "CanWest Completes Acquisition of Alliance Atlantis". Investor Point. August 15, 2007.
  7. ↑ "CRTC approves Shaw’s purchase of the Canwest Global television properties".
  8. ↑ "Notice of Hearing". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. December 22, 2010.
  9. ↑ "BBC Worldwide Partners with Knowledge Network to Operate BBC Kids". Broadcaster Magazine. January 17, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-277". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. April 29, 2011.
  11. ↑ "BBC Worldwide and Knowledge Network Corporation Enter Joint-venture for BBC Kids Channel" (Press release). Knowledge Network. January 17, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  12. ↑ Shows Watch Play Get BBC Kids. "Schedule | BBC Kids". Bbckids.ca. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Flow Cable channel lineup". Flowjamaica.com. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  14. ↑ Cable Bahamas channel lineup

External links