BBC Kids

BBC Kids
Launched 5 November 2001 (2001-11-05)
Owned by Knowledge West Communications (80%, managing partner)
BBC Studios (20%)
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
Slogan What's so funny?
Country Canada
Language English
Broadcast area Canada
Headquarters Burnaby, British Columbia
Sister channel(s) Knowledge Network
Website bbckids.ca
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV Channel 558
Cable
Available on every cable system Channel slots vary on each provider
IPTV
Bell Aliant Fibe TV Channel 255
Bell MTS Channel 252
Optik TV Channel 631
SaskTel Channel 94
VMedia Channel 67

BBC Kids is a Canadian pay television channel that is owned as a joint venture between Knowledge West Communications (which serves as managing partner and owns a majority 80% interest), an entity of the Government of British Columbia as a crown corporation under Knowledge Network, and BBC Studios (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

BBC Kids' original logo, used from November 5, 2001 to April 30, 2016.

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]

Knowledge decided to change BBC Kids from an ad-supported service to a commercial-free service, and relocate its old headquarters from Toronto, Ontario to its new headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia. The transaction required CRTC approval, which was granted on April 29, 2011.

On May 1, 2016, BBC Kids updated its logo to reflect its 15th anniversary and to coincide with its new rebranding.[10]

On October 2, 2018, a joint statement from Knowledge Network and BBC announced the channel would cease broadcasting on December 31, 2018. No reasoning for the closure was outlined in their statement.[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 in the form of live-action and animated programs.

Current

The following programs are currently airing on the channel as of 29 August 2016:[12]

Former

BBCK

Programming blocks

Current

CBeebies logo.
  • CBeebies - "CBeebies" is a programming block aimed at preschoolers that airs weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and weekends from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. It debuted on May 13, 2011, when Knowledge Network Corporation took ownership of the channel, when BBC Kids was changed from an ad-supported service to a commercial-free service, and the day BBCK and The Spot stopped airing on the channel.
  • Cartoon Afternoons - "Cartoon Afternoons" is a programming block dedicated to animated television series that airs weekdays from 3:30 - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • BBCLOUD - "BBCLOUD" is a midnight block featuring various American dramas, such as @Midnight and Happy Tree Friends. It airs every weeknight at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with a repeat 3 hours later for the Pacific Time Zone.

Former

BBCK's only logo.
  • BBCK - "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 Global and Goldman Sachs purchased Alliance Atlantis, the BBCK website was shut down; however, the block itself remained until May 12, 2011 when ownership changed hands from Shaw Media to Knowledge Network Corporation and when BBC Kids was changed from an ad-supported service to a commercial-free service..
  • The Spot - Until May 12, 2011, 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 after May 12, 2011 when the channel's ownership changed hands from Shaw Media to Knowledge Network Corporation and when BBC Kids was changed from an ad-supported service to a commercial-free service.

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. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ "CRTC approves Shaw's purchase of the Canwest Global television properties". Archived from the original on December 20, 2013.
  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. ↑ "BBC Kids". www.facebook.com.
  11. ↑ BBC Kids Channel Closes in Canada, Knowledge Media press release, 10-02-18
  12. ↑ Shows Watch Play Get BBC Kids. "Schedule | BBC Kids". Bbckids.ca. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  13. 1 2 http://canadiankidschannels.blogspot.com/2016/08/bbc-kids-weekends-september-2016.html
  14. ↑ "TV Schedule". BBC Kids.
  15. ↑ http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCSGrid.do?stnNum=26828&channel=522
  16. 1 2 http://canadiankidschannels.blogspot.com/2016/08/new-bbc-kids-schedule-starting-august-29.html
  17. ↑ "Flow Cable channel lineup". Flowjamaica.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  18. ↑ Cable Bahamas channel lineup Archived August 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
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