Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to move CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Channel online in the future

The Beaker Girls
Image caption,

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has announced that CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ programmes such as The Beaker Girls will only be available to watch online in the future

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ has announced that it plans to stop broadcasting the CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Channel on TV in the future.

This would mean that all CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ programmes such as Newsround, Blue Peter and Saturday Mash-Up would only be available online.

The announcement is part of a plan to move the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ towards a more digital platform, and to save money.

However, the change isn't set to happen for at least another three years.

What will happen?

Image caption,

The change isn't set to happen for at least another three years

The changes were announced on Thursday by the head of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, Director-General Tim Davie.

As well as CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, some other channels will also stop being broadcast on TV, however Mr Davie said that the programmes on those networks will continue to be produced and made available online.

The CBeebies Channel won't be affected and will stay on TV and on the iPlayer.

Mr Davie also explained that the move towards digital was needed in order to "change in step with the modern world" so that it can give the public "the content they want and delivering it to them in the ways they want it."

Did you know?

The CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Channel was launched in 2002, however CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ first began broadcasting in 1985 - with programmes shown on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One!

The whole of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, which includes CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, is funded by something called the TV licence.

Every household in the UK needs a licence to watch live TV or programmes on catch-up services like Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer. It's illegal to do this without one.

The money from the TV licence not only funds the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's TV channels (including CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ) but also its radio stations, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sounds and online services and apps.

The government announced in January that the cost of a TV licence will be frozen for the next two years which means it can't be increased.

At the time, Mr Davie said the freeze will affect what the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ makes.