BBC 2W
Encyclopedia
BBC 2W was a digital television channel run by the British Broadcasting Corporation
in Wales until January 2009. It replaced the standard BBC Two
broadcast on digital services in Wales
— running on weekdays from 20:30 to 22:00. Launched on 5 November 2001, it had an initial reach of 1.1 million viewers. 2W broadcast in English
and was aimed at the English-speaking population, unlike S4C
, which broadcasts primarily in Welsh
. The digital-only service was replaced with a single BBC Two
for Wales on 2 January 2009.
The channel name on the Electronic Programme Guide was BBC 2W although outside its broadcast hours the channel was referred to onscreen as BBC Two Wales
, using the BBC Two
logo.
The channel was said to be unpopular with some viewers because of its policy of broadcasting only Welsh-based programmes (including many repeats) during its opt-out hours – unlike BBC Two Wales which only opted out for live sport and new programming. The first switchoff of analogue television in the UK
, for instance, was controversial because viewers in Llansteffan
and Ferryside
, whose analogue transmitter was due to be switched off, insisted that BBC Two Wales be left broadcasting in analogue.
The channel did provide a choice to all other viewers. Viewers on satellite could select a different BBC Two region (but not BBC Two Wales), and viewers on Freeview and cable could switch back to analogue to watch BBC Two Wales although they were unable to watch the programme in widescreen.
Originally, the channel's news programme was 2W News & Sport, launching with the channel. In 2005, this was replaced by a bulletin of Wales Today, also shown on BBC One
. The bulletin, entitled Wales Today on 2W carried the same titles as that on BBC One and was broadcast from the same studio with the same main presenters.
BBC 2W's original ident in 2001 was a bright green design with a stylised spinning cube that could transition directly into a programme menu. In 2003, a new set of idents debuted featuring a number of live action sequences where a green BBC 2W logo box is integrated into the scene as a physical object (such as on a beer tap or painted on a garage door), whilst still ending up in the bottom right-hand corner location like the usual BBC Two idents.
However from 18 February 2007, BBC 2W simply used the standard BBC Two idents with the 2W box. At crossover (when BBC Two Wales became BBC 2W) the boxes alternated between each other during the ident. This alternation also occurred during trailers which advertised programmes during BBC 2W hours.
. Digital BBC Two in Wales reverted to the network version, with less frequent regional programmes as is the arrangement on Analogue BBC Two Wales.
BBC 2W was designed to offer "a unique experience unavailable anywhere else with the watchwords of topicality and style, intelligence with an occasional touch of irreverence, shining through" for Welsh audiences.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in Wales until January 2009. It replaced the standard 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...
broadcast on digital services in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
— running on weekdays from 20:30 to 22:00. Launched on 5 November 2001, it had an initial reach of 1.1 million viewers. 2W broadcast in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and was aimed at the English-speaking population, unlike S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
, which broadcasts primarily in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. The digital-only service was replaced with a single 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...
for Wales on 2 January 2009.
The channel name on the Electronic Programme Guide was BBC 2W although outside its broadcast hours the channel was referred to onscreen as BBC Two Wales
BBC Two Wales
BBC Two Wales is the national variation of BBC Two for BBC Cymru Wales. It is broadcast to Wales from Broaadcasting House in Cardiff. The channel can opt out from the main BBC Two schedule to show Welsh made programming, however this is used less frequently than in the past.Between 5 November 2001...
, using the 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...
logo.
The channel was said to be unpopular with some viewers because of its policy of broadcasting only Welsh-based programmes (including many repeats) during its opt-out hours – unlike BBC Two Wales which only opted out for live sport and new programming. The first switchoff of analogue television in the UK
Digital television in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom now has three major forms of broadcast digital television , a direct-to-home satellite service from the Astra 28.2°E satellites provided by British Sky Broadcasting and Freesat, digital cable television services provided by Virgin Media and WightCable, and a free-to-air digital...
, for instance, was controversial because viewers in Llansteffan
Llansteffan
Llansteffan is a village in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Llansteffan is one of three settlements positioned on the Tywi river, other settlements include Ferryside and Carmarthen . Llansteffan Castle, built by the Normans in the 12th century, is located in the village...
and Ferryside
Ferryside
Ferryside is a seaside village in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is situated 8½ miles south of Carmarthen, near the mouth of the River Tywi and close to golden sandy beaches....
, whose analogue transmitter was due to be switched off, insisted that BBC Two Wales be left broadcasting in analogue.
The channel did provide a choice to all other viewers. Viewers on satellite could select a different BBC Two region (but not BBC Two Wales), and viewers on Freeview and cable could switch back to analogue to watch BBC Two Wales although they were unable to watch the programme in widescreen.
Originally, the channel's news programme was 2W News & Sport, launching with the channel. In 2005, this was replaced by a bulletin of Wales Today, also shown on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
. The bulletin, entitled Wales Today on 2W carried the same titles as that on BBC One and was broadcast from the same studio with the same main presenters.
On Screen Presentation
However from 18 February 2007, BBC 2W simply used the standard BBC Two idents with the 2W box. At crossover (when BBC Two Wales became BBC 2W) the boxes alternated between each other during the ident. This alternation also occurred during trailers which advertised programmes during BBC 2W hours.
Closure
The BBC closed down BBC 2W in the run-up to digital switchover as part of plans to achieve 3% annual efficiencies at BBC WalesBBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
. Digital BBC Two in Wales reverted to the network version, with less frequent regional programmes as is the arrangement on Analogue BBC Two Wales.
BBC 2W was designed to offer "a unique experience unavailable anywhere else with the watchwords of topicality and style, intelligence with an occasional touch of irreverence, shining through" for Welsh audiences.