BBC Four launched on 2 March 2002, transmitting a schedule between 19:00 to 4:00. It shows “a wide variety of programmes including drama, documentaries, music, international film, comedy and current affairs … an alternative to programmes on the mainstream TV channels.”
It has a schedule dominated by repeats but is required by its licence to broadcast at least 100 hours of new arts and music programmes, 110 hours of new factual programmes and premier 20 international films each year.
BBC Four forms part of the BBC Vision group, and as a result, the channel controller is answerable to the head of this executive department: George Entwistle as of 2011. The channel direction is determined by the channel’s remit, set by royal charter and the corporation’s governing body the BBC Trust, and by the channel controller
BBC Four is broadcast in a statistically multiplexed stream in Multiplex B that timeshares with the CBeebies channel. As a result, BBC Four broadcasts from 7 pm to about 4 am every day, with an hours downtime and promotions for CBeebies, before CBeebies channel runs from 6 am until 7 pm.
BBC Four HD
BBC Four HD is available on Freeview, Freesat, Sky and cable.
See the BBC Four website for more information.
