The Children’s Channel

The Children’s Channel, an early cable channel began broadcasting in 1984, it became available to Europe in 1986. IT was initially subscription based and transmitted from 0500 for 10 hours. The channel was backed by British Telecom, DC Thomson, Thames Television, Central Independent Television and Thorn EMI Home Electronics, the five leading UK companies in the communications business of its time. It later made the transition to the Astra Satellite in 1989. Renamed TCC, The Children’s Channel eventually moved it’s market to teens and the channel finally became ‘Trouble’. This is a quote from The Childrens Channel press April 1987: “The Children’s Channel is a satellite delivered service which is destined to delight children everywhere, every day of the week. Already an established success in the UK, it is available to cable operators in Northern Europe from December 1986. The Children’s Channel brings together the best programmes from around the world for young people, linked into magazines with top presenters who have long experience in childrens television. Content is aimed directly at school and pre-school children carefully scheduled to suit their various viewing times. From animation to drama features.

The Children’s Channel offers a range of entertainment that is second to none. The Channel also provides a variety of learning opportunities in language, science, computers, social studies and many other areas. A central policy of The Children’s Channel is to help children become active viewers rather than passive ones, and to involve other members of the family as well. About two-thirds of The Children’s Channel programmes are made in Europe, and nearly 30% are specially produced for the channel. All commissioned material is made by top producers, using the finest writing talent and presenters available. The formula works, and the channel’s success is reflected in the fact that it is the service which parents prefer their children to watch – and one they watch themselves. In fact, it is a channel for the whole family. The service has already been enchanced for European viewers by the addition of two early morning hours of transmission. It will soon be made even more valuable by the introduction of an English language teaching element.”