BBC Switch
Encyclopedia
BBC Switch was the brand for BBC content aimed at UK teenagers
. The brand launched on Saturday 20 October 2007 on BBC Two
And ceased broadcasting on Saturday 17 December 2010. It included a block of television programmes on BBC Two
, an online portal, and programming on the BBC's youth radio station, BBC Radio 1
.
. Sound
is a weekly music entertainment and chat show presented by Annie Mac
and Nick Grimshaw
. Falcon Beach
is an imported Canadian coming-of-age drama about teenagers, their passions, relationships, friends, families and enemies. Them is a documentary series that explores the different teenage tribes that exist in Britain today. The Surgery is a chat show for BBC Switch, which effectively replaced The Sunday Surgery, aiming to help teenagers with everyday problems.
On 17 May 2008 three new shows were launched under the BBC Switch brand: Kyle XY
, a sci-fi drama, Class of 2008, a documentary series which follows six friends in London, and Revealed...
, a new journalism show looking at the lives of teens in the UK, presented by Charlotte Ashton
and Anthony Baxter
. The ABC Family
show Greek
was also shown.
Since 2008 continuity links for BBC Switch on BBC Two were presented by Tom Deacon and AJ Odudu either at an outdoor location in various parts of the UK or indoors in The 5:19 Show studio. Previously it was presented by 'Flash Louis'.
The 5:19 Show also had a slot on Saturday afternoons, a show that is focussed around a celebrity interview with a game that often uses a pun on the celebrity name. This was also presented by Tom Deacon and AJ Odudu. (The 5:19 Show is also used for the interstitials.) Tom Deacon also hosted a 5:19 Show as part of the Sunday night Switch broadcast on Radio 1.
"Switch" is unique in the fact that younger viewers' contributions are also aired. Some are even involved in pre- and post-production roles.
BBC Radio Switch the digital sister station of BBC Radio 1
launched in 2008.
, BBC Blast and EastEnders
. The Switch brand also includes Slink
an online magazine for teenage girls.
Annie Mac
said: "I'm really honoured and excited to be involved with BBC Switch on Sunday nights. The show is going to be like nothing heard on radio before. It's a proper challenge for me and something I can't wait to get stuck in to.
"As for Sound, I'm really looking forward to working with Grimmy [Nick Grimshaw] and the opportunity to showcase new and upcoming bands on TV is truly exciting for me, it's so important that music gets this kind of TV exposure."
The 5:19 show was also part of BBC Switch. It was hosted by Tom Deacon and AJ Odudu online from Monday to Friday at 5:19. The show was named 5:19 in recognition of the time most teenagers log-on.
. It featured performances by Fall Out Boy
, Ne-Yo
, Miley Cyrus
, McFly
, Basshunter
and N-Dubz
, with a special guest performance by George Sampson
. The event, hosted by Annie Mac
, Nick Grimshaw
, Kelly Osbourne
and Tom Deacon, was strictly for 14 to 17 year olds.
The second event was held on 8 November 2009, at the same venue. Aled Haydn Jones
, Kimberly Walsh
, Annie Mac
and Nick Grimshaw
hosted, with many acts playing, including The Saturdays
, JLS
, N-Dubz
, The Black Eyed Peas
, Shaheen Jafargholi
, Alexandra Burke
and Pixie Lott
. Many of the performances were made available for viewing on the BBC Switch website. The awards were designed and produced by UK trophy manufacturer Gaudio Awards.
In February 2010, The Guardian
and The Times
newspapers both reported that the BBC Switch website was under threat of closure, in a review of the BBC's online presence.
On 5 July 2010, the BBC Trust
published an interim announcement which confirmed that the Trust would support Mark Thompson's proposal to close BBC Blast! and BBC Switch, effectively signalling the closure of both brands. But confirmed that BBC Radio Switch as well as their involvement with BBC Radio 1
would continue under the management of BBC Radio
.
On Friday 17 December Andy Parfitt
confirmed he will remain in control of BBC Radio Switch.
On Saturday 18 December 2010, BBC Switch finally ended. It was announced that the closure of BBC Switch was due to a 25% cut in the BBC Online budget, reducing it by £34 million. All possibility that the site would return was removed upon this announcement on 24 January 2011.
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
. The brand launched on Saturday 20 October 2007 on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
And ceased broadcasting on Saturday 17 December 2010. It included a block of television programmes on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, an online portal, and programming on the BBC's youth radio station, BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
.
Television
Four programmes were originally shown as part of BBC Switch on Saturday afternoons on BBC TwoBBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
. Sound
Sound (BBC TV series)
Sound was a weekly music, entertainment and chat show that broadcasted on BBC2 as part of the BBC Switch teen strand. It was presented by BBC Radio 1 DJs Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw....
is a weekly music entertainment and chat show presented by Annie Mac
Annie Mac
Annie Mac is an Irish DJ and television presenter who hosts an eponymous electronic dance music show on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom which airs at 7:00 pm on Friday evenings as well as a Sunday evening show alongside co-presenter Nick Grimshaw.-Personal life:Annie Mac was born in Dublin,...
and Nick Grimshaw
Nick Grimshaw
Nicholas Peter "Nick" Grimshaw is a British television and radio presenter. Commonly known as 'Grimmy', he has presented shows for Channel 4, E4, BBC One, BBC Two and Channel 4 youth strand T4...
. Falcon Beach
Falcon Beach
Falcon Beach is a Canadian television show, filmed at Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba, Canada, and produced in Canada for the Canadian and American markets. It originally aired in 2005 as a movie on Global in Canada. It was produced as a TV series for Global and ABC Family in 2006...
is an imported Canadian coming-of-age drama about teenagers, their passions, relationships, friends, families and enemies. Them is a documentary series that explores the different teenage tribes that exist in Britain today. The Surgery is a chat show for BBC Switch, which effectively replaced The Sunday Surgery, aiming to help teenagers with everyday problems.
On 17 May 2008 three new shows were launched under the BBC Switch brand: Kyle XY
Kyle XY
Kyle XY is an American television series with a science fiction premise and mystery-drama style. The central character is a teenage boy who awakens naked in a forest outside Seattle, Washington, with no more knowledge or abilities than a newborn. He is taken in by a family and given the name Kyle...
, a sci-fi drama, Class of 2008, a documentary series which follows six friends in London, and Revealed...
Revealed...
Revealed... is the BBC's dedicated news programme for teenagers, part of BBC Switch, the show broadcasts on Saturdays on BBC2. It's presented by Anthony Baxter and Charlotte Ashton.-Programme history:...
, a new journalism show looking at the lives of teens in the UK, presented by Charlotte Ashton
Charlotte Ashton
Charlotte Ashton is a British television presenter. She presents Revealed... on BBC Switch alongside Anthony Baxter.-Career:Ashton started her career at BBC Radio 4 and has written for The Guardian newspaper....
and Anthony Baxter
Anthony Baxter
Anthony Baxter is a British television presenter from Rochdale. He presents Revealed... on BBC Switch on BBC2 alongside Charlotte Ashton...
. The ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
show Greek
Greek (TV series)
Greek is an American comedy-drama television series, which follows students of the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University , located in Ohio, who participate in the school's Greek system...
was also shown.
Since 2008 continuity links for BBC Switch on BBC Two were presented by Tom Deacon and AJ Odudu either at an outdoor location in various parts of the UK or indoors in The 5:19 Show studio. Previously it was presented by 'Flash Louis'.
The 5:19 Show also had a slot on Saturday afternoons, a show that is focussed around a celebrity interview with a game that often uses a pun on the celebrity name. This was also presented by Tom Deacon and AJ Odudu. (The 5:19 Show is also used for the interstitials.) Tom Deacon also hosted a 5:19 Show as part of the Sunday night Switch broadcast on Radio 1.
Radio
BBC Radio 1 devotes Sunday evenings to BBC Switch from 7.00pm. The 5:19 show starts at 7 pm and finishes at 9 pm when the surgery with Aled starts. Then at 10 pm Annie and Nick, who previously aired from 7-10 pm, air until midnight."Switch" is unique in the fact that younger viewers' contributions are also aired. Some are even involved in pre- and post-production roles.
BBC Radio Switch the digital sister station of BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
launched in 2008.
Online
BBC Switch online is a website portal linking teens to content across the BBC including BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1XtraBBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra is a digital radio station in the United Kingdom from the BBC specialising in new black music, sometimes referred to as urban music. Launched at 18:00 on 16 August 2002, it had been codenamed Network X during the consulation period and is the sister station to BBC Radio 1...
, BBC Blast and EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. The Switch brand also includes Slink
Slink
Slink is an online magazine published by the BBC for teenage girls. The health articles on the site are written by Dr Mel, a regular contributor to BBC Radio 1's The Sunday Surgery and Top of the Pops magazine. Slink is created by members of BBC Switch....
an online magazine for teenage girls.
Annie Mac
Annie Mac
Annie Mac is an Irish DJ and television presenter who hosts an eponymous electronic dance music show on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom which airs at 7:00 pm on Friday evenings as well as a Sunday evening show alongside co-presenter Nick Grimshaw.-Personal life:Annie Mac was born in Dublin,...
said: "I'm really honoured and excited to be involved with BBC Switch on Sunday nights. The show is going to be like nothing heard on radio before. It's a proper challenge for me and something I can't wait to get stuck in to.
"As for Sound, I'm really looking forward to working with Grimmy [Nick Grimshaw] and the opportunity to showcase new and upcoming bands on TV is truly exciting for me, it's so important that music gets this kind of TV exposure."
The 5:19 show was also part of BBC Switch. It was hosted by Tom Deacon and AJ Odudu online from Monday to Friday at 5:19. The show was named 5:19 in recognition of the time most teenagers log-on.
Live events
The first BBC Switch Live was held on 12 October 2008 at the Hammersmith ApolloHammersmith Apollo
Hammersmith Apollo is a major entertainment venue located in Hammersmith, London. Designed by Robert Cromie in Art Deco style, it opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, being re-named the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962...
. It featured performances by Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
, Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
, McFly
McFly
McFly are an English pop rock band who first found fame in 2004. The band consists of Tom Fletcher , Danny Jones , Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd . They were signed to the Island Records label from their 2004 launch until December 2007, before creating their own label, Super Records...
, Basshunter
Basshunter
Jonas Erik Altberg , better known by his stage name Basshunter, is a Swedish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. He is best known for his number one hits "Boten Anna", "Dota", "Now You're Gone" and "All I Ever Wanted". Basshunter has so far released a total of six albums, two of which have...
and N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
, with a special guest performance by George Sampson
George Sampson
George Jennifer Sampson is a street dancer and actor from Warrington, England. He won the second series of Britain's Got Talent on 31 May 2008 at the age of 14.-2007 series:...
. The event, hosted by Annie Mac
Annie Mac
Annie Mac is an Irish DJ and television presenter who hosts an eponymous electronic dance music show on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom which airs at 7:00 pm on Friday evenings as well as a Sunday evening show alongside co-presenter Nick Grimshaw.-Personal life:Annie Mac was born in Dublin,...
, Nick Grimshaw
Nick Grimshaw
Nicholas Peter "Nick" Grimshaw is a British television and radio presenter. Commonly known as 'Grimmy', he has presented shows for Channel 4, E4, BBC One, BBC Two and Channel 4 youth strand T4...
, Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne is an English media personality, television personality, host, judge, fashion designer, singer, and actress, best known for being the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne...
and Tom Deacon, was strictly for 14 to 17 year olds.
The second event was held on 8 November 2009, at the same venue. Aled Haydn Jones
Aled Haydn Jones
Aled Haydn Jones is a Welsh radio producer and radio presenter. Since 2004 he has worked on The Chris Moyles Show.-Personal history:...
, Kimberly Walsh
Kimberly Walsh
Kimberley Walsh is a British slalom canoer who competed in the mid 2000s. She won a silver medal in the K-1 team event at the 2005 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Penrith, west of Sydney.-References:*...
, Annie Mac
Annie Mac
Annie Mac is an Irish DJ and television presenter who hosts an eponymous electronic dance music show on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom which airs at 7:00 pm on Friday evenings as well as a Sunday evening show alongside co-presenter Nick Grimshaw.-Personal life:Annie Mac was born in Dublin,...
and Nick Grimshaw
Nick Grimshaw
Nicholas Peter "Nick" Grimshaw is a British television and radio presenter. Commonly known as 'Grimmy', he has presented shows for Channel 4, E4, BBC One, BBC Two and Channel 4 youth strand T4...
hosted, with many acts playing, including The Saturdays
The Saturdays
The Saturdays are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London, United Kingdom. The group consists of five members Una Healy, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford, Vanessa White and Rochelle Wiseman. In 2007 the band were formed through Fascination Records which gave them an instant record deal with...
, JLS
JLS
- Music :* JLS, an English boyband** JLS , debut album by JLS* JLS a Spanish Rock band based in Zaragoza , Spain formed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by lead Leo Susana.- Organizations :...
, N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
, The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
, Shaheen Jafargholi
Shaheen Jafargholi
Shaheen Jafargholi is a Welsh teen actor and singer from Swansea, Wales. He is of Iranian and Welsh descent. He appeared on ITV's Britain's Got Talent show and sang "Who's Lovin' You" at Michael Jackson's globally televised public memorial service in July 2009...
, Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is a British R&B and pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008...
and Pixie Lott
Pixie Lott
Victoria Louise "Pixie" Lott is an English singer-songwriter, dancer and actress. Her debut single "Mama Do" was released in June 2009 and went straight to number one in the UK Singles Chart. Her second single "Boys and Girls", also topped the UK charts in September 2009. Her debut album Turn It...
. Many of the performances were made available for viewing on the BBC Switch website. The awards were designed and produced by UK trophy manufacturer Gaudio Awards.
Closure
Director general Mark Thompson's strategic review of the corporation's scope and activities included proposals to close the cross media brands BBC Switch and BBC Blast, which are aimed at teenagers.In February 2010, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspapers both reported that the BBC Switch website was under threat of closure, in a review of the BBC's online presence.
On 5 July 2010, the BBC Trust
BBC Trust
The BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers....
published an interim announcement which confirmed that the Trust would support Mark Thompson's proposal to close BBC Blast! and BBC Switch, effectively signalling the closure of both brands. But confirmed that BBC Radio Switch as well as their involvement with BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
would continue under the management of BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
.
On Friday 17 December Andy Parfitt
Andy Parfitt
Andrew Parfitt is an English radio administrator who was the Controller of BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom, He held that role from 1998-2011, taking over from Matthew Bannister...
confirmed he will remain in control of BBC Radio Switch.
On Saturday 18 December 2010, BBC Switch finally ended. It was announced that the closure of BBC Switch was due to a 25% cut in the BBC Online budget, reducing it by £34 million. All possibility that the site would return was removed upon this announcement on 24 January 2011.