BBC TO LAUNCH NEW DIGITAL CHANNELS BY SPRING 2002

THREE new BBC digital television channels will launch by Spring 2002, offering UK audiences a greater choice - more programmes of original quality and tailored specially for them - along with new ideas and talent.
The first of the BBC’s portfolio of free-to-air, licence fee-funded television channels to go live will be both of the two new children’s channels, which will launch on February 11, 2002.
BBC Four, a new television channel entirely devoted to diverse, intelligent and culturally enriching programmes, will launch on March 2, 2002.
CBBC - for six to 13 year olds - and CBeebies - a dedicated pre-school channel will both offer a high proportion of originally made programming in a commercial-free environment.
At the same time the channels will launch with their own distinctive logos and brand identities which will also be carried through on CBBC on BBC One and CBeebies on BBC One and BBC Two. (CD)