ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ to move CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Channel online in the future

Image caption, The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ has announced that CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ programmes such as The Beaker Girls will only be available to watch online in the future

The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ has announced that it plans to stop broadcasting the CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Channel on TV in the future.

This would mean that all CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ 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 ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ 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 ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, Director-General Tim Davie.

As well as CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, 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."

The whole of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, which includes CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, 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 ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer. It's illegal to do this without one.

The money from the TV licence not only funds the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's TV channels (including CΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ) but also its radio stations, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ 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 ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ makes.