BBC Kids - History

History

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, 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, 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. Plans unveiled in the announcement were to transform BBC Kids into a commercial-free service and relocate its headquarters from Toronto to Burnaby, British Columbia, the headquarters of Knowledge Network Corporation. The transaction required CRTC approval, which was granted on April 29, 2011. The CRTC's decision also imposed a condition of licence on the service requiring it to be distributed on a commercial-free basis, a condition Knowledge Network Corporation asked for. The transaction closed on May 12, 2011, and ownership was transferred on May 13, 2011.