BBC Two facts for kids
Logo used since 2021
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| Country | United Kingdom |
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| Broadcast area |
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| Network | BBC Television |
| Headquarters | Broadcasting House |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | 21 April 1964 |
| Former names | BBC2 (21 April 1964 – 4 October 1997) |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview |
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| Streaming media | |
| BBC iPlayer | Watch live (UK only) |
BBC Two is a British TV channel owned by the BBC. It's a free channel for everyone in the UK. BBC Two shows a variety of programs. It aims to broadcast deeper, more thoughtful shows. This is different from the more popular shows you might find on BBC One.
Like other BBC channels, BBC Two is paid for by a special TV license fee. This means it doesn't have any commercials. It's a well-funded public channel. It often gets more viewers than many other public TV channels around the world.
The channel first started as BBC2 on April 21, 1964. It was the third TV station to launch in Britain. On July 1, 1967, it became the first TV channel in Europe to regularly broadcast in colour. BBC Two was created to show less mainstream and more ambitious programs. While it still does this, many special interest shows, like the BBC Proms, now appear on BBC Four.
A big study by Populus found that BBC Two is one of the highest-quality TV channels globally. It ranked third, just behind BBC One and Brazil's TV Cultura. This study also showed that publicly funded TV channels are generally rated higher than commercial ones.
Contents
History of BBC Two
How BBC Two Started
When BBC2 launched, Britain had two TV channels. These were the BBC Television Service and the ITV network. ITV was made up of smaller local companies. Both channels competed since ITV started in 1955. They both focused on popular shows for a wide audience.
A report in 1962 looked at the future of broadcasting. It noticed that ITV didn't have many culturally important programs. So, it was decided that the BBC should get Britain's third TV station.
Before BBC2 officially launched, it was promoted on the BBC Television Service. This channel would soon be called BBC1. The animated ads featured two mascots: "Hullabaloo," a mother kangaroo, and "Custard," her baby joey. Before and after the launch, the channel showed "Trade Test Transmissions." These were short films, often from companies like Shell and BP. They helped engineers test TV signals. But they also became popular with viewers.
BBC2 was supposed to begin on April 20, 1964, at 7:20 PM. The evening was planned with light entertainment. It included a comedy show, a performance by a Soviet comedian, and a musical. It was supposed to end with fireworks.
However, a huge power failure happened around 6:45 PM. A fire at Battersea Power Station caused a blackout. BBC Television Centre, where BBC2 was based, lost all power. Much of west London was also affected. BBC1 could still broadcast from Alexandra Palace. But all attempts to show BBC2's new programs failed. Another TV company, Associated-Rediffusion, offered to help. But the BBC turned down their offer. At 10:00 PM, programming was officially delayed until the next morning.
The BBC's news center at Alexandra Palace was fine. So, they did broadcast short news updates on BBC2 that evening. Newsreader Gerald Priestland made an announcement around 7:25 PM. For a long time, people thought there was no recording of this. But a videotape was found in early 2003.
By 11:00 AM on April 21, 1964, power was back at the studios. Programming finally began. So, Play School became the first official program on the channel. The launch schedule from the night before was then shown successfully. To mark the power cut, the broadcast started with a lit candle. Presenter Denis Tuohy then sarcastically blew it out.
To make the new channel popular, the BBC decided to air a big series. They chose The Forsyte Saga (1967). This was a costly adaptation of novels by John Galsworthy. It starred famous actors like Kenneth More and Eric Porter. This was a huge success for the new channel. An average of six million people watched each episode. This was impressive because only 9 million homes could even receive the channel then. In 1974, BBC2's In Concert series was praised. It was called the only British music TV program with "television ideas."
Technological Progress
Unlike BBC1 and ITV, BBC2 only broadcast on the 625-line UHF system. This meant viewers with older 405-line VHF sets couldn't watch it. This led to a demand for new TVs that could switch between both systems. TV makers increased production of UHF sets. They expected many people to buy them for BBC2. But the big demand didn't happen.
Early technical issues were solved by a committee led by James Redmond. One problem was not being able to play US-recorded videotapes. This was because of a lack of system conversion from the US NTSC system. This problem wasn't only for BBC2.
On July 1, 1967, during the Wimbledon Championships, BBC2 made history. It became the first channel in Europe to regularly broadcast in colour. It used the PAL system. The thirteen-part series Civilisation (1969) was created to show off this new colour technology. It celebrated two thousand years of Western art and culture. BBC1 and ITV later joined BBC2 on the 625-line UHF band. But they also continued to broadcast on 405-line VHF until 1985. BBC1 and ITV started PAL colour on UHF on November 15, 1969. However, they had already shown some colour programs "unofficially" since September 1969.
In 1979, the channel used Britain's first computer-generated channel logo. This was the double striped, orange '2' logo. It marked the start of computer-made logos. BBC engineers created this logo. It was used until March 1986.
As the UK switched to digital-only TV, BBC Two was the first channel to change. In each region, its analogue TV signal was replaced by the BBC digital channels. This happened two or four weeks before the other four channels. This gave viewers time to get digital equipment if they didn't have satellite or cable. The last region for BBC Two to stop analogue broadcasting was Northern Ireland on October 10, 2012.
At the 2012 Edinburgh International Television Festival, BBC Two was named "Terrestrial Channel of the Year."
A high-definition version of BBC Two started broadcasting on March 26, 2013. It replaced the separate BBC HD channel. As of November 29, 2018, there are three versions of BBC Two HD. These are for Wales, Northern Ireland, and England.
How BBC Two Works
The channel controllers have been:
- 1964–1965: Michael Peacock
- 1965–1969: David Attenborough
- 1969–1974: Robin Scott
- 1974–1978: Aubrey Singer
- 1978–1982: Brian Wenham
- 1982–1987: Graeme MacDonald
- 1987–1992: Alan Yentob
- 1992–1996: Michael Jackson
- 1996–1999: Mark Thompson
- 1999–2004: Jane Root
- 2004–2008: Roly Keating
- 2008–2014: Janice Hadlow
- 2014–2016: Kim Shillinglaw
- 2016–2022: Patrick Holland
Adam Barker was the Acting Controller after Janice Hadlow left in March 2014. He served until Kim Shillinglaw took over permanently.
From 2013, the Controller of BBC Two also oversaw BBC Four. A "Channel Editor" for BBC Four reported to this Controller. This editor handled the daily operations of BBC Four.
The channel is part of the BBC Television executive group. It reports to the head of that department and the BBC Board.
On January 20, 2016, Kim Shillinglaw announced she would leave the BBC. This was due to a reorganization. The roles of Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four were then closed.
Patrick Holland became Channel Controller of BBC Two in March 2017. He had been Channel Editor since July 2016.
Programs on BBC Two
BBC Two's goal is to be a channel with many different types of shows. It aims for an adult audience. These shows should have depth and meaning. It should have the most and widest range of knowledge building programs of any BBC TV channel. It also features unique comedy, drama, and arts programs.
Historically, BBC Two focused on arts, culture, comedy, and drama. It aimed to serve audiences not already watching BBC One or ITV. For its first 30 years, the channel became known for showing highly praised drama series. Examples include Boys from the Blackstuff (1982) and Our Friends in the North (1996). The channel's "highbrow" image also came from its long history of demanding documentaries. These started with Civilisation and The Ascent of Man in the 1960s. Like early Channel 4, BBC Two also supported independent and international films. These were shown under the Screen 2 brand.
Some people think the channel has moved away from its original role. They believe it has become more mainstream. Since the digital-only BBC Four launched, some accuse the BBC of moving its more "highbrow" shows there. Until the UK's digital TV switchover in 2012, some viewers couldn't even get BBC Four. BBC Four's purpose is very similar to BBC2's earlier one. It shows many documentaries and arts programs. Some believe this strategy allows BBC Two to show more popular programs and get higher ratings. Since 2004, there have been efforts to bring back some of BBC Two's earlier content. An example is the arts show The Culture Show. Its most popular program was Top Gear, which has now moved to BBC One.
Many BBC Two programs have been shown on other channels. Some are repeats of popular shows from BBC Four. These are shown in a late-night slot, once called BBC Four on Two. Other programs move to BBC Two after being successful on BBC Three or Four. This means later series are well-received. For example, the BBC Three series Torchwood moved to BBC Two after its first series was popular. BBC Two is also used to test programs before they move to the main BBC One channel. Examples include Have I Got News for You and comedies like Absolutely Fabulous and Miranda. These moved to BBC One after succeeding on Two. In August 2014, The Great British Bake Off also moved to BBC One because of its success on BBC Two. In 2017, Bake Off moved from BBC One to Channel 4.
Another key part of BBC Two's role was to provide educational and community programs. This was part of its public service duty. The educational part meant BBC2 broadcast many programs for the Open University. They worked with the BBC to make these shows. The channel also showed BBC Schools programs from 1983. These moved to the BBC Learning Zone in 2010.
BBC Two also had a commitment to community broadcasting. It produced the Open Space series in the early 1970s. In this series, members of the public got half an hour of TV time. They received training to make a film about an issue important to them. BBC2's Community Programme Unit continued this tradition into the 1990s. This was done through Video Diaries and later Video Nation. The Community Programmes Unit was closed in 2004.
BBC Two has also shown many international programs for the first time in the UK. It introduced many more to British viewers. International shows on BBC Two include M*A*S*H, The Simpsons, 24, Family Guy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
In January 2013, BBC Two stopped showing children's programs. It replaced the weekday morning schedule with repeats from BBC One's daytime schedule. Children's programs returned in 2017 and 2022 on Saturday mornings. It also started showing Sign Zone in the early hours. Before 2013, BBC One broadcast this. This was the only channel that broadcast Sign Zone in the early hours until BBC Three relaunched as a TV channel in 2022.
From October 2013, BBC Two has shown classic programs. These include Bergerac, Cagney and Lacey, 'Allo 'Allo!, and Are You Being Served?. These are shown on weekday afternoons. They use retro logos from the 1970s and 1980s between current programs.
In October 2014, Russell Howard's Good News and Backchat moved to BBC Two from BBC Three.
In 2014, BBC Two ordered Britain's first transgender sitcom. It was called Boy Meets Girl. It followed the relationship between a 26-year-old man and a 40-year-old transgender woman.
From April 7, 2015, the morning Sign Zone was shown before Victoria Derbyshire. This was from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. It included See Hear on Wednesday mornings.
BBC Two also broadcasts news and current affairs programs. It shows BBC News updates every morning at 9 AM. This is a simulcast of the BBC News channel. This happens after it stops showing BBC Breakfast from BBC1. This includes BBC Business Today at 11:30 AM and Sportsday at 11:45 AM. Then, there are fifteen minutes of BBC News Now. From 2006-2010, this was World News Today, and from 2010-2011, it was GMT.
At 12:15 PM, during the Parliament session, the political debate program Politics Live is on BBC Two. On Wednesdays, because of Prime Minister's Questions, the program is shown earlier at 11:15 AM. The program is not broadcast on Fridays or when Parliament is on holiday. In those cases, the BBC News Now simulcast continues until 1:00 PM for the BBC News at One on BBC One. At 10:30 PM, the current affairs program Newsnight provides reports and analysis of the day's main stories. BBC Two does not broadcast any news or current affairs programs on the weekend.
From 2017 until 2019, it broadcast the UK selection show for the Eurovision Song Contest. This was Eurovision: You Decide. The channel stopped showing it after 2019. This was because the BBC chose an internal selection process with BMG Rights Management.
In 2020, it was reported that the program Victoria Derbyshire would end. This was due to the BBC's £80 million budget cuts. Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, Victoria Derbyshire has presented the first hour of BBC News. This continues until 1:00 PM.
BBC Two also sometimes shows BBC One programs. This happens when BBC One is broadcasting a BBC News Special. For example, during the Coronavirus pandemic, BBC1 aired press conferences from the UK government. These were about major pandemic developments. The BBC One programs scheduled then were shown on BBC Two. However, on April 9, 2021, the day of the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, BBC Two and BBC One both showed BBC News all day. The same happened on September 8 and 19, 2022. This was following the death and state funeral respectively of Elizabeth II.
Channel Look and Logos
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The 1991 channel idents (short clips shown between programs) featured a simple number 2. It was at the center of a scene, often related to art. However, the idents changed as the channel's style changed. These idents were very popular but stopped in November 2001. The BBC corporate logo within the idents was updated in October 1997. The idents also moved away from the original green colour scheme in later years.
A new look was introduced on November 19, 2001. It kept the same number 2, but on a yellow background. The 2 was given a "personality." At this time, BBC Two became the first BBC channel to use a box logo.
In 2007, BBC Two launched a new theme. It was called "Window on the World." The number 2 acted as that view. This new look started on February 18, 2007. The channel also adopted a teal-coloured box logo. It featured the BBC logo above the word TWO, now in the Avenir font.
In 2014, for the channel's 50th anniversary, some of the 1990s idents were brought back. From 2015, BBC Two Northern Ireland chose to use nearly forty idents from the 1991–2001 set.
On September 27, 2018, the 1991–2001 idents were retired again. BBC Two introduced a new set of idents. These were based on scenes with a curved shape that looked like the number 2. The new branding aims to show BBC Two's "constant evolution, constant eclecticism, [and] constant sense of quality." Different artists and studios, like Aardman Animations and The Mill, produce the new idents. BBC Creative and Superunion developed the new look.
Regional Versions
BBC Two also has regional versions in Wales and Northern Ireland. These sometimes switch from the main BBC Two feed. They do this to show programs of local interest.
In November 2001, BBC Wales launched a special service called BBC 2W. It aired weekdays from 8:30 PM to 10 PM. This was on the BBC Two Wales channel space on digital TV. It had a separate schedule of programs made in Wales. This was different from the analogue BBC Two Wales. BBC 2W stopped in 2008 due to the digital TV switchover. After that, the main BBC Two Wales schedule was shown on Freeview.
BBC Two Scotland operated until February 2019. Then, it was replaced by the national BBC Two feed. At the same time, a new BBC Scotland channel was launched. This channel shows the BBC Two schedule. But it also has its own local programs from 7:00 PM to midnight every night. Sometimes, it also shows local news and sports programs in the afternoon.
Watching BBC Two Outside the UK
The Northern Irish version of BBC Two is widely available in the Republic of Ireland. You can watch it on satellite and cable. It can also be received directly in areas near Northern Ireland or coastal areas near Wales. The main BBC Two channel is also available on cable and IPTV in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, and Liechtenstein. The channel is registered to broadcast in the European Union/EEA through the Luxembourgish Broadcasting Regulator – ALIA.
On March 27, 2013, BBC Two started being carried by British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS). This was for members of HM Forces and their families around the world. It replaced the BFBS2 TV channel, which already showed some BBC Two programs. It shares a channel with CBBC, which broadcasts from early morning until early evening.
All versions of BBC Two, in both standard and high definition, are broadcast without encryption. They are on the Astra 2E and 2G satellites. This allows viewing across Belgium, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, and parts of France, Germany, and Spain.
Accessibility Features
In May 2008, the BBC announced it had reached its goal. All programs now have subtitles for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. These are available on the BBC Red Button. Until October 23, 2012, they were also available through the Ceefax teletext service.
The BBC also offers audio description on some popular programs. This is for viewers with visual impairments. It also provides British sign language interpretation on some programs. This is for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. The percentage of BBC's total TV output with audio description is 10%. This was increased from 8% in 2008.
BBC Two HD
Originally, programs from BBC Two were shown in high definition on the special BBC HD channel. This channel also showed programs from BBC Three and BBC Four, plus some shows from CBBC and CBeebies. However, on October 6, 2011, the director general Mark Thompson announced plans. BBC HD would close and be replaced by BBC Two HD. This would be a high-definition version of BBC Two. It would work much like BBC One HD. This change helped the BBC save £2.1 million. This money helped with its budget deficit. This deficit came after the TV license fee was frozen and new services added costs.
On February 19, 2013, it was announced that BBC Two HD would replace BBC HD. This happened from 6:05 AM on March 26, 2013. Channel numbers for the BBC's HD channels also changed on Sky. This allowed BBC One HD and BBC Two HD to be next to each other on channels 141 and 142.
On July 16, 2013, the BBC said it wanted to launch regional versions of BBC Two HD. These would be for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. However, this needed approval from the BBC Trust. A proposal was to be presented within six months.
On December 10, 2013, BBC Two HD swapped places with the standard definition (SD) channel in England on Sky's channel guide for HD subscribers.
In October 2018, the BBC announced that regional versions of BBC Two HD for Wales and Northern Ireland would launch. This happened at the end of November that year. They became available on terrestrial TV, satellite (Wales only), and iPlayer. BBC Two HD in these regions swapped places with the SD channel on Sky's channel guide for HD subscribers. A Scotland version was not launched. This was because BBC Two Scotland stopped in February 2019. It was replaced by the new BBC Scotland channel. BBC Two Northern Ireland HD later launched on Sky and Freesat on January 5, 2023. The SD version then shut down on Sky and Freesat on January 24, 2023.
See also
In Spanish: BBC Two para niños
- History of BBC television idents
- List of television stations in the United Kingdom
