BBC Moves ‘Newsround’ To News Unit & Beefs Up CBeebies Under Kids Content Changes

EXCLUSIVE: The BBC is re-shuffling its kids content teams as part of plans to boost brands and better serve young audiences.

Under changes announced internally on Wednesday, the BBC is moving children’s news show Newsround to its news division and beefing up pre-school brand Cbeebies, which is home to hits including Hey Duggee and Bluey.

CBBC was conspicuously absent from the restructure. The BBC is slowly winding down the TV network and putting a greater emphasis on iPlayer content for children over the age of seven.

Newsround has long been housed under the BBC’s children’s content unit, but the production team and editor Lewis James will now sit under BBC News.

The Newsround switch is not expected to result in any significant editorial changes, but the plan is to amplify its output and better integrate the team into the wider BBC newsroom culture.

Cbeebies, meanwhile, is being positioned as the front door to the BBC for all preschool content. For example, the brand will subsume Tiny Happy People, an online education resource for language and communication skills.

A BBC spokesperson said: “The changes will enable us to achieve our creative ambitions for Children’s and Education as we deliver more value for audiences across the UK.”

The changes follow Deadline’s report last week about BBC plans to close 11 kids unit jobs after a decision was made to outsource presentation links between shows on CBBC.