BBC Kids (Canadian TV channel)

Last updated

BBC Kids
BBC Kids.svg
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
Headquarters Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Ownership
Owner Knowledge West Communications (80%)
BBC Studios (20%)
Sister channels Knowledge Network
History
LaunchedNovember 5, 2001 (2001-11-05) (22 years ago)
ClosedDecember 31, 2018 (2018-12-31) (5 years ago)

BBC Kids was a Canadian specialty television channel carrying programming for children and teenagers. [1] It was a joint venture between Knowledge West Communications, which managed the network and held the majority 80% interest and was a subsidiary of Knowledge Network, with BBC Studios licensing the BBC brand and holding the remaining 20% in the joint venture. Originally an ad-supported network, it transitioned to non-commercial operation when it was transferred to Knowledge.

Contents

History

Launch

In November 2000, Alliance Atlantis was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch BBC Kids, described as "a national English language Category 2 (what is the current category B) 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 7, and 35% will target youth ages 8 to 17." [2]

The channel launched on November 5, 2001 as a joint venture between Alliance Atlantis and BBC Worldwide, the BBC's overseas operating arm. [3] [4] As was its remit, it primarily sourced its programming from networks and producers from the United Kingdom, though its programming sources were never exclusively limited to those of the BBC. This also included international co-productions, including Tots TV , Mr. Bean: The Animated Series , and Australian The Sleepover Club . It also broadcast a small amount of Canadian and Anglo-Canadian co-productions (including past-produced Alliance programming co-produced with a U.S. network such as PBS, Disney Channel, or Viacom's Nickelodeon for U.S. broadcast) to meet CRTC Canadian content regulations and quotas.

Transition from Alliance Atlantis to Knowledge Network

On January 18, 2008, [5] a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media, [6] acquired control of BBC Kids through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007. [7] It then became a part of Shaw Communications on October 10, 2010 after it acquired Canwest outright with the GSCP stake in CW Media. [8]

Shaw's ownership would be short-lived due to regulatory requirements to sell some former CW Media assets, and that process started on December 22, 2010 with early due diligence with a then-undisclosed sales partner. [9] On January 17, 2011, Knowledge Network Corporation, a Crown corporation of the Government of British Columbia, announced it had finalized an agreement to purchase the channel through a subsidiary called Knowledge-West Communications Corporation from Shaw Media. BBC Worldwide would retain its existing interest. [10] The sale was completed on April 29, 2011, and with it and CRTC approval, it converted from a commercial network to a non-commercial service, while relocating operations from Toronto to Burnaby in suburban Vancouver.

The transaction resulted in a decision by cable providers in The Bahamas and Jamaica (which generally import Canadian channels onto their services for the convenience of snowbirds visiting the West Indies) to drop the network at the end of 2011. [11] [12]

Closure

On October 2, 2018, a joint statement from Knowledge Network and BBC announced the channel would cease operations at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve 2018. [13] Though there was no reasoning for the closure said originally, then-Knowledge chief Rudy Buttignol subsequently cited the end of the CRTC's traditional protection of small and independent networks to allow for broader discretionary services without any programming restrictions. Knowledge continues to carry programming from the BBC, and CBBC/CBeebies programming as a part of Knowledge Kids, including programming from BBC Kids merged onto the Knowledge schedule. [14] On January 10, 2019, the CRTC revoked the channel's license at the request of Knowledge. [15]

Programming (past and final)

CBeebies

The Spot

BBCK

Programming blocks

The logo used for identification of the "BBCK" 'mini-network'. BBC Kids (logo).png
The logo used for identification of the "BBCK" 'mini-network'.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance Atlantis</span> Canadian-American media company

Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. was a Canadian media company that operated primarily as a specialty service operator in Canada. Alliance Atlantis also had offices in Halifax, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Shannon, and Sydney.

BBC Canada was a Canadian English language specialty channel that mostly broadcast television series originally produced by the BBC, the public-service broadcaster of the United Kingdom. The channel was owned by Corus Entertainment and BBC Studios (20%).

Lifetime is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Showcase Television Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. Based on the U.S. cable network of the same name, Lifetime broadcasts films, television series, and reality series aimed at women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartoon Network (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian TV channel

Cartoon Network is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel primarily broadcasts animated series aimed at children and teenagers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKVU-DT</span> Citytv station in Vancouver

CKVU-DT is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, serving as the West Coast flagship of the Citytv network. It is owned and operated by network parent Rogers Sports & Media alongside Omni Television station CHNM-DT. The two stations share studios at the corner of West 2nd Avenue and Columbia Street in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of Vancouver; CKVU-DT's transmitter is located atop Mount Seymour in the district municipality of North Vancouver, with additional transmitter link facilities on the roof of the Century Plaza Hotel in Downtown Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corus Entertainment</span> Canadian media/broadcasting company

Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian mass media company. The company was founded in 1987 as Shaw Radio, Ltd. as a subsidiary of Shaw Communications and was spun-off from Shaw in 1999. It has prominent holdings in the radio, publishing, and television industries. Corus is headquartered at Corus Quay in Toronto, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FYI (Canadian TV channel)</span> Defunct Canadian television channel

FYI was a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Discovery Health Canada, ULC, a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment. Based on the American cable network of the same name, the channel featured lifestyle programming, with a mix of reality, culinary, home renovation and makeover series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IFC (American TV channel)</span> American pay TV channel

IFC is an American basic cable channel owned by AMC Networks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHBC-DT</span> Global TV station in Kelowna, British Columbia

CHBC-DT is a television station in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, part of the Global Television Network. It is owned and operated by network parent Corus Entertainment, and maintains studios on Leon Avenue in Downtown Kelowna; its main transmitter is located on Blue Grouse Mountain in the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Knowledge Network, also branded as British Columbia's Knowledge Network, is a Canadian publicly funded educational cable television network serving the province of British Columbia. It is owned by the Knowledge Network Corporation, a Crown corporation of the Government of British Columbia, and began broadcasting on January 12, 1981. Michelle van Beusekom is the CEO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slice (TV channel)</span> Canadian TV channel

Slice is a Canadian English language discretionary service channel owned by Corus Entertainment. The channel primarily broadcasts reality shows targeting young adult women, typically dealing in subjects such as fashion and lifestyles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Showcase (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian television channel

Showcase is a Canadian English-language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. Launched on January 1, 1995, the channel primarily airs scripted and dramatic television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History2 (Canadian TV channel)</span> Television channel

History2 is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel dedicated to airing historic and non-historical programming of military, science, and technology interest. The channel is owned by Men TV General Partnership, a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment, with its name licensed from the U.S. company, A&E Networks, owners of the brand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fine Living (Canadian TV channel)</span> Television channel

Fine Living was a Canadian pay television channel owned by CW Media, Corus Entertainment, and Scripps Networks Interactive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC First (Canadian TV channel)</span> Television channel

BBC First is a Canadian English language high definition discretionary television channel owned by Blue Ant Media. It is a localized version of the international BBC First service, which broadcasts a variety of drama, comedy, and film programming originating primarily from the BBC.

In 2007, significant ownership changes occurred in Canada's broadcast television industry, involving nearly every private English-language network and television system. In addition to the shuffling of network affiliations and mergers involving various networks, several new television stations and rebroadcast transmitters also signed on the air.

Shaw Media, Inc. was the television broadcasting division of Shaw Communications. It owned the Global Television Network, which broadcasts nationally via 13 television stations, as well as 19 specialty channels including Slice, HGTV Canada, Showcase, Food Network Canada, and History. Shaw Media consisted of the broadcasting assets of the former Canwest. Shaw Media properties were acquired in April 2016 by sister company Corus Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MovieTime</span> Television channel

MovieTime is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. It primarily broadcasts films, with 250 titles per month and back-to-back movies on the weekends. Unlike other Canadian movie channels, MovieTime operates as an advertiser-supported service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC Kids</span> Television channel

BBC Kids is the international children's brand of BBC Studios, and has been applied to a number of TV services. It draws from the long history of children's programming on the BBC, and is strongly related to the CBBC channel in the United Kingdom.

References

  1. (CRTC), Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (August 27, 2018). "Knowledge Network and BBC Kids – Licence renewals". crtc.gc.ca.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Decision CRTC 2000-493". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. November 24, 2000.
  3. "Dates set for BBC Canada and BBC Kids launches". C21 Media. March 9, 2001.
  4. "BBC Worldwide Annual Review 2001/2 – Highlights" (Press release). BBC. July 17, 2002.
  5. "Canwest Global receives final CRTC approval for acquisition of Alliance Atlantis" (Press release). CNW Group. January 18, 2008.
  6. "Goldman's happy ending at CanWest". The Globe and Mail. May 3, 2010.
  7. "CanWest Completes Acquisition of Alliance Atlantis". Investor Point. August 15, 2007. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012.
  8. "CRTC approves Shaw's purchase of the Canwest Global television properties". Archived from the original on December 20, 2013.
  9. "Notice of Hearing". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. December 22, 2010.
  10. "BBC Worldwide Partners with Knowledge Network to Operate BBC Kids". Broadcaster Magazine. January 17, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  11. Cable Bahamas channel lineup Archived August 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Flow Cable channel lineup". Flowjamaica.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007.
  13. BBC Kids Channel Closes in Canada Archived October 5, 2018, at the Wayback Machine , Knowledge Media press release, 10-02-18
  14. "Knowledge Network's BBC Kids channel to close".
  15. Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (January 10, 2019). "BBC Kids – Revocation of licence". crtc.gc.ca.
  16. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  17. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  18. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  19. "More Details About BBC Kids Fall 2008 Programming". November 30, 2001.
  20. "Fall 2002 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "BBC Kids After School". Archived from the original on March 23, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2007.
  22. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 "Schedule". Archived from the original on April 3, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2007.
  24. "More Details About BBC Kids Fall 2008 Programming". November 30, 2001.
  25. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  26. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  27. "Fall 2007 Programming Highlighs of BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  28. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  29. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  30. 1 2 3 "BBC Kids Schedule". November 17, 2001. Archived from the original on November 17, 2001.
  31. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  32. 1 2 3 "BBC Kids Launches Innovative Campaign to Announce BBCK to Canadian Teens". November 30, 2001.
  33. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  34. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  35. 1 2 3 "BBC KIDS". Archived from the original on March 20, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2007.
  36. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  37. "BBC Kids (2004) - Home On Their Own Promo". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 via www.youtube.com.
  38. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  39. "More Details About BBC Kids Fall 2008 Programming". November 30, 2001.
  40. "Fall 2002 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  41. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  42. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  43. "Fall 2007 Programming Highlighs of BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  44. 1 2 "Schedule". Archived from the original on February 14, 2002. Retrieved February 14, 2002.
  45. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  46. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  47. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  48. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  49. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  50. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  51. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  52. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  53. "BBC Kids TV Listings". Zap2it. Archived from the original on August 13, 2016.
  54. "More Details About BBC Kids Fall 2008 Programming". November 30, 2001.
  55. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  56. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  57. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  58. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  59. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  60. "Fall 2004 Highlights: BBC Kids". November 30, 2001.
  61. "BBC Kids unveils 2005-2006 programming highlights". November 30, 2001.
  62. "More Details About BBC Kids Fall 2008 Programming". November 30, 2001.
  63. "BBC Kids After School". Archived from the original on March 14, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2007.