CBBC - Children's BBC

CBBC

The CBBC Channel is a BBC television service 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 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Freeview, cable and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different channel position from BBC Three. CBeebies is its sister service for younger children.

History

The channel, along with CBeebies, launched on 11 February 2002. It launched on all of the major platforms. It broadcasts between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. It shared a channel with BBC Knowledge on the ITV Digital platform. With the advent of Freeview, the channel was given its own number.

From its launch in 2002 until 2005, presentation for the CBBC Channel shared studio facilities with the channel's magazine show Xchange, before moving to studio TC9 adjoining the Blue Peter garden at BBC Television Centre. Since Monday 4 December 2006, all CBBC Presentation output on BBC One, BBC Two and the CBBC Channel has been produced from studio TC12. There was also a change in format, from two continuity presenters to just one, and several of the presenters, including Simon Grant, Matt Edmondson and Angelica Bell left as CBBC studio presenters without being replaced.

Until the end of August 2007, Gemma Hunt and Anne Foy presented CBBC continuity. Barney Harwood and Jake Humphrey made occasional appearances when not busy with other presenting commitments. In 2007, the BBC had confirmed plans for a major rebrand of CBBC. New channel idents and presentation were launched on 3 September 2007. As of this date, the main CBBC presenter is now Ed Petrie. Accompanied by a talking cactus called Oucho, he presents on the CBBC Channel and CBBC's coverage on BBC One every weekday afternoon and BBC TWO every morning. Anne Foy is on with her dog, Elliot at the weekends. Ross Lee and Ted Robbins make occasional appearances aswell as Barney Harwood and Nev the bear.
As well as a new look , it is still unknown if the channel is to extend its hours until 9 p.m. each evening.

Programming

The channel carries many programmes shown on terrestrial services on BBC One and BBC Two, however the CBBC also broadcasts programmes unique to the channel.

CBBC extra

CBBC extra is a free interactive television service from CBBC provided by BBCi. It is accessible from the CBBC Channel by pressing red and then selecting CBBC extra. 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 Digital viewers can access a video loop. Its availability on Freeview is dependent upon BBCi not showing other interactive services, such as major sports events coverage. CBBC extra offers 'Nev's Horoscopes', 'Ask Aaron' (an agony uncle which can also be accessed on CBBC's Yourlife website), games, jokes sent in by viewers, a weekly competition and an occasional preview of future programming.