British BBC brand and free-to-air television channel serving children aged approximately 6 to 12.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
CBBC is the BBC's principal brand for content aimed at children roughly aged six to twelve and the name of its dedicated British free-to-air children's television channel. The service combines live and recorded television presentation with drama, comedy, entertainment, animation, factual programming, news, sport, games and informal learning. Its principal editorial remit is to provide distinctive, high-quality and trusted content for school-age children, with most of the output produced in the United Kingdom and with participation, creativity and learning embedded in the service. The CBBC name originated as an abbreviation of Children's BBC. From 1997 it was used to identify BBC children's programming shown on BBC One and BBC Two. Before the dedicated channel launched, the brand also appeared in distribution arrangements and programming blocks on services including Nickelodeon and BBC Choice. The standalone CBBC Channel launched on 11 February 2002 alongside CBeebies, which serves younger children. The two services established a clearer BBC portfolio structure: CBeebies for pre-school audiences and CBBC for older children. At launch, CBBC shared transmission capacity with BBC Choice and subsequently with BBC Three. Its standard broadcast schedule historically ran from the morning until early evening, although the channel was temporarily extended into the evening from 2016 to early 2022 to serve older children and young teenagers after BBC Three moved toward an online-first model. When BBC Three returned as a linear channel in January 2022, CBBC reverted to a schedule ending at 7:00 p.m. The channel has also been distributed in high definition, through BBC online services, and to British Forces Broadcasting Service audiences. CBBC is more than a television channel. Its wider brand ecosystem has included the CBBC website, games, video, puzzles, moderated participation features, programme microsites, Newsround and sport-related content, as well as availability through BBC iPlayer. The Red Button service CBBC Extra previously supplied interactive features and additional material. The brand has also been adapted for Scottish Gaelic presentation within BBC Alba through CBBC Alba and has supported international distribution of BBC children's programming through BBC Studios-operated or partner services. The service has repeatedly refreshed its visual identity and presentation style in response to changes in children's media consumption. Major redesigns occurred in 2007 and 2016, with the 2016 identity using a colourful, flexible wordmark intended to work across television and digital platforms. In March 2023, the on-screen identity was updated to align with the BBC's wider 2021 branding system. Presentation operations moved from BBC Television Centre to MediaCityUK in Salford in 2011. The channel has received Channel of the Year recognition at the British Academy Children's Awards in 2008, 2012 and 2015. In 2022 the BBC proposed eventually replacing CBBC as a linear service with an online content hub as part of a broader digital-first restructuring. The proposal was not an immediate closure: the BBC said the service would remain available for at least several years while the future model was considered. In December 2024, reporting indicated that the closure plan had been reprieved because audience evidence did not yet support ending the linear channel. CBBC therefore remains an active BBC children's brand and broadcaster, operating alongside its online and on-demand services.
History
CBBC developed from the BBC's long-running children's programming operation rather than beginning solely as a television channel. The abbreviation Children's BBC was adopted as a unified brand for programming aimed at children on BBC One and BBC Two in 1997. Earlier distribution experiments included a CBBC block on Nickelodeon between 1996 and 1999 and CBBC-branded output associated with BBC Choice from 1998 until the launch of the dedicated channel. On 11 February 2002, CBBC launched as a standalone free-to-air channel at the same time as CBeebies. The division gave the BBC distinct linear services for older children and pre-school viewers. CBBC initially shared capacity with BBC Choice and, from February 2003, with BBC Three. The channel carried a mixture of programmes inherited from the BBC's terrestrial children's blocks, repeats, full-series runs and exclusive commissions. Its editorial range included drama, comedy, factual material, animation, entertainment, news and sport. Education has remained part of the service's public-purpose identity. CBBC once scheduled substantial blocks of factual and schools programming through Class TV. That format ended in 2008 after changes to the channel's remit, but educational output later returned in different forms, including Live Lessons introduced in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread school closures, CBBC broadcast additional learning-oriented programming and newly recorded material to support children who lacked reliable access to online lessons. The brand expanded into digital distribution as children's viewing habits changed. A live stream became available through the CBBC website in 2008. The website offered games, videos, puzzles, programme information, moderated participation and news, while BBC iPlayer supplied recent programmes on demand. CBBC Extra, delivered through BBC Red Button and later online, provided interactive features, audience material and supplementary content until its online discontinuation in 2016. CBBC HD launched in December 2013. Brand presentation was refreshed several times. A major relaunch in 2007 sought to appeal across the channel's broad age range and compete more effectively with commercial children's networks. A new multicoloured logo and presentation system arrived in March 2016, designed for both television and digital applications. The on-screen identity was updated again in March 2023 to align with the BBC's newer corporate branding. Operationally, CBBC presentation moved from BBC Television Centre to MediaCityUK in Salford in September 2011, where the BBC Children's and Education department is based. Studio presentation arrangements have changed over time, including the use of dedicated CBBC HQ facilities and later temporary arrangements following the departure from the former MediaCityUK studio in 2023. The channel's schedule has been shaped by BBC capacity decisions. In 2015 the BBC Trust approved a proposal to extend CBBC's day by two hours, and the longer schedule operated from April 2016 until January 2022. The return of BBC Three as a broadcast service led CBBC to resume its earlier 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. pattern. In 2022 the BBC proposed eventually moving CBBC from linear broadcasting to an online-only model as part of a digital-first restructuring. By December 2024, the proposed closure had been reprieved, leaving CBBC active while the BBC continued to assess the role of linear children's television.
- 2024
Linear closure proposal reprieved
[1]The previously announced plan to end the linear service was reported as reprieved in December.
- 2023
Identity updated to match BBC branding
[1]The on-screen bug and presentation identity were revised on 15 March to reflect the BBC's newer logo system.
- 2022
Broadcast day returns to 7:00 p.m.
[1]CBBC reduced its hours after BBC Three returned as a linear channel.
- 2019
Live Lessons revive scheduled learning content
[1]CBBC introduced weekday Live Lessons as part of a renewed educational offering.
- 2018
CBBC Alba introduced
[1]The children's block on BBC Alba was divided into CBeebies Alba and CBBC Alba, with Gaelic-language presentation and programming.
- 2016
Multicoloured identity introduced
[1]CBBC launched a new logo and on-air presentation on 14 March and extended its broadcast day in April.
- 2013
CBBC HD launches
[1]A high-definition version of CBBC began broadcasting on 10 December.
- 2011
BBC Children's operation moves to Salford
[1]The BBC Children's department moved to MediaCityUK, and CBBC presentation operations followed.
- 2008
Live online service introduced
[1]The channel became available as a live stream through the CBBC website.
- 2007
Major brand relaunch
[1]CBBC introduced a refreshed identity intended to appeal to the full 6-to-12 audience and strengthen its competitive position.
Products and positioning
A trusted, public-service children's media brand combining entertainment, information, learning and participation for school-age audiences, with a strong emphasis on UK-produced content and safe digital engagement.
Linear television channel · 2002
CBBC Channel
The core free-to-air channel for children aged approximately 6 to 12. It schedules UK children's drama, comedy, animation, entertainment, factual programming, news and learning content, with live presentation and audience participation. The channel normally broadcasts from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and timeshares with BBC Three.
Digital content platform
CBBC Online
The CBBC website extends the television brand with programme pages, games, videos, puzzles, printable activities, moderated participation features and regularly updated news. It also connects audiences with Newsround, sports material and BBC iPlayer programming.
On-demand video service
CBBC on BBC iPlayer
An on-demand destination for recent CBBC programmes and related BBC children's content. It forms an important part of the brand's digital distribution strategy and was central to proposals for a future online-first CBBC service.
High-definition television channel · 2013
CBBC HD
The high-definition version of the CBBC channel, launched in December 2013 and distributed through BBC television capacity and selected pay-TV platforms. Its availability and transmission arrangements vary by territory and multiplex requirements.
Interactive television service
CBBC Extra
A former BBC Red Button and online service offering interactive features, audience contributions, games, programme-related material, Newsround content and other supplementary items. The online version was discontinued in 2016.
Regional children's programming block · 2018
CBBC Alba
The Scottish Gaelic children's block on BBC Alba, introduced in 2018 as part of a split between CBeebies Alba and CBBC Alba. It uses Gaelic-language presentation and provides dubbed or adapted children's programming.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020COVID-19 educational programming response
United Kingdom
During school closures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, CBBC expanded learning-oriented broadcasting for primary-age children. The schedule combined existing programmes with new or newly recorded material to support children who could not readily access online lessons.
Outcome. Provided an additional public-service learning route during school disruption.
Brand decisions
2023
Refresh of the on-screen identityGeneration changeBackground
The 2016 multicoloured identity had been in use for seven years, while the BBC had introduced a newer corporate logo system.
Action taken
CBBC updated its on-screen bug and presentation identity on 15 March to align with BBC branding.
Aftermath
The brand retained a child-focused identity while becoming more consistent with the wider BBC design system.
2022
Proposal to move CBBC toward an online-only modelStrategyBackground
As part of a BBC digital-first restructuring and cost-reduction programme, the BBC proposed ending CBBC as a linear service in the longer term.
Action taken
The BBC announced that CBBC would eventually operate primarily as an iPlayer content hub, while remaining on air for at least several years during the transition.
Aftermath
The proposal was later reprieved, with December 2024 reporting indicating that audience evidence did not yet justify closing the linear channel.
2016
Extension of the CBBC broadcast dayStrategyBackground
The BBC had additional capacity following the move of BBC Three toward an online-first model and wanted to serve older children during later hours.
Action taken
CBBC extended its schedule by two hours, operating until 9:00 p.m. from April 2016.
Aftermath
The extended schedule continued until early January 2022, when BBC Three returned as a linear channel.
2002
Launch of the standalone CBBC ChannelProduct launchBackground
The BBC sought to organise its children's output into dedicated services for different age groups.
Action taken
CBBC launched as a free-to-air channel on 11 February 2002 alongside CBeebies.
Aftermath
The launch established CBBC as a distinct channel and retained the brand for BBC children's programming on other platforms.
Sources2 sources
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