BBC Children's digital-first commissioning

We’re committed to reaching the UK’s children wherever they are to deliver our public service mission to inform, educate and entertain. We’re therefore commissioning ‘digital-first’ titles specifically created for online platforms, helping to build connections with new audiences and ensure we can bring our trusted and inclusive home-grown content to them, in the places that they love to be.

Whilst there are many brilliant digital platforms, our initial focus to reach kids is YouTube, as so much of their viewing takes place there.

Because this content is not designed for linear channels, durations can be shorter or bespoke to suit the nature of the programme and platform rather than a schedule, and volumes should be high enough to be discoverable via platform algorithms to reach our audiences.

We recommend that anyone interested in developing Children’s content for digital platforms watch a recording of our 2026 BBC Children’s briefing that includes two sessions about YouTube: ‘YouTube Commissioning’ at 1 hour 54 mins and ‘Creators’ Panel’ at 2 hour 15 mins. A useful reference is also YouTube’s Made For Kids content guidelines and High-quality content principles, which provide more information about how children’s content is surfaced and managed on the platform.

Development priorities for 2026/27

Ages 7-12

Please note, we’re not currently accepting scripted drama, animation or overtly educational ideas (please see our BBC Bitesize commissioning page for these opportunities).

We are particularly interested in ideas for fun factual, entertainment and unscripted comedy series that feel native to YouTube, with episode durations of up to fifteen minutes. Have a look at our YouTube channels for guidance, specifically Epic Facts and Non-Stop Chaos.

When developing an idea for us, think about the time of day as well as the device that young people are watching on. What makes successful content feel authentic to that platform and need? Ofcom’s 2025 Media Nations report (pdf) may provide further insight. 

We need ideas that will perform well and will cut through crowded suggested video feeds, so think about how the idea can stand out, how it feels familiar to YouTube audiences and what makes it distinctly BBC. Again, the YouTube sessions recorded at our briefing may provide further insight and guidance for this.

The content we commission should always reflect our young viewers back to them as well as challenge them, make them laugh or teach them something new about the world they find themselves in - or ideally all of the above!

Ages 0-6

We’re not looking at traditional scripted drama or ideas that are overtly-educational or curricular based for the 0-6 audience at this time. Instead, we’re looking for to-camera, interactive moments to encourage our smallest viewers to jump up, join in, play and do. You can see some of our YouTube commissions already live on the CBeebies channel.

We want ideas that can introduce them to the world and make them excited to be part of it! A lot of our CBeebies linear content is about showing real kids doing activities, whereas successful YouTube viewing for this age group is more one-on-one, really speaking to the viewer directly. We want viewers to feel part of our CBeebies world and be invited into it, first-person.

We know this audience love an older figure to speak to them, to learn from and to laugh and play with, so think about how that may impact your idea for on-screen presenters.

Parents

The CBeebies Parenting YouTube channel builds on our relationship with caregivers that started with the BBC Tiny Happy People website and the CBeebies Parenting Promise.

We are keen to share stories from real families who have unique lived experiences, parents in the public eye, and experts in childcare to make new (and old hand!) caregivers feel they’re not alone on this challenging and wonderful journey.

CBeebies Parenting is designed for grownups and sits within the CBeebies universe, helping audiences draw a connection between their kids’ viewing habits and their growth and development. From birth to first words, to first meals, all the way to school readiness: we want to be the channel parents turn to as a trusted source for advice and companionship.

How to send us ideas

Ideas must be submitted to us via the PiCoS submission system but please email us first with a short outline of the concept with (where applicable) character descriptions, locations and sample storylines and any visual materials you already have so we can avoid wasting your time if the idea doesn’t fit our current needs.

For more information about how to submit ideas via PiCoS see the How we work page.

Please note the BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.