'Great start' for BBC new kids' channels

On the first day of transmission of his two new kids' channels, the BBC's controller of children's TV has unveiled new commissions and initiatives in the attempt to cement the channels into the kids' TV firmament.

Nigel Pickard said the new CBBC service had a {great start{ with over 2000 phone calls and 200 emails already arriving at the channel by 16:00. {It demonstrates that digital viewers were looking for something new and original as an alternative to other children's channels,{ he said.

New shows unveiled by Pickard include an adaptation of Fungus the Bogeyman; dotcom sitcom Rude Boy and a magazine show to accompany its new (and first ever) pre-school drama series Applecross. He also launched a Kids' Council to bring children's input into shows, and a CBBC Manifesto.

CBBC began life at 7:00 today and airs till 19:00, sharing a channel with BBC Choice, which the Corporation intends to convert into a youth station BBC3 later this year.

The new preschool channel CBeebies airs 13 hours a day from 6:00-19:00, sharing a channel with the factual service BBC Knowledge, which launches as factual and arts channel BBC4 this Thursday.

The two services go out on all UK digital TV platforms: including Sky Digital (Dsat), ITV Digital (DTT), NTL and Telewest (both Dcable). Barb number-crunchers say that of the UK 6.9m household with children aged 4-15, the two new kids' BBC services will be available in the 4.4m (48%) of them that have digital TV.

A CBBC spokesman told C21 that come April, the services will get a siginificant boost as set-top-box manufacturer Pace is launching a £99 digibox that delivers reception of 16 fta diginets without requiring a platform subscription.