CBBC (TV channel)

CBBC (also known as Children's BBC) is a children's television channel that the program's aimed between 6 to 14 years old. On 9 September 1985, the "Children's BBC" name began. Before then there were BBC children's programmes, but they were not branded under one name. The name "CBBC" was used informally since 1990, and became the official name in 1997.

CBBC programmes are shown on BBC One, BBC Two and the CBBC Channel. CBBC has a sister brand, CBeebies, for children under 6. The CBBC brands for BBC One and BBC Two are "CBBC One" and "CBBC Two".

CBBC is run by the BBC Children's department, who make the programmes for children up to the age of 13. Most of their offices are in the East Tower of the BBC Television Centre, with some programmes coming from Scotland and Bristol. CBBC produces a whole range of programme types, including drama, news, entertainment and educational programmes.

Since February 2006, the Controller of the BBC Children's department has been Richard Deverell. The department splits output into age groups:

 CBeebies for ages up to 6
 CBBC brand for ages 6 to 12
 BBC Switch for ages 12 to 16

Anne Gilchrist is Creative Director of CBBC, and Michael Carrington is Creative Director of CBeebies.

Programming
 Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese

Presentation
On 10 October 1997, Children's BBC is Changed into CBBC, The idents are in a yellow backgrounds and animations on them.

On 11 February 2002, CBBC launched, As part of the branding, mascots named bugs are also part of CBeebies, The CBBC Bugs are Green while the CBeebies Bugs are Yellow.

On 3 October 2005, CBBC rebranded again for a logo zooming around a dark blue background and flyby arrows, In December 2006, the HQ is computer generated. On 3 September 2007 saw the fifth CBBC relaunch. As part of the relaunch, new logos, idents, interactive services, programmes and presenters were introduced. The previous computer generated backgrounds used from December 2006 were replaced by a real set.

Ed Petrie became the chief continuity presenter, accompanied by a puppet sidekick Oucho T. Cactus (operated and voiced by Warrick Brownlow-Pike). They regularly present live, weekday afternoon links on the CBBC channel with Petrie voicing pre-recorded, out-of-vision announcements during for weekdays on BBC One. On 29 August 2008, they went on extended leave to record a new series for CBBC—they returned to continuity duties on 1 December 2008. During this period, relief presenter Holly Walsh presented weekday afternoon links for the channel with Dunceton the Talking Brain.
Anne Foy presented pre-recorded in-vision links at the weekend alongside her dog, Elliot, until her departure in March 2008. Foy was replaced by two new presenters, Ben Hanson and Ciaran Joyce, who previously appeared in CBBC show The Story of Tracy Beaker. They have since been replaced by comedy double act Dan and Jeff.

In September 2014, The idents were replaced with new ones in 2014, but the logo stayed the same.
On 14 March 2016, CBBC got a whole new look, which saw a new logo, plus new idents and presentation.

In 2022, the 6th logo is redesigned with the BBC 2021 logo with the 2016 icon, it was only used as a sign off board until 15 March 2023.

Following the BBC corporate rebrand in 2021, CBBC finally updated with the new logo on 15 March 2023. The idents featured square, snake-like cylinders named the Flooms. Like other BBC channels, the new BBC logo is always at the top, whilst the word "CBBC" is always at the bottom.

CBBC HD
CBBC HD was launched on 10 December 2013 alongside the sister channels CBeebies HD, BBC Four HD, BBC Three HD and BBC News HD.

Other services
CBBC extra
CBBC extra is a free interactive television service from CBBC. It is found on the BBCi pages. It is accessible from the CBBC Channel by pressing the red button and then selecting "CBBC extra". It can also be accessed from any other BBCi page by pressing 570.

The service is different on different digital platforms, for example Sky viewers can access the video loop. But it is only available on Freeview when BBCi is not showing other interactive services, like sports events.

CBBC extra offers games, the UK Top 40 music, jokes sent in by viewers, "Nev's Horoscopes", and a weekly competition. The current presenter of CBBC extra is Ed Petrie.

It has been discontinued since CBBC last changed its logo.

CBBC Quiz
This new feature allows the viewers to play a quiz. There are 15 levels, each containing 5 up to 10 questions. Viewers can also send in their questions which could be shown on the service. The CBBC Quiz can be from the CBBC extra page, by selecting the option called "CBBC Quiz". This option is also available on the main interactive menu on the CBBC Channel, by pressing the red button. 

Website
The CBBC website has a wide range of activities, such as games, puzzles, message boards and frequently updated news and more stuff. The website is found .

Adventure Rock
Adventure Rock (renamed from CBBC World) is a virtual online world that launched on 1 March 2008. Press releases have stated "it would allow digitally literate children the access to characters and resources they had come to expect. Users would be able to build an online presence, known as an avatar, then create and share content."

The main points of the system are safety and responsibility online, with no chatrooms or the financial aspects available in other online worlds such as Second Life.

Controller of Children's BBC Richard Deverell said: "Adventure Rock is a good example of the way we need to go. The thing that interests me is that children are at the vanguard. And that is where we are taking Children's BBC."and still fun.

References

Other websites

"And Now, For Younger Viewers..." A history of CBBC continuity from 1985 to 1994, from Off The Telly 
The Broom Cupboard.co.uk, a history of CBBC continuity from 1985 to 1992, with over 150 pictures 
BBC considers end of children's shows on BBC 1 (Guardian)
CBBC idents from 1983-2007

Category:BBC television channels
Category:1985 establishments in England
Category:Organizations based in Salford
Category:British television channels
Category:CBBC