BBC Online Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
BBC Online

Type of site	Portal
Owner	BBC
Created by	BBC
Alexa rank	▲ 61 (July 2013^[update])
Commercial	No (Yes if accessed outside the UK)
Registration	1994
Launched	1997
Current status	Active

BBC Online is the official website for the BBC's services in the United Kingdom. It used to be known as bbc.co.uk. It is one of the most popular websites in the UK.

On BBC Online, you can find many different things. These include BBC News for current events, BBC Sport for sports updates, and BBC Weather for forecasts. You can also watch TV shows and listen to radio programmes on BBC iPlayer. For students, there are learning services like Bitesize.

What is BBC Online?
- What Can You Find There?
How Did BBC Online Start?
Images for kids
See also

What is BBC Online?

BBC Online is like a huge online hub for everything the BBC does. It brings together all the different parts of the BBC in one place. This makes it easy for people to find news, entertainment, and educational content.

The website is designed to be simple to use. It helps you quickly find what you are looking for. Whether you want to catch up on the latest news or watch your favourite show, BBC Online has it.

What Can You Find There?

BBC Online offers a wide range of content for everyone. Here are some of the main things you can find:

BBC News: This section gives you the latest news from the UK and around the world. You can read articles, watch video reports, and listen to news programmes.
BBC Sport: Here, you can get all the updates on your favourite sports. It covers football, rugby, cricket, and many other sports. You can find live scores, match reports, and interviews.
BBC Weather: This part of the website provides weather forecasts for your local area and other places. It helps you plan your day by telling you if it will be sunny, rainy, or cloudy.
BBC iPlayer: This is where you can watch TV shows and listen to radio programmes from the BBC. You can catch up on shows you missed or watch them again. It's available on many devices.
Bitesize: This is a special learning service for students. It offers study guides, videos, and quizzes to help with school subjects. It's great for homework and revision.

How Did BBC Online Start?

The BBC first had a website to share information about its TV and radio shows in 1994. This early website was a way for people to learn more about BBC programmes.

The website address, www.bbc.co.uk, was actually registered earlier, in 1991. However, the official launch of BBC Online as we know it happened in December 1997. This launch was approved by the government. It meant the website could be funded by the TV licence fee, just like BBC TV and radio.

The TV licence fee is paid by households in the UK that watch or record live TV. This funding helps the BBC create all its programmes and services, including BBC Online.