NS
NickyS
Founding member
I've been wanting to post all evening but the news was embargo'd until 2100 
but the new digital kids channels will be called 'CBBC Digital' and 'Cbeebies'.
The Press Asssociation copy on the announcement follows :-
The BBC tonight unveiled plans to plough £40 million into its new digital children's services to create more than 700 hours of new programmes. And controller of Children's BBC Nigel Pickard lifted the lid on the names for the two new channels, which will be called CBBC Digital and Cbeebies. Long-standing favourites Newsround and Blue Peter will have a presence on CBBC Digital, which is aimed at older children, while its sister service is aimed at preschool youngsters. The new channels were recently given the go-ahead by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell as part of a package of four new digital TV services. One of the channels, the youth-oriented BBC3, was turned down and corporation chiefs were asked to come back with more distinctive proposals. Mr Pickard said his department would have to 'reinvent itself for launch to ensure that we achieve the greatest impact' for the new channels. That will involve the animation unit at BBC Bristol being taken under the control of Children's BBC (CBBC). Among the programmes to be created for the new services will be the first preschool drama, Applecross, which is set in a fictional village using a cast of child and adult actors. The BBC transformed TV programming for young children with the introduction of Teletubbies, which went on to become a global hit. CBBC Digital will have a daily live show Xchange - with 1,040 shows commissioned over two years - and a live Sunday morning entertainment show is being developed. Drama and factual shows will also form a large part of the schedules. Mr Pickard set out his plans in a speech to broadcasting industry figures at Bafta in London tonight. He said: 'When the Secretary of State gave her approval for the two channels, she recognised that public service broadcasting for children was a fundamental necessity for the digital age. 'She looked to CBBC to create services that would be a legacy from us to future generations of children and that is what we are going to do.' The controller of Children's ITV (CITV) said just three weeks ago that a downturn in advertising revenue would lead to more repeats and fewer new shows being commissioned for ITV1. Mr Pickard said: 'In view of recent news from CITV, the impact that CBBC's digital commissioning will have on the UK production base cannot be underestimated. 'The new channels will herald a golden age in children's programming. They will become the new powerhouses for production, offering more opportunities as well as more funding for the best creative and innovative ideas.'
but the new digital kids channels will be called 'CBBC Digital' and 'Cbeebies'.
The Press Asssociation copy on the announcement follows :-
The BBC tonight unveiled plans to plough £40 million into its new digital children's services to create more than 700 hours of new programmes. And controller of Children's BBC Nigel Pickard lifted the lid on the names for the two new channels, which will be called CBBC Digital and Cbeebies. Long-standing favourites Newsround and Blue Peter will have a presence on CBBC Digital, which is aimed at older children, while its sister service is aimed at preschool youngsters. The new channels were recently given the go-ahead by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell as part of a package of four new digital TV services. One of the channels, the youth-oriented BBC3, was turned down and corporation chiefs were asked to come back with more distinctive proposals. Mr Pickard said his department would have to 'reinvent itself for launch to ensure that we achieve the greatest impact' for the new channels. That will involve the animation unit at BBC Bristol being taken under the control of Children's BBC (CBBC). Among the programmes to be created for the new services will be the first preschool drama, Applecross, which is set in a fictional village using a cast of child and adult actors. The BBC transformed TV programming for young children with the introduction of Teletubbies, which went on to become a global hit. CBBC Digital will have a daily live show Xchange - with 1,040 shows commissioned over two years - and a live Sunday morning entertainment show is being developed. Drama and factual shows will also form a large part of the schedules. Mr Pickard set out his plans in a speech to broadcasting industry figures at Bafta in London tonight. He said: 'When the Secretary of State gave her approval for the two channels, she recognised that public service broadcasting for children was a fundamental necessity for the digital age. 'She looked to CBBC to create services that would be a legacy from us to future generations of children and that is what we are going to do.' The controller of Children's ITV (CITV) said just three weeks ago that a downturn in advertising revenue would lead to more repeats and fewer new shows being commissioned for ITV1. Mr Pickard said: 'In view of recent news from CITV, the impact that CBBC's digital commissioning will have on the UK production base cannot be underestimated. 'The new channels will herald a golden age in children's programming. They will become the new powerhouses for production, offering more opportunities as well as more funding for the best creative and innovative ideas.'
: Not sure about CBBC Digital but I guess it would be easy to plug over on One/Two. Well good luck to them is what I say! Any date for the launches?