This article is about the UK television channel that ran from 1999 to 2002. For the current channel launched in 2002, see BBC Four. For the international television channel launched in 2007, see BBC Knowledge (international). For the magazine, see BBC Knowledge (magazine).
BBC Knowledge was a British television channel which was owned by the BBC and was launched on 1 June 1999, broadcasting documentary, cultural and educational programmes. It was shut down on 2 March 2002, and was replaced by BBC Four.
The BBC had been wanting to expand into the digital television market for a number of years prior to BBC Knowledge's launch. Originally this was by their association with Flextech, which spawned the UKTV network. Both companies had different ideas on how the new channels would be run: the BBC wanted the channels branded as BBC channels, but Flextech wanted the channels to contain advertising. The BBC refused, stating that no domestic BBC channel should carry advertising, and in the end a compromise was made. Two of the channels would launch as BBC channels, the soon to be BBC Choice and the then called BBC Learning, with the remainder of the channels being launched as the UKTV network, intended to be BBC in all but name. Prior to the launch, the channel changed name from BBC Learning to BBC Knowledge.[1]
The channel launched on 1 June 1999,[2] broadcasting for six hours each day. The new channel had plans to be a new, multimedia channel, operating across television, online and on interactive television, and showing educational and informative programming. The channel's original schedule style was initially a 'bright and breezy' approach to education, aimed at both adults and children, with viewers encouraged to get involved and contribute to the programming. Original programme included a GCSE survival guide based upon the popular BBC series "Bitesize", entitled "Bitesize Etc" and the technology series The Kit, aimed at children and getting them online and embracing digital.
Relaunch
A few years into the channel's existence, it was becoming clear that the channel's original format was not working in its aim of interacting with viewers and making learning fun. The channel was receiving consistently poor ratings, and the BBC decided to relaunch the channel. The relaunched channel was given a new visual identity, and became from 17 November 2001, a 24-hour channel, caused by the move of BBC Knowledge from the SDN to the BBC multiplex on the DTT service. In addition to this, the format was changed to a serious, documentary channel with scheduling arranged into 'zones' depending on topics.[3][4]
However, the real reason for the shift in programming was because the incumbent government delayed approving new BBC digital plans. BBC Three and Four were planned to have launched in 2001 but because of the plans being delayed, instead the BBC decided to relaunch the two channels in the meantime with the new programming. It had been planned since October 2000 that Knowledge would be replaced with BBC Four. Eventually the new digital plans were approved. In February 2002 the hours were cut back for CBeebies to launch. BBC Knowledge was closed down in the final hours of 2 March 2002.
BBC Knowledge from mid-2001 was essentially a test platform for the style of the new channel.
The launch identity consisted of cartoon characters climbing 'ladders of learning' between clouds against an orange background. Illustrator Michael Sheehy designed the idents. A white, BBC logo with 'Knowledge' after it in capital letters was located at the bottom of the screen. The ident image would also be present in the background of the end promotions, channel menus advertising upcoming programmes, and in video links presented by members of the public. In addition to this, a DOG was used on the channel, located in the top left of the screen, which displayed the web address for the channel, linking in with the interactive learning element, however this was replaced with the BBC Knowledge logo before too long.
Later on, the idents changed to follow a strand layout, with different idents for each strand. These featured an object, before a fact about it related to the strand appears and ends on an image with the strand name shown clearly on screen, with a letter encircled at the centre of the screen. It is unclear whether these idents were replacements of the animated idents, or complementary to them, however it appears they complemented them, with these idents being used in the stranded sections, with the animated idents used for general interest programming.
Following the relaunch in 2001, all different idents were dropped in favour of a single ident, featuring numerous circles made out of different structures reflecting the new strands.
References
^BBC unveils digital TV BBC News, 21 September 1998
^BBC launches digital learning channel BBC News, 30 May 1999
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This article is about the UK television channel that ran from 1999 to 2002 For the current channel launched in 2002 see BBC Four For the international television channel launched in 2007 see BBC Knowledge international For the magazine see BBC Knowledge magazine BBC Knowledge was a British television channel which was owned by the BBC and was launched on 1 June 1999 broadcasting documentary cultural and educational programmes It was shut down on 2 March 2002 and was replaced by BBC Four BBC KnowledgeLogo used from 1999 to 2002ProgrammingPicture format576i 16 9 SDTV OwnershipOwnerBBCSister channelsBBC OneBBC TwoBBC News 24BBC ParliamentBBC Choice until 2003 HistoryLaunched1 June 1999Closed2 March 2002Replaced byBBC FourAvailability at time of closure TerrestrialITV DigitalChannel 13 Contents 1 History 1 1 Launch 1 2 Relaunch 1 3 Closure 2 Visual identity 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditLaunch Edit The BBC had been wanting to expand into the digital television market for a number of years prior to BBC Knowledge s launch Originally this was by their association with Flextech which spawned the UKTV network Both companies had different ideas on how the new channels would be run the BBC wanted the channels branded as BBC channels but Flextech wanted the channels to contain advertising The BBC refused stating that no domestic BBC channel should carry advertising and in the end a compromise was made Two of the channels would launch as BBC channels the soon to be BBC Choice and the then called BBC Learning with the remainder of the channels being launched as the UKTV network intended to be BBC in all but name Prior to the launch the channel changed name from BBC Learning to BBC Knowledge 1 The channel launched on 1 June 1999 2 broadcasting for six hours each day The new channel had plans to be a new multimedia channel operating across television online and on interactive television and showing educational and informative programming The channel s original schedule style was initially a bright and breezy approach to education aimed at both adults and children with viewers encouraged to get involved and contribute to the programming Original programme included a GCSE survival guide based upon the popular BBC series Bitesize entitled Bitesize Etc and the technology series The Kit aimed at children and getting them online and embracing digital Relaunch Edit A few years into the channel s existence it was becoming clear that the channel s original format was not working in its aim of interacting with viewers and making learning fun The channel was receiving consistently poor ratings and the BBC decided to relaunch the channel The relaunched channel was given a new visual identity and became from 17 November 2001 a 24 hour channel caused by the move of BBC Knowledge from the SDN to the BBC multiplex on the DTT service In addition to this the format was changed to a serious documentary channel with scheduling arranged into zones depending on topics 3 4 Closure Edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed December 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message However the real reason for the shift in programming was because the incumbent government delayed approving new BBC digital plans BBC Three and Four were planned to have launched in 2001 but because of the plans being delayed instead the BBC decided to relaunch the two channels in the meantime with the new programming It had been planned since October 2000 that Knowledge would be replaced with BBC Four Eventually the new digital plans were approved In February 2002 the hours were cut back for CBeebies to launch BBC Knowledge was closed down in the final hours of 2 March 2002 BBC Knowledge from mid 2001 was essentially a test platform for the style of the new channel Visual identity EditMain article BBC Four idents The launch identity consisted of cartoon characters climbing ladders of learning between clouds against an orange background Illustrator Michael Sheehy designed the idents A white BBC logo with Knowledge after it in capital letters was located at the bottom of the screen The ident image would also be present in the background of the end promotions channel menus advertising upcoming programmes and in video links presented by members of the public In addition to this a DOG was used on the channel located in the top left of the screen which displayed the web address for the channel linking in with the interactive learning element however this was replaced with the BBC Knowledge logo before too long Later on the idents changed to follow a strand layout with different idents for each strand These featured an object before a fact about it related to the strand appears and ends on an image with the strand name shown clearly on screen with a letter encircled at the centre of the screen It is unclear whether these idents were replacements of the animated idents or complementary to them however it appears they complemented them with these idents being used in the stranded sections with the animated idents used for general interest programming Following the relaunch in 2001 all different idents were dropped in favour of a single ident featuring numerous circles made out of different structures reflecting the new strands References Edit BBC unveils digital TV BBC News 21 September 1998 BBC launches digital learning channel BBC News 30 May 1999 BBC Knowledge 1999 2002 permanent dead link TV amp Radio Bits BBC Knowledge Launch Schedule permanent dead link TV amp Radio BitsExternal links EditBBC Knowledge at TV Ark Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BBC Knowledge amp oldid 1132063768, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
