BBC Choice

BBC Choice was a TV station from the BBC, which launched on September 23, 1998. It was the first British TV channel to broadcast exclusively in digital format.

Initially, the main attractions of the new station were repeats of programmes from BBC One and BBC Two that were never otherwise repeated, such as Stressed Eric and Naked Video. Plus behind-the-scenes specials and extended coverage of sports events and music festivals. Its own original programming was mainly concerned with celebrities, including documentary profiles and the nightly entertainment magazine Liquid News.

Another important aspect of BBC Choice's programming was its children's output, branded CBBC On Choice and using the regular presenters from BBC One & Two children's output to present a wide range of programming for younger viewers. This took up most of BBC Choice's daytime hours and included repeats of archive shows rarely seen on the main channels, such as Mr Benn, Paddington, Simon and the Witch and Ivor the Engine.

There were originally regional opt-outs for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but these were discontinued in 2001.

In February 2002, CBBC On Choice was spun-off into two separate channels, CBBC and CBeebies which time-shared with BBC Choice and BBC Knowledge respectively.

BBC Choice itself went off-air a year later, to be replaced by the similar BBC Three.

EastEnders Revealed was the only show from the original 1998 channel lineup to survive and outlive the entire life of the channel itself.

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