BBC Two
Country | United Kingdom |
---|---|
Broadcast area |
|
Network | BBC Television |
Headquarters | Broadcasting House |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Picture format |
|
Ownership | |
Owner | BBC |
Sister channels | |
History | |
Launched | 20 April 1964 |
Former names | BBC2 (20 April 1964 – 4 October 1997) |
Links | |
Website | BBC Two |
Availability | |
Terrestrial | |
Freeview |
|
Streaming media | |
BBC iPlayer | Watch live (UK only) |
BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream and popular BBC One.
Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio channels, it is funded by the television licence, and is therefore free of commercial advertising. It is a comparatively well-funded public-service channel, regularly attaining a much higher audience share than most public-service channels worldwide.
Originally styled BBC2, it was the third British television station to be launched (starting on 21 April 1964), and from 1 July 1967, Europe's first television channel to broadcast regularly in colour. It was envisaged as a home for less mainstream and more ambitious programming, and while this tendency has continued to date, most special-interest programmes of a kind previously broadcast on BBC Two, for example the BBC Proms, now tend to appear on BBC Four instead.
A major global study by the polling organisation Populus for the BBC found that BBC Two is rated as the third-highest quality television channel in the world, behind BBC One and Brazil's TV Cultura. In general, publicly funded television was rated higher than commercial channels.[1]
History
Launch
British television at the time of BBC2's launch consisted of two channels: the BBC Television Service and the ITV network made up of smaller regional companies. Both channels had existed in a state of competition since ITV's launch in 1955, and both had aimed for a populist approach in response. The 1962 Pilkington Report on the future of broadcasting noticed this, and that ITV lacked any culturally relevant programming. It therefore decided that Britain's third television station should be awarded to the BBC.[2]
Prior to its launch, the new BBC2 was promoted on the BBC Television Service: the soon-to-be-renamed
viewing.The channel was scheduled to begin at 19:20 on 20 April 1964, showing an evening of light entertainment, starting with the comedy show
By 11:00 on 21 April, power had been restored to the
To establish the new channel's identity and draw viewers to it, the BBC decided that a widely promoted, lavish series would be essential in its earliest days. The production chosen was
Technological advancements
Unlike
The early technical problems, which included being unable to transmit US-recorded videotapes due to a lack of system conversion from the US NTSC system, were resolved by a committee headed by James Redmond, although this problem was not unique to BBC2.
On 1 July 1967, during the
In 1979, the station adopted the first computer-generated channel identification (ident) in Britain, with its use of the
As the switch to digital-only terrestrial transmission progressed, BBC Two was (in each region in turn) the first analogue TV channel to be replaced with the BBC multiplex, at first four, then two weeks ahead of the other four channels. This was required for those relay transmitters that had no current Freeview service giving viewers time to purchase the equipment unless they had already selected a satellite or cable service. The last region for BBC Two to end on analogue terrestrial television was Northern Ireland on 10 October 2012.
At the 2012 Edinburgh International Television Festival, BBC Two was named "Terrestrial Channel of the Year".[8]
A high-definition simulcast of BBC Two began broadcasting on 26 March 2013, replacing the standalone BBC HD channel.[9] As of 29 November 2018[update], there are three variations of BBC Two HD (Wales, Northern Ireland, and England).[10]
Operation
The channel controllers have been:
- 1964–1965: Michael Peacock
- 1965–1969: David Attenborough
- 1969–1974: Robin Scott
- 1974–1978: Aubrey Singer
- 1978–1982: Brian Wenham
- 1982–1987: Graeme MacDonald
- 1987–1992: Alan Yentob
- 1992–1996: Michael Jackson
- 1996–1999: Mark Thompson
- 1999–2004: Jane Root
- 2004–2008: Roly Keating
- 2008–2014: Janice Hadlow
- 2014–2016: Kim Shillinglaw[11]
- 2016–2022: Patrick Holland
Adam Barker served as Acting Controller of the channel after Janice Hadlow left the channel in March 2014 and until Kim Shillinglaw began as the new permanent occupant of the post.
From 2013, the Controller of BBC Two was given the expanded title Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four, with ultimate oversight of the BBC Four service added to their duties (a BBC Four "Channel Editor", reporting up to this Controller, was allocated day-to-day operational control of Four).
The channel forms part of the BBC Television executive group and is answerable to the head of that department, and to the BBC Board.
On 20 January 2016, Kim Shillinglaw announced that she had decided to leave the BBC as the Controller of BBC Two & BBC Four; as a result of the reorganisation, the posts of Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four were closed.[12]
Patrick Holland became Channel Controller of BBC Two in March 2017, following his earlier appointment as Channel Editor in July 2016.[13]
Programming
BBC Two's remit is to be a mixed-genre channel appealing to a broad adult audience with programmes of depth and substance. It should carry the greatest amount and range of knowledge building programming of any BBC television channel, complemented by distinctive comedy, drama and arts programming.
— BBC Two remit[14]
BBC Two's historical scope was arts, culture, some comedy and drama, and appealing to audiences not already served by BBC One or ITV. Over its first thirty or so years the channel developed a reputation for screening highly praised and prestigious drama series, among these
The channel has sometimes been judged, increasingly in more recent years, to have moved away from this original role and closer to the mainstream. Since the launch of the digital-only BBC Four, the BBC has been accused in particular of shifting its more highbrow output to the new channel, which, until the end of the UK's digital TV switchover in October 2012,[15] a minority (7.5% in the final quarter of 2010)[16] of viewers did not receive. BBC Four's remit is very similar to the earlier remit of BBC2, and contains many documentaries and arts programmes. It has been perceived by some that this strategy is to allow BBC Two to show more popular programmes and to secure higher ratings.[17] Since 2004 there have been some signs of an attempt to return closer to parts of BBC Two's earlier output with the arts strand The Culture Show. Its most popular programme at the moment is Top Gear, which now moved to BBC One.
Much of BBC Two's output has previously or subsequently been shown on other channels. Some of these programmes are repeats of popular or flagship programmes from BBC Four in a late-night strand, originally called BBC Four on Two but now unbranded. Other programmes are moved to the channel as a result of their success on
Another founding part of BBC Two was to provide educational and community programming on the BBC, as part of its public service remit. The educational section of this commitment saw BBC2 broadcast a large amount of programming for the Open University, who co-produced programming with the corporation, and saw the channel broadcast BBC Schools programmes from 1983 until the programmes were transferred to the BBC Learning Zone in 2010.
As a result of the channel's commitment to community broadcasting, the channel produced the symbolic
BBC Two has also given various programmes from around the world their first UK broadcasts, and have introduced many more to terrestrial audiences. International shows that have been broadcast on BBC Two include M*A*S*H, The Simpsons, 24, Family Guy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Malcolm in the Middle, American Dad!, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Moonlighting, The Tracey Ullman Show and Star Trek: Voyager.
In January 2013, BBC Two ceased to show children's programmes and replaced the weekday morning schedule with repeats of the previous BBC One daytime schedule, children's programmes was returned in 2017 and 2022 in Saturday morning. It also began showing Sign Zone in the early hours; prior to 2013, this had been broadcast by BBC One. This was the only channel that broadcast Sign Zone in the early hours until the relaunch of BBC Three as a television channel in 2022.
From October 2013, BBC Two has shown classic programmes like
In October 2014, Russell Howard's Good News and Backchat moved to BBC Two from BBC Three.
In 2014, BBC Two commissioned Britain's first transgender sitcom,
From 7 April 2015, the morning Sign Zone was shown before Victoria Derbyshire 8:00am-9:00 am including See Hear on Wednesday morning.
BBC Two is also known for broadcasting some news and
From 2017 until 2019, it broadcast the UK selection show for the Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovision: You Decide. The channel stopped broadcasting the show after the 2019 edition due to the fact that the BBC opted for an internal selection in collaboration with BMG Rights Management.
In 2020, it was reported that the programme Victoria Derbyshire would end, owing to the BBC's £80m cuts.
BBC Two is also known for broadcasting some BBC One programmes in a change to the schedules when that channel is broadcasting a BBC News Special. For example; during the Coronavirus pandemic, BBC1 aired
Presentation and former logos
The 1991 idents featured a sans-serif numeral 2 at the centre of an initially art-related scene; however, the idents moved away from this style as the station's style changed. Although highly praised, this expansive set of idents was ended in November 2001. The BBC corporate logo was updated within the idents in October 1997, though the idents moved away from the original viridian colour scheme in these latter years. The subsequent presentation style was introduced on 19 November 2001 and kept the same figure 2, but in a yellow background and given a personality. At the time, BBC Two became the first BBC channel to feature a box logo.
In 2007, BBC Two debuted the new theme, a "Window on the World", with the 2 numeral providing that view. Introduced on 18 February 2007, the new look also had the channel adopt a teal-coloured box logo, featuring the BBC logo above the word TWO, now in the font Avenir.
In 2014, in honour of the channel's 50th anniversary, some of the 1990s idents were re-introduced and from 2015, BBC Two Northern Ireland opted to use nearly forty idents from the 1991–2001 set.
On 27 September 2018, the 1991–2001 idents were retired once again and BBC Two introduced a new set of idents, based on scenes incorporating a curve motif resembling the number 2. The new branding is designed to reflect BBC Two's "constant evolution, constant eclecticism, [and] constant sense of quality". The new idents are produced by various artists and studios, including Aardman Animations, The Mill and others. The new identity was developed by BBC Creative and Superunion.[20][21][22]
Regional variations
BBC Two also has regional variations in Wales and Northern Ireland, which occasionally opt out of the national BBC Two feed to air programmes of local interest.
In November 2001, BBC Wales introduced a special opt-out service known as BBC 2W, which aired weekdays from 8.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the BBC Two Wales channel space on digital television, and carried a separate schedule of Welsh-produced programming in comparison to the analogue BBC Two Wales. BBC 2W was discontinued in 2008 due to the transition to digital terrestrial television, with the main BBC Two Wales schedule being carried on Freeview thereafter.[23]
BBC Two Scotland operated until February 2019, when it was replaced by the national feed. Concurrently, a bespoke BBC Scotland channel was launched, which simulcasts the BBC Two schedule with opt-outs for local programming from 7:00 p.m. to midnight nightly, and occasionally during the afternoon for news and sports programmes.[24][25][26]
Availability outside the UK
The
. The channel is registered to broadcast within the European Union/EEA through the Luxembourgish Broadcasting Regulator – ALIA.[27][28]On 27 March 2013, it began being carried by
All feeds of BBC Two in both SD and HD are broadcast unencrypted on the Astra 2E and 2G satellites, allowing viewing across Belgium, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and parts of France, Germany and Spain.[31][32]
Accessibility
The BBC announced in May 2008 that it had achieved its aim for all programming to have subtitles for viewers with hearing difficulties.[33][34] These are available on the BBC Red Button, and until 23 October 2012, via the Ceefax teletext service.
The BBC also offers
BBC Two HD
Originally, programmes from BBC Two were shown in high definition on the dedicated BBC HD channel, alongside programmes from BBC Three and BBC Four, as well as some select series from CBBC and CBeebies. However, in plans outlined by the director general Mark Thompson on 6 October 2011, BBC HD would close to be replaced by BBC Two HD, a high-definition simulcast of BBC Two that would work much the same way as BBC One HD.[37] This move allowed the corporation to save £2.1 million, used to count towards its budget deficit following the freezing of the licence fee and the additional financial responsibility of addition services.[38]
On 19 February 2013, it was announced that BBC Two HD would replace BBC HD from 6.05 a.m. on 26 March 2013.[39] Channel numbers for the BBC's HD channels also changed on Sky, to allow BBC One HD and BBC Two HD to sit side-by-side on channels 141, and 142 respectively on the EPG.[39][40]
On 16 July 2013, the BBC indicated that it wants to launch Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh variations of BBC Two HD; however, this would require the approval of the BBC Trust, with a proposal due to be presented within six months.[41]
On 10 December 2013, BBC Two HD was swapped with the SD channel in England on Sky's EPG for HD subscribers.[42]
In October 2018, the BBC announced that regional variants of BBC Two HD in Wales and Northern Ireland would launch at the end of November that year on terrestrial, satellite (Wales only) and iPlayer. BBC Two HD in these regions were swapped with the SD channel on Sky's EPG for HD subscribers. A Scotland variant was not launched, as BBC Two Scotland was discontinued in February 2019 in favour of the new BBC Scotland channel. BBC Two Northern Ireland HD later eventually launched on Sky and Freesat on 5 January 2023, with the SD version shutting down on Sky and Freesat on 24 January 2023.
See also
- History of BBC television idents
- List of television stations in the United Kingdom
- India: The Modi Question
References
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- ^ "British Television up to the end of the Sixties". Sixtiescity.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
- ^ Williams, Hywel. "BBC 2 Aborted Launch Night". Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
- ^ a b Briggs, Caroline (20 April 2004). "The launch night that never was". BBC News. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ "Catch BBC-2 - now, and perhaps never again, is the moment for courage, adventure, and the pursuit of excellence". Newspapers.com. The Guardian. 19 April 1974. p. 15. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ TV Technology 8. Britain In Colour – and UHF. Screenonline, Richard G. Elen. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ^ David Attenborough extra on BBC DVD Civilisation by Kenneth Clark.
- ^ "BBC Two wins terrestrial channel of the year". BBC News, 24 August 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ "BBC Two HD channel goes live, replacing BBC HD". What Hi-Fi. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ^ "Changes to our HD portfolio and satellite transponders". About the BBC Blog. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ "Kim Shillinglaw Named BBC Two & BBC Four Controller". TVWise. 11 April 2014.
- ^ "Strategic reorganisation of BBC TV sees Charlotte Moore appointed Controller, TV Channels and iPlayer". BBC. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ "Patrick Holland". About the BBC. Bbc.com.
- ^ "BBC Two Service License" (PDF). BBC Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ End of analogue era as switchover completes, Digital UK, London, 10 October 2012. Archived 3 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Digitaluk.co.uk, Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ "Digital Television Update". ofcom.org.uk. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013.
- ^ "Blogposts". The Guardian.
- ^ "BBC2 commissions Britain's first transgender sitcom Boy Meets Girl". The Independent. 22 August 2014.
- ^ "Derbyshire tells viewers 'we don't give up'". BBC News. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ Waterson, Jim (25 September 2018). "BBC Two to get first full rebrand since early 90s". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ "BBC Two issues 're-invigorating' rebrand, vivid and colourful to reflect content diversity". The Drum. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Dawood, Sarah (26 September 2018). "BBC Two rebrands for first time in 20 years". Design Week. Centaur Communications. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ "BBC Wales launches new channel". BBC News. 29 October 2001. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "New BBC Scotland TV channel launches". BBC News. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "Where to find the new BBC Scotland TV channel". BBC News. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "BBC faces strict quotas to ensure it delivers on promises on Scottish content on new channel". Herald Scotland. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "Supervisory activities". Alia.lu. 13 November 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ "Services de télévision sur antenne soumis au contrôle de l'ALIA" (PDF). Alia.lu. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ UK Forces broadcasting contract begins, Ministry of Defence, 2 April 2013
- ^ "BFBS Radio Set for a Makeover On 27th March - BFBS". 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ "28°E — Astra 2E Spot Beam". SatBeams.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "28°E — Astra 2G Spot Beam". SatBeams.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ BBC Vision celebrates 100% subtitling BBC Press Office, 7 May 2008.
- ^ About the BBC – Policy on subtitles Archived 19 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine BBC
- ^ "Freeview Audio Description TV Schedule". TV Help.
- ^ About the BBC – Audio description on TV Archived 25 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine BBC
- ^ "BBC set to cut 2,000 jobs by 2017". BBC News. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ^ "BBC cuts at a glance". BBC News. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ^ a b "BBC – Media Centre – BBC Two HD Channel to launch 26 March". BBC Online. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "BBC Two HD Launched". CNET. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ "BBC to launch five new subscription-free HD channels". BBC Media Centre. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ Pryde, Alix (9 December 2013). "CBBC HD, CBeebies HD, BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD & BBC News HD launch Tuesday 10 December 2013". BBC. Retrieved 10 December 2013.