BBC Kids is a Canadian English-language Category B cable and satellite specialty channel that is owned as a joint venture between Knowledge West Communications (which serves as managing partner and owns a majority 80% interest), an entity of the Government of British Columbia as a crown corporation under Knowledge Network, and BBC Worldwide (which owns the remaining 20%), the latter being a commercial division of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It operates as a commercial-free channel that airs programming aimed at youth ranging from preschoolers to teenagers.
In November 2000, Alliance Atlantis (AAC) was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch BBC Kids, described as "a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service devoted to top-quality educational and entertaining programming for children and youth (ages 2-17). It will feature programming primarily from the UK and around the world. 65% of the programming will target children ages 2 to 11, the majority of which will target 6 to 11 years old and 35% will target youth ages 12 to 17."
The channel was launched on November 5, 2001 as a joint venture between AAC and BBC Worldwide. The channel primarily aired programs from the UK, from which the vast majority were sourced from the BBC and its affiliated channels; however, throughout its history under the ownership of AAC and its subsequent incarnations under Canwest and Shaw, select programs were sourced from other countries and other British broadcasters such as Tots TV, Mr. Bean: The Animated Series and The Sleepover Club. In addition to British programs, the channel also broadcast Canadian programs, as required by the CRTC.
On January 18, 2008, a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media, acquired control of BBC Kids through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007.
On October 27, 2010, the channel's ownership changed once again as Shaw Communications gained control of BBC Kids as a result of its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media.
It was revealed through regulatory documents on December 22, 2010 that Shaw Media was in the process of selling the channel to an unknown third party. On January 17, 2011, the Government of British Columbia's Knowledge Network Corporation announced it had finalized an agreement to purchase the channel through a subsidiary called Knowledge-West Communications Corporation from Shaw Media, while BBC Worldwide would retain its interest in the service.
Knowledge decided to change BBC Kids from an ad-supported service to a commercial-free service, and relocate its old headquarters from Toronto, Ontario to its new headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia. The transaction required CRTC approval, which was granted on April 29, 2011.
On May 1, 2016, BBC Kids updated its logo to reflect its 15th anniversary and to coincide with its new rebranding.
BBC Kids broadcasts educational and entertainment programs from the BBC and Canadian series aimed at children ranging in age from 2 to 17 years in the form of live-action and animated programs.
The following programs are currently airing on the channel as of 29 August 2016:
The New Adventures of Figaro Pho (also on Family CHRGD)
Atomic Betty
Being Ian
Bernard
Black Hole High
Canimals
Creature Comforts
Deadly 60
Doodlez
Dude, That's My Ghost!
Emma
Hank Zipzer
Horrible Histories
Horrible Science
The Jungle Bunch
Lark Rise to Candleford
Lilly
Lockie Leonard
Marco Polo
Minuscule
Molang
Mona the Vampire
Moone Boy
Monk
Mr. Bean
Mr. Bean: The Animated Series
Oddbods
The Paradise
Prank Patrol
Rank the Prank
Robin Hood: Mischief in Sherwood
RoboRoach
Shaun the Sheep
Walk on the Wild Side
Wild and Weird
Young Dracula
3rd & Bird
Andy's Wild Adventures
Baby Jake
Boj
Charlie and Lola
Clangers (also on Treehouse TV)
Digby Dragon
Florrie's Dragons
George Shrinks
Go Jetters
Harry and Toto
Hey Duggee
The Hive
Kate and Mim-Mim
Lah-Lah’s Adventures
Little Princess
Little Robots
Mofy
Nelly and Nora
Ready Jet Go!
Timmy Time
The Tumblies
Sweet Tweets
4 O'Clock Club
The Adventures of Paddington Bear
Animal Stories
All About Animals
Archibald the Koala
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Arthur
Bananas in Pajamas (1992 live-action series only.)
Big Wolf on Campus
Binka
Bob the Builder (moved to the DHX Media channel Family Jr.)
Brady's Beasts
Brat Camp
Buzz and Tell
Caitlin's Way
Chorlton and the Wheelies
Dance Academy
Dinosapien
Dogs with Jobs
Escape from Scorpion Island
The Famous Jett Jackson
Fraggle Rock
Garth and Bev
Gawayn
Humf
Ivick von Salza
Jacob Two-Two
Joe and Jack
Junior MasterChef
Kerwhizz
The Klumpies
The Life of Birds
Lightning Point
Lunar Jim
M.I. High
Me and My Monsters
Mr Bloom's Nursery
Naturally, Sadie
Nina and the Neurons
Noonbory and the Super Seven
Nuzzle and Scratch
Olive the Ostrich
Olliver's Adventures
Out There
Our Hero
Pat & Stan
Pingu
Popular Mechanics for Kids
Postman Pat
Rainbow Fish
Rastamouse
Raven
Ricky Sprocket: Showbiz Boy
Robin Hood
Ready or Not
The Sarah Jane Adventures
S Club 7 in Miami
S Club 7 in L.A.
S Club 7 in Hollywood
The Secret Show
Silverwing
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Surprise! It's Edible Incredible!
The Teletubbies
Theodore Tugboat
Thomas and Friends
Trapped!
Tree Fu Tom
Tweenies
Walk on the Wild Side
Weakest Link
What About Mimi?
Who Let the Dogs Out?
William's Wish Wellingtons
Woolly and Tig
The Worst Witch
Yam Roll
Yakkity Yak
Zoboomafoo
Blackadder
Doctor Who
Hollyoaks
Hyperdrive
K-9
Joan of Arcadia
Little Britain
The Mighty Boosh
Reel Late Movies
Top of the Pops
What Not to Wear
The Young Ones
CBeebies - "CBeebies" is a programming block aimed at preschoolers that airs weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and weekends from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. It debuted on May 13, 2011, when Knowledge Network Corporation took ownership of the channel, when BBC Kids was changed from an ad-supported service to a commercial-free service, and the day BBCK and The Spot stopped airing on the channel .
Cartoon Afternoons - "Cartoon Afternoons" is a programming block dedicated to animated television series that airs weekdays from 3:30 - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Drama at 8 - "Drama at 8" is a primetime block featuring various British dramas, such as Emma and Moone Boy. It airs every weeknight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
BBCK - "BBCK" was a program block aimed towards pre-teen and teenage audiences that debuted on April 3, 2006, while BBC Kids was still under the ownership of Alliance Atlantis and BBC Worldwide, airing nightly from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time. With the block's launch, the channel also launched a separate website, making it appear as though BBCK was a separate channel similar to the former agreement between Noggin and The N in the United States. In early 2008, when Canwest Global and Goldman Sachs purchased Alliance Atlantis, the BBCK website was shut down; however, the block itself remained until May 12, 2011 when ownership changed hands from Shaw Media to Knowledge Network Corporation and when BBC Kids was changed from an ad-supported service to a commercial-free service..
The Spot - Until May 12, 2011, BBC Kids aired a block called "The Spot", which aired weekdays from 12:00 to 9:00 p.m. and weekends from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. "The Spot" focused on programming aimed at grade school and pre-teen audiences. The block was discontinued after May 12, 2011 when the channel's ownership changed hands from Shaw Media to Knowledge Network Corporation and when BBC Kids was changed from an ad-supported service to a commercial-free service.
Jamaica - distributed on Flow Cable systems.
The Bahamas - distributed on Cable Bahamas systems.
