Choice becomes 3, Knowledge becomes 4

I think it's fairly certain that BBC Choice and BBC Knowledge will become BBC Three and BBC Four respectively at some point. Does anyone know EXACTLY when - is it sometime this autumn?

Also what are the chances that BBC One and BBC Two will revamp at the same time? Do you think they ought to? Do you think that there ought to be a standard style across the four channels? (e.g. supposing that BBC One used a big purple times new roman '1' on a lime green background (I hope not!), then the other channels do the same with a '2', '3' and '4' respectively)

(Edited by SittingOvation at 10:06 pm on Aug. 22, 2001)

Absolutely no one knows - because the BBC still don't yet know if they'll be allowed to start them, and there is no likelihood of a government decision on the new channels until September. If they do get approved then, I would doubt they would be on air until next year.

As for idents, we can only speculate - I hope BBC ONE and TWO keep the same idents and I hope they don't go down the route of branding by numbers; I would like to see something more original like we saw with the BBC ONE balloon, and the BBC Knowledge ident which I also think is extremely good.

I don't understand BBC Three and Four being called 'new channels'. I'm not having a go at you, RW, as I know that it's not your way of putting it, it's how it's been put on even the news etc (including the BBC's own news).

Surely they're not 'new channels', but existing channels with a change of both name and type of content (that latter change has often occured on numerous channel with or without a name-change coinciding).

So what I therefore don't understand is what the bloody hell it's got to do with the government! Can anyone enlighten me? Cheers in anticipation xxJACKxx

(Edited by SittingOvation at 10:46 pm on Aug. 22, 2001)

As part of the charter renewal it was decided by the government that any changes/additional channels would have to be a) put out to public consultation and b) be approved by the government and if my memory serves me correctly c) be something that is not offered by the commercial sector
The BBC wants to launch 5 new digital radio channels and change the content of BBC Choice and Knowledge - with children's programmes on those two channels during the day.
It is the chidren's channels that are causing the most interest ... Disney/Fox Kids etc etc say they are providing that service and the BBC doesn't need to.
The DCMS is now deciding what should happen.
It's now thought that Ms Jowell may annouce her decision at the RTS in Cambridge next month - but who knows. And I wouldn't expect to see the new TV channels if they are approved until the New Year at the very earliest.

I couldn't agree more, it annoys me too that they are referred to as 'new' channels, when Choice and Knowledge have now become THREE and FOUR in all but name. I think the main differences will be a much higher profile than their predecessors, and will have much bigger budgets.

But apparently since the original lot of BBC digital channels were launched, the government have changed the rules and require to have any 'new' channel plans submitted to them first.

It is totally beyond me, though, why the BBC cannot just rename the channels THREE and FOUR.

Darn! Beat me to it!

Tessa Jowell, the Government Minister who has to approve the launch of the FOUR new TV Channels, has delayed her announcement on the BBCs digital plans.

It was confirmed that she was to make a speech at the Edinburgh Festival this Saturday, but unfortunately the death of a family friend means she is no longer able to do this. The announcement is thus delayed.

Also - the new BBC channels will not be direct replacements. Whilst they will take the same places in the DTT Multiplexes and DSat Transponders, BBC 3 and BBC 4 will have different EPG entries and channel numbers to the BBC Childrens' channels, even though they will not be on-air at the same time.

This is to allow the Childrens' channels to appear in the Childrens' area of the EPG, whilst 3 and 4 remain in the Entertainment and News & Documentaries areas.

In addition - I think that it is unlikely that the BBC will launch 3 and 4 now before the New Year...

I would not be surprised if One & Two got new on-screen identities at the same time as well.

I know it would seem fairly pointless, but couldn't the BBC at least rename the channels this autumn without altering the content.

This wouldn't be entirely pointless, as it would serve the purpose of making the way BBC channels are named more systematic. News 24 and BBC Parliament can't really be included in that for obvious reasons.

Plus of course, the recent change of Choice logo to THREE orange boxes (hardly a coincidental number there) must be in preperation for the new name - i.e. they'll keep the orange boxes come the renaming, and just replace (B)(B)(C)CHOICE with (B)(B)(C) THREE

I'm only guessing, of course... xxJACKxx

It would in fact be silly to do that. The whole point of having BBC 3 and 4 is so that they can be promoted as part of the television family in a way that wasn't possible before. Part of the plans also means more cash for them both ... that means better programmes etc. It is silly to change the name but have the same old programmes - because when people tune in they will think there's nothing different and not tune in again - wasting the rebrand.
The channels will change if and when the approval is given ... it won't be the same stuff that you see at the moment.

(Beware - my figures are from the media (Times), so may not be true)

The cash investment? Annual £110m for BBC3 and £30m for BBC4 - we can see where the priorities lie, can't we: with Ian Wright and Joy of Text.

BBC Four is supposed to be 'intellectual' and 'Radio 4 on TV' - with this funding all it'll be is studio debates I bet!

On a related note (also in the same article), why set up a kids channel for older kids when they're at school? Scrap the idea of a channel for older kids in the day on BBC 4 and then give BBC 4 the extra money.

I agree that it's silly to have a daytime channel for older kids.

I guess the go-ahead for BBC THREE / FOUR is pretty much a foregone conclusion, it's the other new channels that are going to be the main issue. I wonder how quickly the BBC will push ahead with renaming CHOICE and KNOWLEDGE once they get the go-ahead? They must be ready to go, I would have thought - as little as four to six weeks after Jowell's announcement maybe? Could easily be in place in plenty of time for christmas. Look at how quickly ITV1 changed.