The Impact of the BBC - Children's and Education
The cornerstone of children’s media in the UK
Our mission to ‘inform, educate and entertain’ is the driving force behind the content we provide for children, young people and their families.
In a media world increasingly dominated by global providers, we deliver high- quality programming, rooted in homegrown storytelling, which keeps UK children in touch with our culture and the world around them.
And through our educational content and services, which have been at the heart of the BBC for over 100 years, our goal is to help people, whatever their stage of life, to achieve their full potential.
A global leader in children's content
No. 1
The BBC is the no.1 global commissioner of children’s content, creating more titles than anyone else, delivering 340 hours of original children’s programming in 24/25 - we’re the only UK broadcaster in the top 10 of global commissioners
70%
70% of under 16’s use BBC TV/iPlayer, Radio or Online on average per week, helping young people to understand their nation and the world beyond. We are the only UK media brand in the top 5 most used for UK young people (16-34)
The cornerstone of children’s media in the UK
- As other providers retreat, our annual investment underpins the sector, accounting for 88% of all first-run UK original children’s programming by PSBs in 2024/25
- iPlayer serves as a primary destination for high-impact, distinctively British children’s content, with a 30% increase in viewing hours over the last two years – we’re also making our content available on other platforms, going to where the audience is, such as a new educational partnership with Roblox
- We are generating more third party income, including via co-productions – amounting this year to an additional 50% of value to our commissioning budget
3.5 million
Newsround, the iconic home of trusted news for children and young people, reaches 3.5m children per week
50+
We commission over 50 individual titles each year portraying life across the UK, including dramas such as Crongton, Malory Towers and The Dumping Ground; comedies like High Hoops, Pickle Storm, Waffle’s After School Club and The Football Fantastics; and factual series such as The Football Academy, Horrible Science, Blue Peter and Operation Ouch!
Transforming lives through innovative, ground-breaking educational content
61% of UK adults think the BBC is effective at helping them learn new things
BBC Bitesize, the BBC’s free online learning service, reaches 66% of primary school children and 80% of secondary, 66% of teachers use it weekly, and 83% of under 16’s who use it say it helps them understand their studies more - we’re also transforming our offer, such as exploring new AI-powered learning
Bitesize for Teachers supports teachers with curriculum-related resources, CBeebies Parenting supports parents and carers in developing language skills for 0-4 year olds, and initiatives such as our Bitesize media literacy series Solve The Story help equip students and teachers with tools to tackle mis-and-disinformation
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