View source for BBC Four

{{Short description|British television channel}}
{{Redirect|BBC4|the BBC radio stations|BBC Radio 4|and|BBC Radio 4 Extra}}
{{Distinguish|Channel 4}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = BBC Four
| logo = BBC Four logo 2021.svg
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2021
| launch_date = {{start date and age|df=yes|2002|3|2}}
| closed_date = 
| language = English
| picture_format = [[1080i]]/[[1080p]]{{efn|1080p25 sometimes only on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]}} [[HDTV]]<br />(downscaled to [[576i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| owner = [[BBC]]
| caption = Horizontal variant of the BBC Four logo, used as an on-screen bug
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| area = {{plainlist|
* United Kingdom
* [[Isle of Man]]
* [[Channel Islands]]
  }}
| network = [[BBC Television]]
| headquarters = London, England
| replaced = [[BBC Knowledge]]
| website = {{URL|https://bbc.co.uk/bbcfour}}
| sister_channels = [[BBC One]]<br />[[BBC Two]]<br />[[BBC Three]]<br />[[BBC News (UK TV channel)|BBC News]]<br />[[BBC Parliament]]<br />[[CBBC]]<br />[[CBeebies]]<br />[[BBC Scotland (TV channel)|BBC Scotland]]<br />[[BBC Alba]]
| terr_serv_1 = [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] (UK)
| terr_chan_1 = Channel 9 (SD; 24 in Scot)<br />Channel 106 (HD)
| online_serv_1 = [[BBC iPlayer]]
| online_chan_1 = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbcfour Watch live] (UK only)
| online_serv_2 = Virgin TV Anywhere
| online_chan_2 = [https://www.virginmediatv.ie/en/tv/channel-asset.html/954956327168/location/6651943228.html Watch live] (Ireland only)
}}
'''BBC Four''' is a British [[free-to-air]] [[Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom|public broadcast]] [[television channel]] owned and operated by the [[BBC]]. It was launched on 2 March 2002<ref name="bbcpress">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/02_february/14/fourlaunch.shtml "Culture, controversy and cutting edge documentary: BBC FOUR prepares to launch"], BBC Press Office, 14 February 2002. Retrieved 2 April 2010.</ref> and shows a wide variety of programmes including arts, documentaries, music, international film and drama, and current affairs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/faq/|title=BBC Four – FAQ|access-date=19 August 2007|archive-date=21 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921195711/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/faq/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is required by its licence to air at least 100 hours of new arts and music programmes, 110 hours of new factual programmes, and to premiere twenty foreign films each year.<ref name="bbctrustremit11">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/tv/2011/bbc_four_feb11.pdf BBC Four Service Licence. Issued February 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309105401/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/tv/2011/bbc_four_feb11.pdf |date=9 March 2012 }} Retrieved 7 October 2011. Published by the BBC Trust.</ref><ref name="bbctrust">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/tv/2009/bbc_four_aug09.pdf BBC Four Service Licence. Issued May 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801180431/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/regulatory_framework/service_licences/tv/2009/bbc_four_aug09.pdf |date=1 August 2014 }} Retrieved 12 March 2010</ref> The channel broadcasts daily from 7:00 pm to 4:00 am, timesharing with [[CBeebies]] (which starts at 6:00 am).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=18-10-2019%2002:00 |title=TV Guide & Listings &#124; Radio Times |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=30 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330045544/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/?sd=18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:BBC Four.svg|thumb|Logo used from 2002 to 2021]]
BBC Four launched on 2 March 2002 at 7:00&nbsp;pm [[GMT]], having been delayed from the original planned 2001 launch. BBC Four began as a late schedule for BBC Two, before it received its own channel, along with [[BBC Three]]. BBC Four was launched before BBC Three as a result of the government delaying approval for the latter. The channel replaced [[BBC Knowledge]], an educational and cultural channel that had undergone many changes throughout its lifetime; in its final format it carried a schedule of documentaries and art programming, essentially a test of the new BBC Four schedule. It was rebranded as part of BBC Four, aligning it with the existing BBC One and Two brands. Planning for the new channel, along with the new [[BBC Three]], had been in progress since October 2000; however, the incumbent government delayed approving the new BBC digital plans. The BBC Four plans were approved earlier, and as a result launched before BBC Three.

BBC Four was different from the old BBC Knowledge: the channel would be more heavily promoted with more new and original programming and the channel would not be broadcast 24 hours a day. This was because on the [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] [[digital terrestrial]] platform, BBC Four is broadcast in a [[statistical time division multiplexing|statistically multiplexed]] stream in Multiplex B that timeshares with the [[CBeebies]] channel (which is on air from 06:00 until 19:00). As a result, BBC Four broadcasts from 19:00 to around 04:00 each night, with an hour's down-time and promotions for CBeebies before the start of that channel's schedule.

On 12 May 2011, BBC Four was added to the Sky [[EPG]] in the Republic of Ireland on channel 230. It later moved to EPG 211 to free up space for new channels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theairwaves.net/channelnews/4399-ireland-extra-bbc-channels-being-added-to-sky-epg |title=Ireland: Extra BBC channels being added to Sky EPG |publisher=The Airwaves |date=2 May 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507070203/http://www.theairwaves.net/channelnews/4399-ireland-extra-bbc-channels-being-added-to-sky-epg |archive-date=7 May 2011 }}</ref> It later moved to channel 143 on 1 May 2018 to sit beside the [[BBC Northern Ireland|Northern Irish]] versions of [[BBC One]] and [[BBC Two]] there, and the 200s being used for +1 channels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.a516digital.com/2018/05/sky-completes-biggest-channel-reshuffle.html |title=Sky completes biggest channel reshuffle – a516digital |publisher=a516digital |date=1 May 2018}}</ref>

On 17 August 2018, BBC Four announced BBC 4.1, a special two nights of programming which would revolve around [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) selecting the programmes broadcast on the channel, based on "what BBC Four audiences might like, based on the channel's previous schedules and programme attributes." It would then "[rank] programmes it thought were most relevant [to what BBC Four viewers would like]."<ref name="BBCMediaCentre">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/bbc-four-ai|title=BBC Four announces experimental AI and archive programming|date=17 August 2018|website=BBC Media Centre|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221125701/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/bbc-four-ai|archive-date=21 February 2020|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref> The programming was aired on the nights of 4 and 5 September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/ai-to-create-channel-schedule-and-new-programmes-in-bbc-technology-trial-508623|title=AI to create BBC channel schedule and new programmes in technology trial|last=Sherwin|first=Adam|date=17 August 2018|website=i News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423105339/https://inews.co.uk/news/ai-to-create-channel-schedule-and-new-programmes-in-bbc-technology-trial-508623|archive-date=23 April 2020|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref> This included a few special programmes about AI,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06jt9ng|title=AI TV on BBC 4.1|website=BBC|date=4 September 2018 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423104927/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06jt9ng|archive-date=23 April 2020|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref> such as "Made by Machine: When AI Met The Archive", which documented how the AI works,<ref name="BBCMediaCentre" /> and "The Joy of AI", where "the emergence of machine learning" is discussed, as well as "why AI shouldn't spook us".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tech/bbc-4-turns-to-ai-to-create-two-nights-of-programming-about-ai/5131773.article|title=BBC 4 turns to AI to create two nights of programming about AI|last=Bickerton|first=Jake|date=20 August 2018|website=Broadcast|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709132807/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tech/bbc-4-turns-to-ai-to-create-two-nights-of-programming-about-ai/5131773.article|archive-date=9 July 2019|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bhwhw1|title=BBC Four {{en dash}} The Joy of AI|website=BBC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026222356/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bhwhw1|archive-date=26 October 2019|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>

On 19 February 2019, Virgin Media stopped providing BBC Four in standard definition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.a516digital.com/2019/02/virgin-media-to-move-bbc-hd-channels-to.html |title=Virgin Media to move BBC HD channels to prime EPG slots |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=20 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220063119/https://www.a516digital.com/2019/02/virgin-media-to-move-bbc-hd-channels-to.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Due to the launch of [[BBC Scotland (TV channel)|BBC Scotland]] on 24 February 2019, BBC Four has been on a higher [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] EPG number in Scotland than elsewhere, moving to 82 to make room for BBC Scotland. Following eventual closures, it moved to channel 75 there, and later to channel 68, and eventually channel 55.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Why BBC Four is moving channels AGAIN on Scottish Freeview...|url=https://www.rxtvlog.com/2019/10/why-bbc-four-is-moving-channels-again.html|access-date=20 May 2020|archive-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016104208/https://www.rxtvlog.com/2019/10/why-bbc-four-is-moving-channels-again.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> On 4 November 2020, due to [[Ofcom]] proposals regarding certain PSB channels requiring greater prominence on each UK TV provider's channel listing, BBC Four moved to channel 24 in Scotland, while every channel from [[ITV4|that number]] ([[ITV4]]) to [[5Select|channel 54]] ([[5Select]]) moved up one place.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Revised rules on the allocation of LCNs to public service channels - Freeview|date=2 September 2020 |url=https://www.freeview.co.uk/psb-lcn-rules|access-date=2 September 2020}}</ref>

In May 2020, the BBC submitted its annual general plan for 2020–21, which included a proposal for BBC Two to supplant BBC Four as its main outlet for specialist programmes. Under the plan, BBC Four would cease originating new programmes, and become a service showcasing the BBC's "rich archive". The plan also included the possibility of the BBC expanding BBC Four into a global brand, to "[take] our strengths in specialist factual to the world stage."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Global ambitions for BBC Four; changes for BBC Two|url=https://www.rxtvlog.com/2020/05/global-ambitions-for-bbc-four-changes.html|date=20 May 2020|website=RXTVlog|access-date=20 May 2020}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Eyes Plan To Make BBC Four A Global Subscription Service|url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/bbc-considers-bbc-four-global-subscription-service-1202939262/|last=Kanter|first=Jake|date=20 May 2020|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC - Annual Plan - record-breaking performance but challenges ahead - Media Centre|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/annual-plan|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>

On 26 May 2022, the BBC announced plans to discontinue BBC Four as a broadcast channel within "the next few years", as part of plans to streamline and modify services to create a "digital-first" BBC.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 May 2022 |title=BBC to move CBBC and BBC Four online |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61591674 |access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lodderhose |first=Diana |date=26 May 2022 |title=BBC To Close CBBC & BBC Four As Linear Channels; 1,000 Jobs At Risk As Public Broadcaster Begins Its "Digital First" Push |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/bbc-close-cbbc-bbc-four-linear-channels-1000-redundancies-expected-public-broadcaster-next-few-years-1235033365/ |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":03">{{Cite web |title=Plan to deliver a digital first BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/plan-to-deliver-a-digital-first-bbc/ |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> In March 2023, it was reported that the BBC was considering a reversal of the decision, citing its viewership and low cost of operation, and concerns that the relaunch of BBC Three as a linear channel had not been successful: the aforementioned cuts to original programming had reduced its budget by half in comparison to 2017, and the channel's reach in February 2023 was 15.8 million—which was 50% higher than BBC Three in the same month.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Goldbart |first1=Jake Kanter, Max |last2=Kanter |first2=Jake |last3=Goldbart |first3=Max |date=31 March 2023 |title=BBC Considers U-Turn On Closing BBC4 |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/bbc-considers-bbc4-closure-u-turn-1235314448/ |access-date=31 March 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Organisation==
The channel direction is determined by the channel's remit, set by royal charter and the corporation's governing body (the [[BBC Board]]), and by the channel controller. In October 2013, following the departure of Richard Klein from the controllership, the management of the channel changed, with the role of Controller of BBC Four scrapped: from this point the Controller of BBC Two would have ultimate oversight of BBC Four as part of their role, absorbing some of the former duties of the Controller of BBC Four, but a new 'Channel Editor' post, reporting up to this controller, would be created to take day-to-day charge of Four. The controllers of BBC Four from 2002 to 2016 have been:

*2002–2004: [[Roly Keating]]
*2004–2008: [[Janice Hadlow]]<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/10_october/01/two.shtml |title=Janice Hadlow to be new Controller of BBC Two |date=1 October 2008 |publisher=BBC Press Office |access-date=13 December 2008 }}</ref>
*2008–2013: [[Richard Klein (TV)|Richard Klein]]<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/11_november/24/four.shtml |title=Richard Klein named new Controller of BBC Four |date=24 November 2008 |publisher=BBC Press Office |access-date=13 December 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081208012005/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/11_november/24/four.shtml| archive-date= 8 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>
*2013–2014: [[Janice Hadlow]] (as Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four) "on an interim basis"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/managementstructure/biographies/klein_richard/|title=Richard Klein, Former Controller, BBC Four – Inside the BBC|work=bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-date=4 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704192006/http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/managementstructure/biographies/klein_richard/|url-status=dead}}</ref> – Hadlow had been Controller of BBC Two since departing BBC Four in 2008
*Early 2014: Adam Barker (interim Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four following Janice Hadlow's departure to a new post)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2014/02/adam-barker-appointed-acting-controller-bbc-two-bbc-four/|title=Adam Barker Appointed Acting Controller of BBC Two & BBC Four|work=TVWise|date=19 February 2014}}</ref>
*2014–2016: [[Kim Shillinglaw]] (as Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2014/04/kim-shillinglaw-named-bbc-two-bbc-four-controller/|title=Kim Shillinglaw Named BBC Two & BBC Four Controller|work=TVWise|date=11 April 2014}}</ref>

Channel Editors of BBC Four have been:

*2013–present: Cassian Harrison<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/channel-editor-bbcfour.html|title=Cassian Harrison appointed as Channel Editor, BBC Four – Media Centre|work=bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818141911/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/channel-editor-bbcfour.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{As of|2011}}, BBC Four had an annual budget of £54.3&nbsp;million.<ref name="bbctrustremit11"/>

On 20 January 2016, Kim Shillinglaw announced that she had decided to leave the BBC as the Controller of [[BBC Two]] and BBC Four. As a result of the reorganisation, the post of BBC Two and Four control had closed after her departure later that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/controller-tv-and-iplayer|title=BBC – Strategic reorganisation of BBC TV sees Charlotte Moore appointed Controller, TV Channels and iPlayer – Media Centre|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=12 November 2018}}</ref>

==BBC Four HD==
[[File:BBC Four HD Logo.svg|thumb|right|150px|BBC Four HD logo (2013–2021)]]
On 16 July 2013, the BBC announced that a [[High-definition television|high-definition]] (HD) [[simulcast]] of BBC Four would be launched by early 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23326709|title=BBC to launch five new HD channels|work=BBC News|date=16 July 2013|access-date=16 July 2013}}</ref> The channel launched on 10 December 2013 at 18:58 GMT, and rolled out nationwide up to June 2014 (as did [[BBC News (British TV channel)|BBC News HD]], [[CBBC HD]] and [[CBeebies|CBeebies HD]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/new-hd-channels.html|title=BBC to launch five new subscription-free HD channels on Tuesday 10 December|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=9 December 2013|access-date=9 December 2013|archive-date=11 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211204948/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/new-hd-channels.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The channel shares its stream with [[CBeebies|CBeebies HD]], as they both air at different times. In June 2022, BBC Four HD moved from the COM7 multiplex on Freeview to Multiplex B due to the closure of COM7 for spectrum reallocation; this move allows the service to reach nearly the entirety of the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newsdesk1 |first=RXTV |date=2022-06-23 |title=Two days of Freeview retuning: your guide to all the changes |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/two-days-of-freeview-retuning-your-guide-to-all-the-changes/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=RXTV info |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=BBC Freeview changes: BBC Four HD reprieved for now; gets wider coverage |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/bbc-making-changes-to-freeview-hd-channels/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=RXTV info |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Prior to launch, the majority of BBC Four's HD output was broadcast on the [[BBC HD]] channel, before its closure on 26 March 2013. In 2017, BBC Four HD, along with CBBC HD and CBeebies HD, launched in Ireland.

==Programming==
{{main|List of television programmes broadcast by the BBC}}
{{Blockquote|BBC Four's primary role is to reflect a range of UK and international arts, music and culture. It should provide an ambitious range of innovative, high quality programming that is intellectually and culturally enriching, taking an expert and in-depth approach to a wide range of subjects.|'''BBC Four Remit'''}}
[[File:BBC Four viewing share since launch.png|thumb|BBC Four share of viewing 2002-2013 BARB figures]]

The first evening's BBC Four programmes were [[simulcast]] on [[BBC Two]],<ref name="bbcpress" /> with the first programme being ''The Man Who Destroyed Everything'', a documentary about conceptual artist [[Michael Landy]] and his installation [[Break Down (Landy artwork)|Break Down]].<ref>{{cite web | title=The Man Who Destroyed Everything | website=BBC Four | date=13 April 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000s4pw | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref> BBC Four was also notable for first showing [[Larry David]]'s ''[[Seinfeld]]'' follow-up, ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/watch-and-learn-bbc-fours-success-is-a-sign-that-britain-is-regaining-a-hunger-for-intelligent-broadcasting-1902807.html |work=The Independent |title=Watch and learn: BBC Four's success is a sign that Britain is regaining a hunger for intelligent broadcasting |access-date=23 February 2010 | date=15 February 2010 | location=London | first=Ian | last=Burrell}}</ref> [[Armando Iannucci]]'s cutting [[political satire]], ''[[The Thick of It]]'', ''[[The Chaser's War on Everything]]'', ''[[Flight of the Conchords (TV series)|Flight of the Conchords]]'', ''[[Mad Men]]'' and [[Denmark|Danish]] thriller ''[[Forbrydelsen|The Killing]]''.

The channel broadcasts a mixture of [[art]] and [[science]] [[documentaries]], vintage [[drama]] (including many rare [[black-and-white]] programmes), and non-English-language productions such as [[film]]s from the [[Artificial Eye]] catalogue, the French thriller ''[[Spiral (TV series)|Spiral]]'' and the Swedish detective series ''[[Wallander (Swedish TV series)|Wallander]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rwm3r|title=BBC Four – Wallander|work=BBC}}</ref> BBC Four further supports foreign-language films with its annual [[BBC Four World Cinema Awards|World Cinema Award]] which has been running since 2004.

From the channel's launch in 2002 until the middle of 2020, BBC Four broadcast a global news bulletin on weeknights. Originally this was the ''BBC Four News'' presented initially by [[George Alagiah]], which ran at 8pm. It was rebranded in January 2004 as ''The World'', and was axed in May 2007, replaced the following week by ''[[World News Today]]'', in a new 7pm timeslot. More recently BBC Four moved news programmes to 7pm with a simulcast of ''[[Beyond 100 Days]]'' Monday–Thursday and an edition of ''World News Today'' on Fridays which was produced by [[BBC World News]]. As of autumn 2020, BBC Four no longer broadcasts a news bulletin.

It screens a number of documentaries such as ''[[The Century of the Self]]'' and ''[[The Trials of Henry Kissinger]]''. The channel is also home to many political travel shows such as ''[[Holidays in the Axis of Evil]]'' which features investigative journalism.

[[BBC television drama|Drama]] has given the channel some of its most popular programmes, with ''[[Alan Clark|The Alan Clark Diaries]]'' (2003) and ''[[Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!]]'' (2006) being among the highest rated, with over 800,000 viewers. The highly acclaimed ''[[Hattie (film)|Hattie]]'', broadcast in 2011, holds the record for BBC Four's best ever consolidated ratings, of 2m / 8%.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Chris Curtis on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/ChrisMCurtis/status/672063975597678593|website=Twitter|access-date=3 December 2015|publisher=Editor, Broadcast}}</ref> Before that ''[[The Curse of Steptoe]]'' brought the channel its highest audience figures, estimated as 1.41&nbsp;million viewers, a 7% share of multichannel audiences between 21:00 and 22:05, based on overnight returns.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/mar/20/bbc4.ratings "BBC4 breaks ratings record"], ''[[The Guardian]]'' (London), 19 March 2008</ref> The official audience figures for the broadcast, including time-shifting, were later published as 1,625,000.<ref>[[BARB]] multichannel top ten, BBC Four, week ending 23 March 2008</ref>

Another notable production was a live re-make of the 1953 science-fiction serial ''[[The Quatermass Experiment (film)|The Quatermass Experiment]]'', adapted from the original scripts into a single, two-hour version (though on the night it underran considerably, lasting less than 1 hour 40 minutes), broadcast on the evening of Saturday 2 April 2005. Discounting BBC Four's previous live relays of theatrical [[William Shakespeare]] productions, this was the first live made-for-television drama to be broadcast by the BBC for twenty years.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Another notable programme broadcast on BBC Four is ''[[Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe]]'' which contains reviews of current shows, as well as stories and commentary on how television is produced. The show is presented by broadcaster [[Charlie Brooker]]. The show was very successful and spawned several spin-offs such as ''[[Newswipe with Charlie Brooker]]'', ''[[Charlie Brooker's Gameswipe]]'' and ''[[Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe]]''.

The channel is also curator and leader of the [[BBC Archive]] project whose aim is that the BBC's television archive is re-broadcast as much as appropriate so that the Archive can be enjoyed again and not isolated.<ref>Klein, Richard, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/2012/03/ten-years-of-bbc-four.shtml Ten Years of BBC Four] ''About the BBC Blog'', BBC, Last accessed 3 March 2012</ref>

Some output from BBC Four (documentaries rather than foreign films) was for a time repeated on BBC Two in a 'BBC Four on Two' branded area, although this was often in a late night broadcast slot after ''[[Newsnight]]'' and has since been discontinued.

According to [[BARB]] the comedy panel game ''[[QI]]'' has the highest ratings of any show on BBC Four.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qi.com/tv/audience.php|title=Analysis of BARB audience figures|work=[[QI]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=28 March 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317004809/http://www.qi.com/tv/audience.php|archivedate=17 March 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the [[Edinburgh International Television Festival]], BBC Four won the Non-Terrestrial Channel of the Year award in 2004, 2006 and 2012.

In 2012 ''[[Dirk Gently (TV series)|Dirk Gently]]'' became the first continuing drama series produced for the channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/03_march/31/dirk.shtml|title=Dirk Gently to return to BBC Four|publisher=BBC|date=31 March 2011|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref>

During the period when BBC Three was not broadcasting as a linear TV channel, BBC Four was occasionally used to show live sports coverage. The channel aired games from the [[UEFA Euro 2016]] and [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] football tournaments when the final round of matches in the group stages took place (when matches in each group kick-off simultaneously). It has also been used to broadcast England women's football matches, as well as some matches from the [[2019 FIFA Women's World Cup]]. It also temporarily extended its broadcast hours to show live action from the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.a516digital.com/2016/05/bbc-four-to-be-converted-to-sports.html|title=BBC Four to be converted to a sports channel in August|publisher=a516digital|date=26 May 2016|accessdate=24 June 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629215538/http://www.a516digital.com/2016/05/bbc-four-to-be-converted-to-sports.html|archivedate=29 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of 2023, BBC Four schedules still feature music programming (such as ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' and [[Neil Brand]]'s documentaries) on a Friday night,<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guide/bbcfour/20210205 {{Dead link|date=April 2021}}</ref> with drama imports on a Saturday (but not always foreign-language productions like Italian crime drama ''[[Inspector Montalbano (TV series)|Inspector Montalbano]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b60y1x/inspector-montalbano-love|title=Inspector Montalbano - Love|via=www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref><ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guide/bbcfour/20210206 {{Dead link|date=April 2021}}</ref> and usually an hour of 'archive' programmes (such as those by [[Bob Ross]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000jy2g/the-joy-of-painting-series-2-5-secluded-forest|title=The Joy of Painting - Series 2: 5. Secluded Forest|via=www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref> and [[Fred Dibnah]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain, A Lifetime's Achievement (Part 2)|website=BBC|date=17 June 2013|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000s4q0|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fred Dibnah's World of Steam, Steel and Stone, The Industrial Landscape|website=BBC|date=11 July 2006|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007927h|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guide/bbcfour/20210208 |title=BBC iPlayer - BBC Four Guide - Mon Feb 08 2021|access-date=8 February 2021|archive-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208193226/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guide/bbcfour/20210208|url-status=dead}}</ref> starting off the weekday schedule at 7pm. As well as programmes from the 1980s and 1990s, this early evening slot gives a chance for regional programmes to get a national airing with [[Cy Chadwick|Cy Chadwick's]] ''[[Walking with... (2019 TV series)|Walking with...]]'' productions and ''Gareth Edwards's Great Welsh Adventure'' (from BBC Wales) getting a repeat here and then again late night.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009hyr|title=BBC One - Gareth Edwards's Great Welsh Adventure|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009xs7|title=BBC One - Gareth Edwards's Great Welsh Adventure, Series 1, Episode 3}}</ref> In addition to these programmes, many hour long regional documentaries such as BBC Scotland's ''Rigs of Nigg'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000yybp/rigs-of-nigg|title=Rigs of Nigg|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.energyvoice.com/tag/rigs-of-nigg/|title=Rigs of Nigg Archives|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rigzone.com/news/rigs_of_nigg_bbc_show_to_air_next_week-11-aug-2021-166150-article/|title=Rigs of Nigg BBC Show to Air Next Week}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000yybp|title=BBC Scotland - Rigs of Nigg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/rigs-of-nigg-heady-days-of-tough-work-and-hard-living-that-247833/|last=Chrystall|first=Margaret|title=Rigs of Nigg: Heady days of tough work and hard living that set up some for life|date=14 August 2021|accessdate=2 July 2022}}</ref> about the 1970s North Sea oil drilling platform construction industry based around the [[Cromarty Firth]], also received their national debut on the channel.

On 9 April 2021, BBC Four was suspended due to the [[Death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|death]] of [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]], in order to preserve [[Bandwidth allocation|bandwidth]] for the broadcast of news coverage and tribute programming on BBC One and Two.<ref name="broadcastresponse">{{cite web |last1=Kanter |first1=Jake |date=9 April 2021 |title=Prince Philip's Death: How The BBC & Other British Broadcasters Responded |url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/prince-philip-death-how-the-bbc-responded-1234730967/ |access-date=9 April 2021 |website=Deadline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Broadcasters change TV schedules to air tributes to Prince Philip following his death |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/current-affairs/tv-schedule-changes-prince-philip/ |access-date=9 April 2021 |website=Radio Times}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Newsdesk1 |first=RXTV |date=8 September 2022 |title=UK channels suspend broadcasts following Queen's death > RXTV info |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/uk-channels-suspend-broadcasts-following-queens-death/ |access-date=31 March 2023 |website=RXTV info |language=en-GB}}</ref> This was done for the same reasons after the [[death of Elizabeth II]] on 8 September 2022.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Newsdesk1 |first=RXTV |date=9 September 2022 |title=Recordings may fail as schedules continue to change > RXTV info |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/recordings-may-fail-as-schedules-continue-to-change/ |access-date=31 March 2023 |website=RXTV info |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Programmes==

===Original programmes===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*''The Art of Cornwall''
*''The Ballad of Mott the Hoople''
*''BBC Four News''
*''BBC Four Sessions''
*''[[Beyond 100 Days]]'' (simulcast on BBC Four, [[BBC News (British TV channel)|BBC News]] and [[BBC World News]]; Previously ''100 Days'' (January – April 2017), ''100 Days +'' (May – July 2017)
*''Birds Britania''
*''Britain by Bike''
*''[[Britain's Best Drives]]''
*''[[Britain's Lost Masterpieces]]''
*''Can Eating Insects Save the World''
*''[[Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe]]''
*''Children's TV on Trial''
*''Churches: How To Read Them''
*''[[The Curse of Steptoe]]''
*''[[Detectorists]]''
*''[[Dinosaurs, Myths and Monsters]]''
*''[[Dirk Gently (TV series)|Dirk Gently]]''
*''Elegance and Decadence: The Age of the Regency''
*''[[The First World War (TV series)|The First World War]]''
*''Frankenstein: Birth of a Monster''
*''Free Will and Testament: The Robert Wyatt Story''
*''Goodbye BBC Television Centre''
*''The Great War''
*''[[Hattie (film)|Hattie]]''
*''[[H. G. Wells: War with the World]]''
*''[[Hinterland (TV series)|Hinterland/Y Gwyll]]'' (Joint BBC / S4C production, English-language version)
*''[[Hive Minds]]''
*''How to Build a Dinosaur''
*''If Walls Could Talk''
*''Jerusalem: The Making of a Holy City''
*''Music for Misfits: The Story of Indie''
*''[[Only Connect]]''
*''Racing at the BBC''
*''Sandhurst''
*''The Secret Life of Ice''
*''Shock and Awe: The Life of Electricity''
*''Singer-Songwriters at the BBC''
*''Sings the...''
*''[[The Life of Rock with Brian Pern]]''
*''The Story of Musicals''
*''The Story of the National Grid''
*''[[Richard Fortey|Survivors: Nature's Indestructible Creatures]]''
*''Tales of Television Centre''
*''Talking Children''
*''Timeshift''
*''[[Twenty Twelve]]''
*''To Kill a Mockingbird at 50''
*''[[Walter Tull|Walter's War]]''
*''[[We Need Answers]]''
*''[[World News Today]]'' (simulcast on BBC Four and [[BBC World News]], previously ''World News Today with [[Zeinab Badawi]]'')
*''[[A Very British History]]''
}}

===Imports===
*''[[Arne Dahl (TV series)#Arne Dahl TV adaptations|Arne Dahl]]''
*''[[Borgen (TV series)|Borgen]]''
*''[[The Bridge (Danish/Swedish TV series)|The Bridge]]''
*''[[Hostages (Israeli TV series)|Hostages]]''
*''[[Inspector De Luca (TV series)|Inspector De Luca]]''
*''[[Inspector Montalbano (TV series)|Inspector Montalbano]]''
*''[[The Joy of Painting]]''
*''[[The Killing (Danish TV series)|The Killing]]''
*''[[Minuscule (TV series)|Minuscule]]''
*''The Money''
*''[[Salamander (TV series)|Salamander]]''
*''[[Spiral (TV series)|Spiral]]''
*''Trapped''
*''[[Wallander (Swedish TV series)|Wallander]]''

===Domestic repeats===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*''Africa''
*''[[All Creatures Great and Small (1978 TV series)|All Creatures Great and Small]]''
*''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''
*''The Bear Family and Me''
*''[[Between the Lines (TV series)|Between the Lines]]''
*''[[Blackadder]]''
*''[[Blue Peter]]'' (Classics only)
*''[[The Blue Planet]]''
*''[[Boys from the Blackstuff]]''
*''[[Butterflies (TV series)|Butterflies]]''
*''[[Casualty 1906]]''
*''[[Casualty 1907]]''
*''[[Civilisation (TV series)|Civilisation]]''
*''[[Climbing Great Buildings]]''
*''[[Cranford (TV series)|Cranford]]''
*''[[Doctor Who]]'' (1963–89)
*''[[Ever Decreasing Circles]]''
*''[[Fawlty Towers]]''
*''[[The Frozen Planet]]''
*''[[The Good Life (1975 TV series)|The Good Life]]''
*''[[The Good Old Days (British TV series)|The Good Old Days]]''
*''[[Great British Railway Journeys]]''
*''[[A House Through Time]]''
*''[[I, Claudius (TV series)|I, Claudius]]''
*''[[Juliet Bravo]]''
*''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]''
*''[[Life (2009 TV series)|Life]]''
*''The Life and Loves of a She-Devil''
*''[[The Life of Mammals]]''
*''[[The Likely Lads]]''
*''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''
*''[[No Place Like Home (TV series)|No Place Like Home]]''
*''[[Not in Front of the Children (TV series)|Not in Front of the Children]]''
*''[[The Onedin Line]]''
*''[[One Foot in the Grave]]''
*''[[Our Friends in the North]]''
*''[[Outnumbered (British TV series)|Outnumbered]]''
*''[[Peaky Blinders (TV series)|Peaky Blinders]]'' (Series 1-4, 6)
*''[[Parkinson (TV series)|Parkinson]]''
*''[[Planet Earth (2006 TV series)|Planet Earth]]''
*''[[Porridge (1974 TV series)|Porridge]]''
*''[[Pride and Prejudice]]''
*''[[The Sky at Night]]''
*''[[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em]]''
*''[[Sorry! (TV series)|Sorry!]]''
*''[[Steptoe and Son]]''
*''[[Sykes (TV series)|Sykes]]''
*''[[Talking Pictures (TV series)|Talking Pictures]]''
*''[[This Life (1996 TV series)|This Life]]''
*''[[The Two Ronnies Sketchbook]]''
*''[[Waking the Dead (TV series)|Waking the Dead]]'' 
*''[[Walking with Beasts]]''
*''[[Walking with Dinosaurs]]''
*''[[War Walks]]''
*''[[Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?]]''
*''[[Yes Minister]]''
*''[[Yes, Prime Minister]]''
*''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]''
}}

===Music concerts===
*''[[BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend]]'' (from 2016)
*''Coldplay Live''
*''[[David Gilmour]] [[Live in Gdansk]]'' (part of David Gilmour Night)
* ''[[Eurovision Song Contest]]'' semi-finals (2016–2021)
*''Madness Live'' (part of Goodbye Television Centre)
*''Queen 1975 Live''

===Music programming===
*''...at the BBC'' (an original hour long music compilation usually featuring performances from various BBC TV shows, with bands like ABBA, genres like disco and acts from record labels such as Motown and Island featured)<ref>{{cite web | title=Motown at the BBC | website=BBC Four | date=13 April 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hq4qr | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=ABBA at the BBC | website=BBC | date=27 December 2013 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03lyzpr | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Island at the BBC | website=BBC Four | date=13 April 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kvd3b | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/disco-at-the-bbc/|title=Disco at the BBC &#124; Yesterday Channel|website=yesterday.uktv.co.uk}}</ref>
*''[[The Old Grey Whistle Test]]''
*''The Sound of Musicals with Neil Brand''<ref>{{cite web | title=Sound of Musicals with Neil Brand, Seasons of Love | website=BBC | date=27 January 2017 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08bqfd2 | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | website=BBC | title=List of programmes | date=27 January 2017 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=Neil+Brand | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref> (documentary series)
*''The Sound of TV with Neil Brand''<ref>{{cite web | title=The Sound of TV with Neil Brand | website=BBC | date=13 April 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pz1d | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref> (documentary series)
*''[[Top of the Pops]]'' (episodes repeated each week from BBC One, with the run continuing from 1976 to 1998 as of June 2025)
*''Top of the Pops: The Story of...'' (an original hour long year-by-year documentary on BBC Four, also shown on BBC Two/UKTV Yesterday in an edited 45 minute version)<ref>{{cite web | title=Top of the Pops, The Story of 1989 | website=BBC One | date=13 April 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000crqx/top-of-the-pops-the-story-of-1989 | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref>
*''Top of the Pops: Big Hits'' (an original hour long year-by-year compilation featuring performances from the show with added on-screen facts, also shown on BBC Two)<ref>{{cite web | title=Top of the Pops, Big Hits 1989 | website=BBC One | date=13 April 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000crqz/top-of-the-pops-big-hits-1989 | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref>
*''Top of the Pops: Big Hits 1964 to 1975'' (a 90-minute version of the Big Hits format featuring early hits from the show, also shown on UKTV's Yesterday channel)<ref>{{cite web | title=Top of the Pops, 1964 to 1975 - Big Hits | website=BBC One | date=13 April 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zwrn5 | access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/shows/big-hits-top-of-the-pops-1964-to-1975/seeall/60/|title=Yesterday Channel|website=yesterday.uktv.co.uk}}</ref>

=== Classics (shown in 2007, 2015 and 2022)===
*''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]''
*''[[Blue Peter]]''
*''[[ChuckleVision]]''
*''[[The Clangers]]''
*''[[Grange Hill]]''
*''[[The Magic Roundabout]]''
*''[[Newsround]]''
*''[[Play School (British TV series)|Play School]]''
*''[[Teletubbies]]''

=== Most watched programmes ===
The following is a list of the ten most watched broadcasts on BBC Four since launch, based on Live +7 data supplied by [[BARB]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ |title=Weekly Top 10 Programmes |publisher=Barb.co.uk |date=22 October 2017}}</ref> Number of viewers does not include repeats.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank !! Programme!! Number of Viewers !! Date
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1 || ''[[Thorpe affair|The Jeremy Thorpe Scandal]]'' ||2,378,000 || 3 June 2018
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2 || ''[[Threads (1984 film)|Threads (1984)]]'' || 2,300,000 || 9 October 2024
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|3 ||  ''[[Hattie (film)|Hattie]]'' || 2,005,000 || 19 January 2009 
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|4 || ''[[The Bridge (2011 TV series)|The Bridge]]'' || 1,810,000 || 21 November 2015
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|5 ||  ''Snooker: 2020 World Championship'' || 1,738,500 || 14 August 2020
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|6 || ''[[Detectorists]]'' || 1,687,000 || 8 November 2017
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|7 || ''[[Roots (2016 miniseries)|Roots]]'' || 1,659,000 || 8 February 2017
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|8 || ''[[The Curse of Steptoe]]'' || 1,625,000|| 19 March 2008
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|9 || ''[[The Bridge (2011 TV series)|The Bridge]]'' || 1,620,000 || 1 February 2014
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|10 || ''[[Detectorists]]'' || 1,593,000 || 22 November 2017
|-
|}

==Availability outside the UK==
BBC Four is widely available on [[Cable television in the Republic of Ireland|cable]], [[IPTV]] and digital satellite television in the [[Republic of Ireland]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[Switzerland]] and [[Liechtenstein]]. The channel is registered to broadcast within the European Union/EEA through the [[Luxembourg]] Broadcasting Regulator – ALIA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alia.lu/en/television/supervisory-activities|title=Supervisory activities|date=20 April 2021|website=www.alia.lu|access-date=7 April 2021|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627141512/https://www.alia.lu/en/television/supervisory-activities|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alia.lu/assets/upload/files/2021-03-17Liste-des-services-de-television-maj-mars-2021_site-ALIA.pdf |title=Data |website=www.alia.lu |access-date=20 April 2021 |archive-date=20 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320130933/https://www.alia.lu/assets/upload/files/2021-03-17Liste-des-services-de-television-maj-mars-2021_site-ALIA.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Presentation==
{{Main|BBC Four idents|History of BBC television idents#BBC Four|l2=History of BBC television idents}}
The channel's initial series of [[idents]] were generated [[Audio visualisation|dynamically reflecting the frequencies]] of the continuity announcers' voice or of backing music and were designed by [[Lambie-Nairn]]. As a result, no two idents were ever the same. The first continuity announcer was [[Zeb Soanes]].

When the channel first started airing, it used the slogan "Everybody Needs A Place To Think", but the BBC stopped using this several months after the launch. However the BBC Four logo and above slogan can be found, engraved on benches along the [[South Bank]] in London, between the London Eye and [[Waterloo Bridge]].

On 10 September 2005, the channel began showing new idents comprising a central BBC Four logo surrounded by four quadrants which show different stages of the same footage thus making for a sort of optical illusion; for example, a swimming pool where a person on an inflatable ring appears in the bottom-left corner, though ripples don't enter the remaining quarters. Although the image appears as one at the start of the ident, by the end it is clearly four separate images. These were the longest-running idents ever used by the BBC - they lasted until the channel's rebrand in 2021, however, the "quadrants" theme continues to this day.

In March 2019, BBC Four added several new idents inspired by "[[oddly satisfying videos]]" in tandem with the quadrants theme, originally premiering for a programme season honouring the 30th anniversary of the [[World Wide Web]].

==See also==
*[[List of documentary television channels]]
*[[BBC Four World Cinema Awards]]
*[[List of television channels in the United Kingdom]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{bbc.co.uk|id=bbcfour|title=BBC Four}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bbc Four}}
[[Category:2002 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
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