CBeebies facts for kids
Second logo, used since 15 March 2023
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| 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 |
| Replaced | CBBC Choice (demerged with CBBC – originally children's strand on BBC Choice) |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview (UK) | Channel 202 (SD) Channel 204 (HD) |
| Fetch TV (Australia) | Channel 256 |
| Sky Television (New Zealand) | Channel 103 |
| Streaming media | |
| BBC iPlayer | Watch live (UK viewers with a TV Licence) |
CBeebies is a special TV channel from the BBC in the United Kingdom. It's totally free to watch! This channel is made just for younger children, usually aged 6 and under. It's like a younger sibling to CBBC, which is for kids aged 6 to 12.
CBeebies broadcasts every day from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. After 7:00 PM, another BBC channel called BBC Four takes over.
Contents
CBeebies: A Look at Its History
How CBeebies Started
The idea for CBeebies was first announced in November 2001. It was created to be a separate brand for shows aimed at very young children.
The CBeebies TV channel officially launched on 11 February 2002. It started at the same time as the CBBC channel. Some of the very first shows to be shown on CBeebies were Teletubbies, Binka, Step Inside, and Bits and Bobs.
For a short time, CBeebies shared its broadcast time with BBC Knowledge. But since March 2002, it has shared its channel with BBC Four.
Beyond the TV Screen
CBeebies also expanded beyond just TV. In March 2007, CBeebies Radio was launched. It broadcast for three hours a day on BBC Radio 7. Even though the radio station on BBC Radio 7 stopped in 2011, CBeebies Radio continued online and is now available on BBC Sounds.
A magazine called CBeebies Weekly (now just CBeebies Magazine) started in 2006.
CBeebies Around the UK
Since March 2013, CBeebies has been available to British military families through the British Forces Broadcasting Service. It's also available in Ireland.
In September 2018, CBeebies also started a special block of shows on BBC Alba. This block is called CBeebies Alba and features shows and presenters speaking in Scottish Gaelic.
A Fresh New Look for CBeebies
On 15 March 2023, CBeebies got a brand new look! This was its first big change since it started 21 years ago. The new look included a new logo that matches the BBC's updated style. The fun "Bugbie" characters, who have been part of the channel since the beginning, also got a refreshed appearance.
CBeebies Around the World
Global Reach of CBeebies
Did you know CBeebies is watched in many countries around the world? BBC Studios manages these international versions. Most of these channels broadcast 24 hours a day!
The first international CBeebies channel launched in India in May 2007. Since then, CBeebies channels have launched in many places, including Poland, Latin America, East, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and Australia.
In March 2011, an on-demand version of CBeebies became available in the United States.
CBeebies in Different Countries
- In Canada, CBeebies had a special block of shows on the channel BBC Kids from 2011 to 2018.
- In April 2015, BBC Worldwide partnered with broadcasters in South Korea and Japan to launch CBeebies blocks there.
- A channel for the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) launched in April 2016.
- CBeebies Asia launched in Taiwan in March 2017. It's also available in many other Asian countries like Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia.
- In December 2019, the Australian CBeebies channel also became available in New Zealand.
- In July 2020, CBeebies relaunched in India.
- In January 2023, CBeebies launched in Malaysia through Astro.
Who Manages CBeebies?
In the UK, CBeebies is run by the BBC Children's and Education team, which is part of BBC North. This team is also in charge of CBBC. The overall boss for all BBC children's services is Patricia Hildago Reina.
For the international versions of CBeebies, the brand is owned and operated by BBC Studios.
How CBeebies Looks and Sounds
Connecting with Viewers
CBeebies uses presenters to link between shows. These presenters talk directly to the children watching. They do fun activities like arts and crafts, show birthday cards sent in by viewers, and introduce the next program. The links are recorded, not live.
The CBeebies presenters used to record their links in London. But since September 2011, they have been based at the BBC's studios in MediaCityUK in Salford, England.
Just like other BBC channels, CBeebies does not show any advertisements. Instead, they show short trailers for new shows or special events.
The Look of CBeebies: Logos and Characters
CBeebies uses many different animated clips, called "idents," during the breaks between shows. Most of these idents feature the channel's mascots, known as the "Bugs" or "Bugbies." These Bugbies are yellow, blob-like characters with faces. They are similar to the characters used by CBBC between 2002 and 2005.
Before 2016, many idents featured children saying the channel name. The idents often had a moving, rounded background. In 2016, new idents were created for each part of the day.
When CBeebies rebranded on 15 March 2023, the Bugbies were redesigned to look more like rounded squares, matching the new BBC logo. The new idents use both 2D and 3D animation.
CBeebies Shows
CBeebies Presenters
Meet the UK Presenters
Live presenters have been a part of CBeebies since it first launched. They help fill the time between shows. They chat with the children, do activities, show birthday cards, and introduce the next programme. Many of the presenters have worked on other children's shows before.
Presenters Around the World
The international versions of CBeebies have their own presenters:
- The Australian channel has three presenters: Tara Colegrave, Robbie Harding, and Duncan Fellows.
- The Asian channel, seen in places like Thailand and Singapore, has Nisha Anil as its main presenter.
- The Polish channel has Aneta Piotrowska as its main presenter.
- The South African channel features former UK presenter Sid Sloane.
- The CBeebies Alba block on BBC Alba has presenters like Bard Cornark, Ben Cajee, and Carrie Macneil.
- The Turkish channel uses Turkish voice actors to dub over the UK presenters.
Special Time Slots on CBeebies
In the UK, CBeebies divides its day into special sections:
- Get Set Go – This is the early morning block, from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM. It includes shows like Postman Pat, Bing, and Hey Duggee.
- Discover and Do – This block runs in the late morning and early afternoon, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on weekdays. It's for young children who aren't at school yet and often features shows that help them learn, like Something Special and Teletubbies. The time between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM is called Lunch Time.
- Big Fun Time – This is for the late afternoon, weekdays from 3:00 PM to 5:45 PM. It's aimed at slightly older preschoolers who might be home from school. Shows include ZingZillas and The Furchester Hotel.
- Bedtime – This is the final part of the day, from 5:45 PM to 7:00 PM. It helps children get ready for bed with calm shows like Clangers and Sarah & Duck. It always starts with the song "Goodbye Sun, Hello Moon." The very last show is always a Bedtime Story, followed by the song "The Time Has Come to Say Goodnight" before the channel closes.
Bedtime Stories
The final show each day is called CBeebies Bedtime Stories. It's a special time when a guest storyteller reads a story. These storytellers are often famous actors, comedians, or singers.
CBeebies in High Definition (HD)
CBeebies also has a High Definition (HD) version, which means the picture quality is much clearer and sharper. This HD channel launched on 10 December 2013. It shares its broadcast time with BBC Four HD.
Other Fun CBeebies Adventures
The CBeebies Website
The CBeebies website launched at the same time as the TV channel in 2002. It's a super kid-friendly site with lots of activities based on CBeebies shows. You can find games, songs, and things to print out.
The UK website also has links to CBeebies iPlayer, which is a special version of the BBC iPlayer just for CBeebies shows. There's also a section called CBeebies Grown-ups with advice for parents.
International CBeebies channels also have their own websites, but they might be a bit different from the UK one.
CBeebies DVDs and Albums
Over the years, many DVDs and CDs featuring CBeebies shows and songs have been released. These include compilations like CBeebies: The Best of Pre-School Television and music albums like CBeebies: The Official Album.
CBeebies Land at Alton Towers
In May 2014, a special area called CBeebies Land opened at the Alton Towers Resort theme park in Staffordshire. It's designed to be a fun, interactive world for young children and their families.
CBeebies Land has rides, attractions, and live shows based on popular CBeebies programmes. You can meet characters like Mr Tumble, Mr Bloom, and characters from In the Night Garden....
New attractions have been added over time. In Spring 2022, new areas included Hey Duggee: The Big Adventure Badge, Andy's Adventures Dinosaur Dig, and JoJo and GranGran at Home.
Awards for CBeebies
CBeebies and its shows have won many awards over the years!
- In 2002, CBeebies Interactive TV Services was nominated for a BAFTA Children's Award.
- The channel was named Best Children's Channel at the Broadcast Digital Channel Awards in 2006.
- CBeebies has won Children's Channel of the Year at the BAFTA Children's awards many times, including in 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2019.
- The CBeebies UK website was nominated for Best Interactive Site at the 2007 BAFTA Children's awards.
- The whole CBeebies brand also won the Best Design and Innovation award from the Royal Television Society. They praised how the TV shows and website work together to create fun games and experiences.
Images for kids
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Logo used from February 11, 2002 to March 14, 2023, still used as a production logo. Also still used outside of the United Kingdom.
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The Bedtime Hour on-screen ident from March 2003 to March 2016.
See also
In Spanish: CBeebies para niños
