CBBC Adapts to Digital Age: Traditional TV Channel Gets Extension While Expanding Online Presence

CBBC’s Evolving Strategy in the Digital Era

While the BBC had initially announced plans to cut CBBC from traditional linear TV platforms by 2025, the channel has recently received a reprieve. This significant decision was confirmed by the BBC’s head of children’s programmes.

Current Programming and Changes

According to the BBC’s annual plan for 2024/2025, CBBC will deliver approximately 245 hours of first-run content as part of its 5,500 total programming hours, split between 3,600 hours on TV and 1,900 hours on BBC iPlayer. This comes alongside significant changes to BBC Bitesize, which has secured a three-year, US$7.5-million investment.

The channel is actively developing new content, with three newly greenlit kids series for CBBC and BBC iPlayer. These include ‘Gifted,’ based on middle-grade novels, and ‘Stage Stars,’ a tween docuseries following young students at a UK boarding school focusing on dance and performing arts.

Digital Transformation

The BBC is gradually shifting its focus by putting greater emphasis on iPlayer content for children over the age of seven. Patricia Hildago, BBC’s head of children’s programmes, emphasized the importance of maintaining linear network presence while children still need it.

This transformation presents a particular challenge: ensuring accessibility for all viewers. The BBC faces a crucial dilemma as poorer households and homes in areas with limited internet infrastructure would lose access to CBBC programmes if the channel were removed from traditional broadcast platforms.

Future Outlook

While the eventual transition to online-only content might have minimal impact on BBC budgets, content for the CBBC brand would still need to be produced. Rather than offering programmes solely on-demand, the BBC might convert the channel into a curated streaming channel while continuing to provide on-demand content.