CBeebies

video

File:Placeholder

CBeebies

Logo used since 2023
Country	United Kingdom
Broadcast area	United Kingdom and other services worldwide
Network	BBC One (until 2012) BBC Two (until 2013 and then later revived in 2022) BBC Alba (in Scottish Gaelic only)
Headquarters	MediaCityUK, Salford, England
Programming
Language(s)	English
Picture format	1080i/1080p HDTV (downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner	BBC BBC Studios (international network)
Sister channels	UK: BBC One BBC Two BBC Three BBC Four BBC News BBC Parliament CBBC BBC Scotland BBC Alba (International BBC channels): BBC UKTV BBC Brit BBC HD BBC Lifestyle BBC Earth BBC Entertainment BBC Kids BBC First
History
Launched	11 February 2002 (2002-02-11)
Replaced	CBBC Choice (demerged with CBBC – originally children's strand on BBC Choice)
Closed	13 April 2017 (Latin America) 31 December 2018 (Canada) 31 October 2020 (USA)
Links
Website	http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies http://cbeebies.com
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview (UK)	Channel 202 (SD) Channel 205 (HD)
Streaming media
BBC iPlayer	Watch live (UK only)

CBeebies is a British free-to-air public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the brand used for all BBC content for children aged 6 years and under. Its sister channel, CBBC, is aimed at older children ages 6–12. It broadcasts every day from 6:00am to 7:00pm, timesharing with BBC Four.

History

Further information: Timeline of children's television on the BBC

On November 20, 2001, the CBeebies name was officially revealed as part of the split of the already-existing CBBC block, and would be used as both a pre-school block and a digital channel.

The CBeebies channel launched on 11 February 2002 alongside the CBBC channel, as a spinoff from the BBC's children's television strand. The first four shows to air on the channel were Teletubbies, Binka, Step Inside, and Pingu. CBeebies domestically broadcasts from 6 am to 6:58 pm, broadcasting 7 days per week, and as a result, it timeshares with fellow BBC channel BBC Four, which is on air after this channel goes off air for the night.

The station was joined in March 2007 by an audio CBeebies Radio, which broadcast for three hours each day on BBC Radio 7 until April 2011. CBeebies Radio, however, has continued as a feature on CBeebies' website since 2013, and as a station on BBC Sounds broadcasting from 6am to 10pm. A CBeebies Weekly magazine was first published in 2006.

Since March 2013, CBeebies has been carried by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, sharing a channel with BFBS Extra. CBeebies is also available in Ireland.

In September 2018 as part of a branding strategy, the unbranded 2-hour children's block on BBC Alba was split into CBeebies Alba and CBBC Alba, with the former airing during the first hour and the latter airing during the second hour. This block features its own presentation, presenters and shows in the Scottish Gaelic language. The only presenter shared between the CBeebies Alba block and CBeebies channel is Dodge T. Dog, who appears on an occasional basis.

On 15 March 2023, CBeebies rebranded its channel identity, in line with a wider corporate rebranding across the BBC starting in 2021. This was CBeebies' first rebrand, retiring the logo that the channel had used since its launch 21 years earlier. The new style featured a new logo in line with the BBC's 2021 logo, as well as a revamped appearance of the 'bug' characters that have been part of the channel's identity since launch.

International and non-English versions

BBC Studios owns and operates the international CBeebies feeds, with most of them operating on a 24-hour schedule.

File:CBeebies.svg

Logo used from 2002 to 2023

The first international launch for the CBeebies channel was in India in May 2007, although the channel was withdrawn at the end of November 2012 due to "commercial considerations". The Polish CBeebies channel was launched on 2 December 2007, while feeds in Latin America, East and Southeast Asia, South Africa, and Australia were launched in 2008. In March 2011, an on demand version of the network was launched in the US and is available on Xfinity.

On 13 May 2011, CBeebies was launched as a programme block on the channel BBC Kids in Canada, available on weekdays between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. It served a similar schedule to the main channel. The block ceased alongside its main channel on 31 December 2018, with some programmes moving to Knowledge Network.

In April 2015, BBC Worldwide signed with South Korean broadcaster KBS and Japanese broadcaster Kids Station to launch CBeebies blocks on both channels.

In April 2016, a channel for the MENA region was launched.

On 10 March 2017, CBeebies Asia was launched in Taiwan, replacing BBC Entertainment. CBeebies Asia has already launched in Hong Kong, South Korea, Myanmar, the Philippines, Mongolia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Maldives, Macau, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. On 13 April 2017, the localized CBeebies feed for Latin America ceased operations along with BBC Earth and BBC Entertainment.

On 5 April 2018, a feed was launched on Digiturk in Turkey.

On 1 December 2019, the Australia feed launched in New Zealand on Sky.

In July 2020, it was relaunched in India, but with pan-Asian feed in English audio track only.

On 31 October 2020, CBeebies and CBeebies en Español were removed from all cable and satellite providers in the United States.

On 11 January 2022, BBC Kids launched as a FAST channel on Pluto TV in the United States, which airs select CBeebies and CBBC shows from the BBC Studios catalogue. A version of the channel that airs Spanish-dubbed programming titled "Niños por BBC" was launched on the same day. Both channels have since been removed, with Niños por BBC being shut down as a result. BBC Kids continues to be available on other FAST providers in the United States.

Management

In the UK, CBeebies is operated by the BBC Children's division and part of BBC North. The division is also responsible for CBBC and overall strategic responsibility for all of the BBC's domestic services for children rests with the Director of Children's, Alice Webb (since 2015). The direction of the domestic CBeebies channel itself rests with Kay Benbow, the current Controller of the channel and responsible for commissioning all CBeebies content across BBC television, online, interactive TV, and radio. She took over from the first controller Michael Carrington in 2010.

Internationally, CBeebies is owned by BBC Worldwide, who operate the brand.

Programmes

Main article: List of CBeebies shows

CBeebies offers a mix of mostly UK-produced entertainment and educational output designed to encourage learning through play. These goals are realised through a range of programmes about simple science, natural history, music and movement, storytelling, make up and make do, puzzle programmes and animation. The channel's schedule is deliberately the same every weekday, with a different schedule at weekends, so that children can know what is on instinctively. The schedule also includes signed programmes, shown in the UK between 14:00 and 17:00 on weekends.

The international channels also show many programmes broadcast on the UK channel, however some include programmes unique to that service or are available through other networks in the UK (for example, Humf, which airs on Nick Jr. in the UK). Inversely however, shows that air on CBeebies in the UK may air on networks other than CBeebies worldwide (for example, Chuggington airs on Disney Junior Asia instead of CBeebies in the Asian region and on Treehouse TV instead of BBC Kids in Canada). Also, the international CBeebies airs 24 hours a day, unlike the UK variant.

Most viewed programmes

The following is a list of the ten most watched shows on CBeebies, based on Live +7 data supplied by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.

Rank	Show	Episode	Date	Viewers
1	CBeebies Christmas Panto	Strictly Cinderella	16 December 2011	1,158,000
2	Clangers	The Lost Notes	15 June 2015	967,000
3	CBeebies Christmas Panto	Peter Pan	20 December 2014	954,000
4	CBeebies Christmas Panto	Peter Pan	19 December 2014	944,000
5	CBeebies Christmas Panto	Alice in Wonderland	18 December 2015	929,000
6	The Octonauts	A Very Vegimals Christmas	17 December 2013	906,000
7	Justin's House	All Wrapped Up	15 December 2011	800,000
8	CBeebies Christmas Panto	Aladdin	17 December 2010	785,000
9	CBeebies Christmas Panto	Jack and the Beanstalk	21 December 2012	782,000
10	Justin's House	Robert's Inventions	16 October 2011	744,000

Presentation

The links between programmes on CBeebies are primarily achieved through the use of in-vision continuity, using presenters to interact with the children. In the UK, links are pre-recorded rather than broadcast live, as is the case on sister channel CBBC. They were originally pre recorded from studio TC0 at BBC Television Centre in London, however moved out in 2008 to Teddington Studios, and returned briefly in 2010. From September 2011, the links have been based at the BBC's Northern base at MediaCityUK in Salford, Greater Manchester, following the move of the BBC Children's department there. International variants feature broadcast links produced either in the corresponding country, or from a central base.

Logos and idents

Main article: CBBC idents

See also: History of BBC television idents

Presenters

As well as hosting some of the shows, a number of presenters fill the gaps between the CBeebies shows, performing little sketches, showing viewers' birthday cards, and introducing the shows. Many of the presenters used to have histories as characters on other services or on children's programmes.

In the UK, presenters seen on the channel and the stranded service are:

• Andy Day (2007–present)
• Cerrie Burnell (2009-present)
• Cat Sandion (2013–present)
• Rebecca Keatley (2014–present)
• Ben Cajee (2015–present)

Former presenters:

• Sue Monroe (2002- 2006)
• Nicole Davis (2003-2006)
• Justin Fletcher (2006-2007)
• Sarah-Jane Honeywell (2006-2007)
• Eva Alexander (2006)
• Chris Jarvis (2002-2009)
• Pui Fan Lee (2002-2009)
• Sidney Sloane (2002-2013)
• Alex Winters (2009-2015)
• Katy Ashworth (2011-2016)

The longest serving member is Sloane who introduced the programmes, along with most of the other presenters, for just over a decade (11 years).

The international variants feature different personalities per broadcast region. In Australia, Tara Colegrave is the main presenter since 2008, while in Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore Nisha Anil is the main presenter. The Latin American variant uses Roser Cabañas, present on-screen since 2009, with the Polish channel showcasing Aneta Bożena Piotrowska as main presenter since 2008. From November 2014 to June 2015, Aneta also appeared as a continuity presenter in the UK. On 24 April 2016, Aneta resumed presenting duties in the UK. The South African channel utilises Sidney Sloane and Katy Ashworth.

Stranded Segments

Template:Overly detailed In the UK, the CBeebies channel uses stranded segments throughout the day.

From 3 April 2004 to early 2006, each weekend afternoon was divided into six segments; five of which presented by one of the original five "core presenters" namely Chris Jarvis, Nicole Davis, Pui Fan Lee, Sid Sloane and Sue Monroe. Each was given a core theme (for instance Sid's segment included "building and making" programmes such as Bob the Builder, Sue's included arts and crafts theme programmes and so on). This went on until 6:00pm, where a segment titled The Bedtime Hour was aired. This segmentation was later dispensed in 2006 when Sue Monroe and Nicole Davis left with only the Bedtime Hour segment retained.

The five coloured room sections ran from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and included the following:

• Pui's Exploring Hour (Red Room), with programmes such as Come Outside, Teletubbies Everywhere, Bits and Bobs, and Fab Lab
• Sid's Fix-It Hour (Green Room), with programmes such as Bob the Builder, Brum, Fireman Sam, Postman Pat, Dr Otter and Little Robots
• Chris's Singalong Hour (Blue Room), with programmes such as Tweenies, Zingalong, Balamory and Boogie Beebies.
• Sue's Make and Do Hour (Pink Room), with programmes such as SMarteenies, Tikkabilla, Pingu, and Big Cook Little Cook.

• Nicole's Furry Friends Hour (Orange Room), with programmes such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Barnaby Bear, Binka, The Magic Key, Angelmouse, Yoko Jakamoko Toto, and The Koala Brothers

In March 2007, the segments were revived and modified to denote the time of day and the levels of activity. These segments are:

• Get, Set, Go! – Early Morning schedule between 6:00am and 9:00am Includes programmes such as Tikkabilla, Pingu, Postman Pat, Bob the Builder, Tweenies, Everything's Rosie, Chuggington, Octonauts, Messy Goes to Okido and the Furchester Hotel.
• Discover and Do – Late Morning and Early Afternoon weekdays between 9:00am and 3:00pm. The strand is aimed at young children who would not be attending school or pre-school. It often contains programmes that give a learning opportunity to viewers, such as Numberjacks, Alphablocks, The Numtums, Mr Bloom's Nursery, Something Special, Melody and Mister Maker. Between 12:00pm and 1:00pm, a section called Lunch Time is aired.
• Big Fun Time – Late afternoon weekdays between 3:00pm and 6:00pm. This strand aims at the higher end of its remit, airing programming for the children who have recently returned from school. Programs include Nina and the Neurons, LazyTown, Tree Fu Tom, Rastamouse and Peter Rabbit.
• Bedtime Hour – The final hour of CBeebies broadcasting between 6:00pm and 7:00pm. The original stranded section of the channel, Bedtime Hour features calm-natured programmes, such as In the Night Garden..., 3rd & Bird, 64 Zoo Lane, Waybuloo, Charlie and Lola, Clangers or Old Jack's Boat with story telling both within and out of the programmes and closes with a final song, "The Time Has Come to Say Goodnight", as transmission closes and goes over to BBC Four.

When these segments were initially introduced, each segment featured its own presenting team and set, with Chris Jarvis and Pui Fan Lee who left in January 2009 then Alex Winters and Cerrie Burnell presenting Discover and Do in the CBeebies "living room"; Lunch Time in the "kitchen"; Bedtime Hour in the "bedroom"; Sidney Sloane and Andy Day presenting Get, Set, Go! in the "living room" and Big Fun Time in the "garage". However, since moving production to Manchester this is no longer the case, with the exception of Bedtime Hour which is presented from the area nearest the house's bed.

File:Bedtime Hour.jpg

The Bedtime Hour on-screen ident from April 2004 to March 2016.

Storytimes

While the lunchtime story is usually read by one of the regular presenters, the final show of each day, the "Bedtime Story" is read by a guest storyteller, including well known actors, comedians, and past presenters of BBC children's television. Some notable storytellers in this slot have included Simon Pegg, David Hasselhoff, Lulu, Damian Lewis, Rosamund Pike, Toby Stephens, David Tennant, Ben Faulks, Michael Rosen, Floella Benjamin, Shayne Ward and Tom Hardy. Lesser-known storytellers James Blishen and Elliot King have appeared and taken inspiration from CBeebies' storytime slot, with a programme for James in pre-planning called - 'Storytime with James'. In an unusual move, James Bolam appeared on "Bedtime Story" in costume and in character as Grandpa from Grandpa in My Pocket, not as himself.

CBeebies HD

File:CBeebies HD.svg

CBeebies HD logo (2013–2023)

The channel launched on 10 December 2013, though was rolled-out nationwide up to June 2014 (as did BBC News HD, CBBC HD and BBC Four HD). The channel broadcasts on a commercially operated HD multiplex on Freeview, with limited geographic coverage compared with other multiplexes, and shares its stream with BBC Four HD as they air at different times. Prior to launch, the majority of CBeebies' HD output was broadcast on BBC HD before its closure on 26 March 2013.

Other ventures

CBeebies website

See also: BBC Online

The CBeebies website coincided with the launch of the UK channel in February 2002 and showcases a child friendly site with activities themed to all CBeebies programmes, past and present, with games, songs and print-outs featuring for nearly all shows. The UK version also features links to CBeebies iPlayer, a child friendly version of the BBC iPlayer featuring CBeebies programmes only, to CBeebies radio player and a dedicated micro site containing advice for raising children and toddlers called CBeebies Grown-ups, which was relaunched in 2011.

The international channels are run by BBC Worldwide, and their websites are operated by the company also. As a result, not all of them are the same and some channels have less extensive websites than other services. CBeebies channels in Asia, Australia, Poland, South Africa and the USA all have their own international variant.

Album releases

Five CBeebies-branded CDs have been released, 'CBeebies: The Official Album' in 2002, 'My CBeebies Album' in 2006, 'My CBeebies Album (Christmas Edition)' in 2007, 'CBeebies: Song Time' in 2010, and 'CBeebies: The Album' in 2012.

CBeebies Land

CBeebies Land opened in May 2014. Designed as a retheme of the previous Storybook Land and Old McDonald's Farmyard areas of the Alton Towers Resort theme park. It contains a range of themed rides, attractions as well as live entertainment based around various popular programmes. Containing various indoor and outdoor activities aimed at making an immersive and interactive world for children and young families.

The site based within Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire includes some of the more popular characters from the original channel for guests to meet. Described as a 'fun environment for pre-schoolers to play and learn' by critics.

At the start of the year, the theme park sporadically released information on the characters involved in the development via their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

• On 4 January, Mr Tumble was the first character confirmed - featuring in the Something Special Sensory Garden and 5 January saw Mr. Bloom confirmed as featuring in the development in the form of Mr Bloom's Allotments.
• On 6 January, the park revealed an In the Night Garden redesign of their existing Riverbank Eyespy. On the re-themed attraction, In The Night Garden Magical Boat Ride, guests will be able to drift around the 'enchanted dreamworld'; an area that will use colours, sights and sounds to bring picture books to life. Iggle Piggle, Makka Pakka and Upsy Daisy will all be on the Night Garden Island to help children appreciate the values of diversity, and enjoy the wonder in the world around them.

Stephen Gould, commercial director at DHX Media who licence In The Night Garden commented, "We are extremely excited to be working in partnership with BBC Worldwide, Merlin Entertainments and Alton Towers Resort on this new venture. In The Night Garden is the ideal draw brand to provide a fun, nurturing, inspiring and immersive environment for CBeebies Land and its visitors."

The fourth reveal on 7 January was that of Nina and the Neurons Based around the popular show which sees Nina, with the help of her animated sense Neurons, explain how and why the world around us works as it does. Nina's Science Lab will bring together the Neurons to show how they control your five senses. In a hands-on scientific attraction, children will learn how their bodies work and what they do.

Awards

The UK channel and the programmes it has broadcast have received a number of awards throughout the years. In 2002, the Cbeebies Interactive TV Services was nominated in the Best Interactive Service category and CBeebies Online was nominated in the same category in 2005 at the BAFTA Children's Awards. The channel was awarded Best Children's Channel and Highly Commended at the Broadcast Digital Channel Awards 2006, however only achieved a nomination in 2007 and 2008. The channel was also named Children's Channel of the Year at the BAFTA Children's awards in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2016 and was nominated for Channel of the Year in 2008

The CBeebies UK website was nominated Best Interactive Site at the 2007 BAFTA Children's awards, and the brand as a whole also won the Best Design and Innovation award by the Royal Television Society, whose awarding panel said "Its website is an integral part of the brand, with its TV production and online teams working together to create innovative game play and immersive web experiences."

External links

• CBeebies at BBC Online
• CBeebies Official YouTube Channel
• CBeebies on Twitter
• CBeebies Grown Ups