To wonder why CBeebies etc don't broadcast through the night

(49 Posts)
DoJo Tue 18-Mar-14 18:48:20

Just that really - surely it would make sense for all the parents who are up with teething, ill or just restless little ones to have age-appropriate TV to watch so that they can be distracted from whatever ails them.

My son is ill atm and I am more than likely to be up with him in the night, when we will have a wonderful selection of airport programmes and 20 minute long adverts - never thought I would long for Mr Maker or In the Night Garden, but sometimes they are just what you need...

SageMist Tue 18-Mar-14 18:51:49

It's because cbbc and cbeebies are actually the same digital channels as BBC three and BBC four. So they can't be on at the same time.

Thetallesttower Tue 18-Mar-14 18:52:54

I didn't know that, I always wondered why CBBC stopped at 7pm when many children up to age 10 or so are still awake.

BrianButterfield Tue 18-Mar-14 18:53:56

That's what iPlayer is for!

Kif Tue 18-Mar-14 18:54:38

Iplayer has all the mister maker you could want!

Don't mess with the sacred bedtime hour!

pussycatdoll Tue 18-Mar-14 18:55:00

It's because the BBC wants to control us & tell us when to put our kids to bed

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks Tue 18-Mar-14 18:55:09

I guess there are a few reasons. The first been they have the bedtime hour slot, which I have heard a few parents use it as part of their bedtime routine (not tried it myself though).
The second being the fact they use a lot of presenters, so they would either need to swap to back to back shows (repeats so they don't mess other schedualing) or get a full cast and crew to work the night shift.
Viewing figures between 7pm and 5am are likely to be low compared to daytime figures.
It is handy to be able to switch to CBeebies and show reluctant children that it is so late TV has gone to bed!
Also having the TV on can be too much stimulation when you are trying to settle a child.

But YWNBU to sky plus / BT vision or record a few of these shows to have on hand for such events.

normaleggy Tue 18-Mar-14 18:55:49


KatAndKit Tue 18-Mar-14 18:56:04

If you have sky plus or virgin just record some favourites. We have 20 Mr tumbles and 17 baby Jakes and a couple of itng ready for sickness emergencies.

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks Tue 18-Mar-14 18:56:22

Did not know that sagemist as my BT vision has them on very different channels.

KatAndKit Tue 18-Mar-14 18:57:40

And yes it is very handy having beebies end at 7. They all go to bed in that little song at the end so it is a nice start to bedtime routine.

youbethemummylion Tue 18-Mar-14 18:58:20

To bore the kids back to sleep after their calpol etc has been given?! I have never thought of letting them watch TV in the middle if the night just gave medicine/cuddles/back to bed or in with us if absolutely necessary.

HadABadDay2014 Tue 18-Mar-14 19:00:30

Don't mess around with the bedtime hour, my sister would never get DN to sleep. He watches 1 hour of tv a day and that's the bedtime hour.

whois Tue 18-Mar-14 19:09:43

Cos most kids are meant to be in bed???

Get yourself a DVD or record something, or iplayer something.

WandaDoff Tue 18-Mar-14 19:11:31

Disney Junior keeps going til at least midnight.

Threetofour Tue 18-Mar-14 19:13:59

Why the hell would you put any ill/teething kid in front of the tv at night??

EeeIcouldCrushAGrape Tue 18-Mar-14 19:17:22


This! grin
Cbeebies having a cut off time of 7pm was great - they used to do the bedtime story and song the song and say "night, night, see you tomorrow morning" and the little angels knew it must be bedtime as Cbeebies said so. smile
How the heck would they know or believe you if the blasted thing played all through the night?! grin

EeeIcouldCrushAGrape Tue 18-Mar-14 19:18:00

sing the song not song the song hmm

hazeyjane Tue 18-Mar-14 19:21:22

DVDs, iplayer, sky plus, other channels (Little Bear was always middle of the night last resort for dd's). I don't think cbeebies really need to be on overnight.

threetofour because sometimes it is a good way of distracting an ill child.

LetZygonsbeZygons Tue 18-Mar-14 19:22:19

that's why we have sky.
nothing appropriate apart from top gear on in early evenings, so Dc can watch Disney or something until her bedtime at 8-8.30, she winds down with the tv after dinner (and I can mn then!grin.

Sagemist is correct, they appear as separate channels but are part of the same transmission.

The BBC recently announced plans to axe BBC 3 and extend CBBC's hours. I think CBeebies would be better because toddlers have better excuses for being up at 3AM than older children.

80sMum Tue 18-Mar-14 19:29:33

You think you don't have enough TV? When mine were little, children's TV was only on for a few hours a day - and all TV closed down at 11.30pm!

littleducks Tue 18-Mar-14 19:34:40


I used to record bedtime hour and put it on the next day an hour early, when dh worked abroad!

LetZygonsbeZygons Tue 18-Mar-14 19:39:00

80smum but back then evening tv was more family friendly wasn't it?

im from the days of playschool at 3 to magic roundabout at 5.40 and I remember we could sit and watch stuff after as a family.

LetZygonsbeZygons Tue 18-Mar-14 19:39:42

I don't think OP is saying it has to be on ALL night, just a couple of hours more till maybe 8-8.30 at LEAST.

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