BBC 2W

BBC 2W was a digital-only television service operated by BBC Wales for audiences in Wales. It launched on 5 November 2001, replacing BBC Choice Wales after that service closed earlier the same year. The channel occupied the BBC Two Wales digital frequency during its designated regional hours, generally broadcasting on weekdays from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Outside those hours, the service was presented as BBC Two Wales and carried the regular BBC Two schedule. The channel was designed primarily for Welsh viewers who watched television in English. This gave it a distinct position within the Welsh broadcasting environment, alongside S4C, whose schedule was predominantly Welsh-language. At launch, digital television was available in approximately 40% of Welsh households, giving BBC 2W a comparatively substantial potential audience for a digital-only regional service. Its stated editorial ambition was to provide a distinctive service built around topicality, style, intelligence and occasional irreverence, with programming reflecting Welsh life and interests. BBC 2W's opening night was a theme evening devoted to Welsh singer Tom Jones. Its schedule subsequently included regional news, sport, factual programming, entertainment and repeats of Wales-related programmes. The original news service, 2W News & Sport, launched with presenters including Jason Mohammad and Frances Donovan and initially occupied a 9 p.m. slot. In 2005 it was replaced by a Wales Today bulletin branded Wales Today on 2W, using the same titles, studio and principal presenters as the BBC One Wales programme. Sport was an important part of the service. Rugby coverage included Scrum V and Scrum V Live, and from early 2002 some rugby programmes were accompanied by interactive television data services providing match information. The regional opt-out could also affect the scheduling of network programmes. Some programmes shown on BBC Two nationally were pre-empted during BBC 2W hours and later rescheduled on BBC One Wales, sometimes late at night. The service's regional identity was reinforced through its presentation design. Its first idents used a bright green visual style and a spinning cube that could transition into a programme menu. A second identity introduced in 2003 placed a green BBC 2W logo box into live-action settings, such as a beer tap or a garage door. From February 2007, the channel largely adopted standard BBC Two idents adapted with a 2W box, with the BBC Two Wales and BBC 2W boxes alternating at the regional crossover. BBC 2W also attracted criticism. Some viewers objected to the policy of using its opt-out hours for Welsh-based programmes, including repeats, rather than limiting regional departures to live sport and new programming. The transition to digital broadcasting created additional controversy in areas affected by analogue switch-off, including Llansteffan and Ferryside, where viewers argued that BBC Two Wales should remain available in analogue form. Satellite viewers could select another BBC Two region, while Freeview and cable viewers had other ways to access the network service, although these alternatives did not always provide an equivalent widescreen presentation. BBC 2W closed on 2 January 2009 as part of preparations for digital switchover and BBC Wales plans to deliver annual efficiency savings. The digital Welsh service reverted to the network BBC Two schedule, with regional programming appearing less frequently than under the dedicated BBC 2W arrangement. The channel therefore remained a short-lived experiment in regional digital broadcasting rather than becoming a permanent standalone BBC service.

BBC 2W emerged from the BBC's effort to develop regional digital television in Wales. Its immediate predecessor was BBC Choice Wales, which closed on 30 March 2001. BBC 2W launched several months later, on 5 November 2001, and used the BBC Two Wales digital capacity during weekday evening hours. The service generally broadcast from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., while the same channel outside those hours was identified as BBC Two Wales and carried the regular BBC Two schedule. The service was aimed at Welsh residents who watched television in English. This distinguished it from S4C, whose programming was primarily in Welsh, and reflected the BBC's attempt to provide a specifically Welsh regional offer within the expanding digital television environment. At launch, digital television access reached about 40% of Welsh households, a relatively high level compared with other parts of the United Kingdom. BBC 2W was consequently presented as a potentially important regional service even though its distribution was initially limited to digital platforms. Its programming strategy combined Welsh-focused content with the broader BBC Two identity. The opening night was a Tom Jones theme evening. The channel then developed a schedule of regional news, sport, factual programming, entertainment and repeats. News and sport were initially combined in 2W News & Sport, which launched with presenters Jason Mohammad and Frances Donovan and was first scheduled at 9 p.m. The programme had become popular by January 2002. In 2005, the service replaced it with Wales Today on 2W, a bulletin using the branding, studio and principal presenters associated with Wales Today on BBC One Wales. Rugby formed a prominent part of the channel's regional offer. Scrum V and Scrum V Live were among the programmes given interactive television enhancements in January 2002, enabling viewers to access additional match information. Similar interactive treatment was extended to other programmes during 2002. The channel also provided a platform for Welsh-based programmes, including repeats, during its opt-out hours. That policy generated complaints from viewers who preferred the network BBC Two schedule and believed regional departures should be concentrated on live sport and new programming. BBC 2W's visual identity changed during its life. The original 2001 presentation package used a bright green design and a stylised spinning cube capable of moving into a programme menu. In 2003, a new set of live-action idents incorporated a green BBC 2W logo box into physical scenes, including objects such as a beer tap or a garage door. From 18 February 2007, the service used standard BBC Two idents adapted with the 2W box. At the point where the schedule changed between BBC Two Wales and BBC 2W, the two boxes could alternate in idents and trailers. The regional digital arrangement became particularly contentious during the United Kingdom's transition away from analogue television. Viewers in Llansteffan and Ferryside, among areas involved in the first analogue switch-off, argued that BBC Two Wales should continue to be available in analogue form. Platform differences also affected how audiences experienced the service: satellite viewers could select another BBC Two region, while Freeview and cable viewers could switch to the analogue service where available, although this could mean losing widescreen presentation. BBC 2W was discontinued on 2 January 2009 as part of the preparations for digital switchover and BBC Wales's plans to achieve annual efficiencies of 3%. Following closure, digital BBC Two in Wales reverted to the network version, with regional programming appearing less often than during BBC 2W's dedicated opt-out hours. The channel's short existence made it an example of early regional digital broadcasting: it provided a distinctive Welsh service but was ultimately absorbed into a less regionally intensive BBC Two arrangement.

• 2009

  BBC 2W closes

  [1]BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org

  The service closed on 2 January and digital BBC Two in Wales returned to the network schedule.

• 2007

  BBC Two presentation adopted

  [1]BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org

  From 18 February, BBC 2W used standard BBC Two idents modified with the 2W box.

• 2005

  News format changes

  [1]BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org

  2W News & Sport was replaced by a Wales Today bulletin branded Wales Today on 2W.

• 2002

  Interactive rugby services introduced

  [1]BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org

  Scrum V and Scrum V Live received interactive television data features containing match information.

• 2001

  BBC Choice Wales closes

  [1]BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org

  BBC Choice Wales ended on 30 March 2001, creating the immediate predecessor context for BBC 2W.

• 2001

  BBC 2W launches

  [1]BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org

  The digital television channel began broadcasting on 5 November with a Tom Jones-themed opening night.

An English-language regional digital television service for Wales, combining BBC Two programming with Welsh-focused news, sport, factual content and entertainment.

• Regional television channel · 2001

  BBC 2W digital channel

  An English-language digital television service for Wales. It occupied the BBC Two Wales digital service during weekday evening opt-out hours and carried regionally focused news, sport, factual programming, entertainment and repeats.

• Television news · 2001

  2W News & Sport

  BBC 2W's original news and sports bulletin, launched with the channel and initially scheduled at 9 p.m. It was presented at launch by Jason Mohammad and Frances Donovan before being replaced in 2005.

• Television news · 2005

  Wales Today on 2W

  A regional bulletin introduced in 2005 as the successor to 2W News & Sport. It used the Wales Today titles, studio and main presenters associated with BBC One Wales.

• Sports programming · 2002

  Scrum V and Scrum V Live

  Welsh rugby programmes broadcast on the service. In January 2002 they received interactive television enhancements that gave viewers additional match information.

• 2001BBC 2W tuning promotion

  Wales

  Around Christmas 2001, BBC One Wales broadcast a 90-second musical promotional film explaining how viewers could tune in to BBC 2W. BBC Wales personalities Rupert Moon, Jane Harvey and Derek Brockway appeared in the promotion.

  Outcome. The promotion supported awareness and channel access during the service's first year.

  Source

• 2009

  Close BBC 2W and revert to network BBC TwoStrategy

  Background

  The BBC was preparing for digital switchover and BBC Wales was pursuing plans to achieve annual efficiencies of 3%.

  Action taken

  BBC 2W closed on 2 January 2009, and the digital Welsh BBC Two service returned to the network schedule.

  Aftermath

  Regional programming continued less frequently, while the dedicated BBC 2W opt-out arrangement ended.

  Source

• 2005

  Replace the original news and sport bulletinStrategy

  Background

  BBC 2W's original 2W News & Sport bulletin was part of the channel's launch schedule and had gained popularity by early 2002.

  Action taken

  The BBC replaced it with Wales Today on 2W, using the established Wales Today branding and production arrangement.

  Aftermath

  The channel continued to provide a Wales-focused news bulletin, but under the BBC One Wales Wales Today identity.

  Source

• 2009

  BBC 2W closes ahead of digital switchover[1]BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The channel ended on 2 January 2009. Digital BBC Two in Wales returned to the network schedule, with fewer regional opt-outs.

• 2002

  BBC 2W introduces interactive rugby information services[1]BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Rugby programmes including Scrum V and Scrum V Live added interactive television data services with match information.

• 2001

  BBC 2W launches as a digital television service in Wales[1]BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  BBC 2W began broadcasting on 5 November 2001, replacing BBC Choice Wales during its digital regional hours.

1. 1BBC 2Wen.wikipedia.org