 Logo used from 1998 to 2003 | |
| Programming | |
|---|---|
| Picture format | 576i (16:9 SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | BBC |
| Sister channels | BBC One BBC Two BBC Four BBC News 24 BBC Parliament BBC Knowledge (until 2002) CBBC CBeebies |
| History | |
| Launched | 23 September 1998 |
| Closed | 8 February 2003 |
| Replaced by | BBC Three |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview | Channel 7 |
BBC Choice was a British digital television channel which was owned by the BBC and was launched on 23 September 1998. It was the first British TV channel to broadcast exclusively in digital format, as well as the BBC's second non-analogue-terrestrial channel launch (following on from the BBC News channel in 1997).[1]
At launch, BBC Choice mainly existed to supplement existing programming on BBC One and Two, with some low-profile original programming of its own.[2] However, faced with low ratings for both Choice and BBC Knowledge, in 2000 the BBC's digital strategy changed. Under new controller Stuart Murphy, the channel began to aim specifically at a young adult audience. The BBC ultimately planned to replace the channel with the higher-profile BBC Three, which, after some delay, began broadcasting in February 2003.
- ^ "BBC unveils digital TV". BBC. 21 September 1998. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ "BBC News | Entertainment | A new channel is born". BBC News Online. 23 September 1998. Archived from the original on 26 October 2002. Retrieved 4 September 2021.