 | |
| Network | BBC Two |
|---|---|
| Launched | 9 October 1995; 30 years ago (1995-10-09) |
| Closed | 24 July 2015; 10 years ago (2015-07-24) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Owner | BBC |
| Formerly known as | The Learning Zone |
| Format | Late nighteducational programming |
| Original language | English |
| Official website | Official website |
TheBBC Learning Zone (previouslyThe Learning Zone) was an educational strand run by theBBC as anovernight service onBBC Two. It broadcast programming aimed at students in Primary, Secondary and Higher Education as well as to adult learners. Viewers are encouraged to watch programmes after the original broadcast via the use of, originallyVHS, then laterDVD. In 2015, the BBC confirmed that due to budget cuts, the service would no longer be running.
The BBC Learning Zone was launched as The Learning Zone on 9 October 1995, as an extension service ofBBC2, to free up more of their schedule. Previously, these educational programmes had been based on the channel in mornings and often until the early afternoon on weekdays. However, following the channel's rebranding to the"2" idents and the increased viewer perception that resulted from it, the channel was anxious to use more of their daytime for different programming. The Learning Zone was the solution to this problem.
The idea had been around for a while: by 1995,ITV was operating as a 24-hour channel, freeing up their prime time and daytime schedules. TheBBC attempted producing specialist television overnight by launchingBBC Select. This service played out encrypted programming for professions such as medicine and law overnight between 1992 and 1995.[citation needed] Also, from the start of 1993, someBBC Schools programmes were shown (as subject blocks or a series block) overnight as part of a new experiment called Nightschool TV.[1]
When BBC Two's regular programmes concluded for the night, the channel would transfer toPages from Ceefax, until the service began at 12.30am (2am on Monday mornings). It would continue through the night, ending at 7am. Programming was also broadcast at the weekend, but only for two hours, between 3am and 5am forDynaMo, were shown on Fridays and Saturdays. In January 2004, the service started at 2am every day and continuing until 6am when programming on BBC Two would begin, however this was not always the case. The service then ran between 4am and 6am, and usually did not operate when schools were not open (Summer, Easter Holidays etc.).
In 1997, when theBBC rebranded, The Learning Zone was renamed BBC Learning Zone, became a separate strand of programming in its own right and became independent ofBBC Two.
In 2015, the BBC confirmed that 'due to budget cuts', the service would no longer be running on BBC Two. Instead, it was said to be moving online on the BBC Education and BBC Teach websites. The final BBC Learning Zone aired in the early hours of 24 July 2015.[2]
The service, upon launch, was used for the transfer of programming, including the bulk ofOpen University programming, secondary school programming previously from theBBC Schools strand as well as other programming.
Programming was divided up into segments, as seen below:
These segments ran on alternate days and for only certain times of the year. The segments and programming may be changed during exam seasons, so programming is revision orientated, with the programmeBBC Bitesize being a staple of the schedule.
On 15 December 2006, the last Open University programme was broadcast on the service, following which the strand was removed from the service.[3]Schools programmes ended when BBC Learning Zone finished in 2015. Languages programmes (shown during the summer months) were dropped after Summer 2012. BBC Two instead now shows rolling programme previews under the nameThis is BBC Two. In 2010, the remaining primaryschools programmes, previously shown at 11am for one hour during weekdays (except Wednesday), were transferred to the Learning Zone fromBBC Two.
Unusual among BBC services, few to no programme shown on the BBC Learning Zone is available to be watched again on theBBC iPlayer, due to rights restrictions on the programmes. As compensation, the BBC launched a section calledLearning Zone Broadband, or more simplyClass Clips which includes segments from Learning Zone as well as clips taken from other relevant BBC programmes. These clips were available to watch on demand over the internet for free. This service provided teachers and students with a range of resources, including case studies and experiments, to use in class or elsewhere. The service is no longer in use. Clips are now available on the BBC Teach website.
Upon launch on 9 October 1995, the strand was introduced with a variation of the"2" idents and had a logo featuring an orange stylised Learning Zone logo.
On 6 October 1997, when the strand became separate, the station's current identification was created, showing an oak tree and an acorn. The acorn falls from a tree, while a number of identification processes take place, including athermal image, a database match on computer, measurements taken, newspaper archives,aerodynamic investigation, cross section, 3D image and the name in different languages before the acorn finally falls to the ground and seeds to become an oak sapling. The ident is accompanied by an updated logo featuring theBBC logo and 'Learning Zone' written after in capital letters. The identification was generally only used at the beginning of the strand. Links between programmes were made using programme menus and continuity voice overs. Programme menus and static information slides were made using the logo at the bottom, and an image related to the identification featuring in the background. Very few programme slides and promotions were used.
In 2004, four supplementary idents were introduced to link into the programmes themselves. They still featured the 1997 presentational style and were based around the theme of the seasons, with one used each season. They featured the oak tree in the background and people at rest and play around it. The 1997 ident was still used to open the strand. Also introduced in 2004, were opening films to introduce the programme menu. These featured clips showing on screen of the programmes in the Learning Zone and of the acorn falling, before a version of the logo with back-lighting moving from left to right, accompanied by the music 'Wired' by Atmosphere Music Ltd. The programme menu was also redesigned with falling acorns as the background. Both new devices were colour-coded to the strand: blue for Open University, green for languages and red for schools.
Unusually for a terrestrial BBC channel, the strand is accompanied by aBBC TwoDOG in the top left corner of the screen. Other DOGs accompany the programmes, while some lengthy educational programmes include a timer in the top right corner to make it easier to scan and find the section the viewer wants.
The acorn ident is the longest BBC ident ever used, having beaten theBBC Two "2" idents in 2008.[4]
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