BBC 2W

BBC 2W
Launched	5 November 2001
Owned by	British Broadcasting Corporation
Audience share	no data available (January 2006, [1])
Country	Wales
Sister channel(s)	BBC Two
Website	www.bbc.co.uk/wales/2w
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview	Channel 2 (Wales only)
Satellite
Sky Digital	Channel 102 (Wales) and 991 BBC UK regional TV on satellite
Cable
Virgin Media	Channel 102 (Wales only)

BBC 2W is a digital television channel run by the British Broadcasting Corporation. It replaces the standard BBC Two broadcast on digital services in Wales — running on weekdays from 20:30 to 22:00.^[1] Launched on 5 November 2001, it had an initial reach of 1.1 million viewers^[2], and currently reaches approximately half of the nation's population. 2W broadcasts in English and is aimed at the English-speaking population, unlike S4C, which broadcasts primarily in Welsh.

The channel name on the Electronic Programme Guide is always BBC 2W although outside its broadcast hours the channel is referred to onscreen as BBC Two Wales, using the BBC Two teal logo.

The channel is 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^{[citation needed]}– unlike BBC Two Wales which only opts out for live sport and new programming. The first switchoff of analogue television in the UK, for instance, was unsuccessful 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.

Titles of the original news programme: 2W News & Sport.

The channel does however provide a choice to all other viewers. Viewers on Satellite can select a different BBC Two region (but not BBC Two Wales) which will show other programming and viewers on Freeview and Cable can switch back to analogue in order to watch BBC Two Wales. This however means they are unable to watch the programme in widescreen, there is no EPG information and picture quality may arguably be poorer. It also means that Freeview/Cable PVR's are unable to record these programmes.

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 carries the same titles as that on BBC One and is from the same studio with the same main presenters.

On Screen Presentation

The idents from shortly after launch-February 2007 showed the box as a real physical object rather than overlaid on the film.

BBC 2W's original ident was a bright green design with a stylized spinning cube design that also could transition directly into a programme menu, but it was scrapped shortly afterwards.

BBC 2W's final set of unique idents would be based on the theme of the BBC 2W box logo being a physical element in the scene instead of being electronically overlaid, but still ending up in the bottom right-hand corner like the usual BBC Two idents.

However from 18 February 2007, BBC 2W has simply used the standard BBC Two idents with the 2W box replacing the normal teal box. At crossover (when BBC Two Wales becomes BBC 2W) the boxes alternate between each other during the ident. This alternation also occurs during trailers which advertise programmes during BBC 2W hours.

Closure

The BBC is to close down BBC 2W in the run-up to digital switchover as part of plans to achieve 3% annual efficiencies at BBC Wales. Digital BBC Two in Wales shall revert to the network version, with less frequent regional programmes as is currently 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.^[3]

References

BBC portal

External links

• BBC 2W at bbc.co.uk
• BBC 2W listings at bbc.co.uk