BBC Four

BBC Four is the BBC's digital channel for arts and culture, which launched on 2 March 2002 as the replacement for BBC Knowledge, which had launched in 1999. Despite the name, BBC Four actually launched before BBC Three due to the delay in BBC Three's proposals being accepted. The launch was simulcast with BBC Two for the first few hours.

Originally starting out as a channel for the arts, it soon became the home of the BBC's alternative comedy like The Thick of It, as well as programmes like Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe in 2006 and Newswipe in 2009. Under the Delivering Quality First proposals, BBC Four will become more tightly linked with BBC Two and will focus more on arts programming.