The BBC's flagship children's show Blue Peter is to be cut to just one regular edition a week - and its first showing will no longer be on BBC1.
Instead the programme will be screened first on digital channel CBBC, with a repeat on BBC1 the following day.
It marks a profound change for the show which has been screened on BBC1 first since its launch in 1958.
The series, which has become a cornerstone of children's lives for generations, will begin to premiere on the digital station from January 12.
Blue Peter popularised the phrase “here's one I made earlier”, and for many years children would have to keep a ready supply of toilet roll tubes and sticky-back plastic to hand while watching.
The show moved to MediaCity in Salford in September this year.
It is presented by daredevil Helen Skelton and popular CBBC presenter Barney Harwood, but in recent years has been a launchpad for TV stars such as Matt Baker, Konnie Huq and Anthea Turner.
Other famous names who have been given their big breaks over the year have included Valerie Singleton, Janet Ellis, John Noakes and Peter Purves.
A spokeswoman for the programme said: “The amount of airtime we devote to Blue Peter remains exactly the same, we are just scheduling it differently.
“It will still have a regular slot - now all year round - but we'll have flexibility to introduce additional specials that will go into more depth on events and activities.”
These will include a “Stargazing Live” special next month, and there will be a nine-part series following Skelton's trip to the South Pole for Helen's South Pole trip. There will also be a series of special shows following the Olympic torch relay.
The show will be screened for the first time each Thursday, with the BBC1 repeat the following day. It will get a further airing on CBBC over the weekend.
Viewing for the BBC1 show had been slipping over the years and channel bosses had increased the emphasis on its digital screenings. A move to a CBBC premiere had been mooted some months ago.
The BBC emphasised that the show would run throughout the year, rather than taking a summer break.
At one stage the programme was broadcast three times a week, plus spin-off shows.
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It's that old old problem of scheduling. It used to be shown after newsround when kids could watch it with their parents. But after first getting rid of early news for a soap and then when losing the soap by introducing 45 minute daily game shows, the last half hour of kids TV got moved back to an earlier slot meaning homework and parents making tea (dinner) not available. The early slot for BP and the patronising presenters ma eit a turn-off (something you rarely got on Magpie).
But schedulers have in the past done the same with Doctor Who (the original and best) finally putting it up against Friday night Corrie and the same with TOTP.
ITV have given up on entertaining everybody outside their premium advertising target audience but the BBC is still trying to move down to ITVs level to chase ratings which means schedulers can make things worse.
I've just learned that the Jeremy Kyle show is filmed at Granada studios. Now that is worrying. What if one of them escapes?
Tarquin will be gutted that there is fewer programmes suggesting were to go on his international summer adventure japes.
TV is dead, long live the internet and online gaming.
TV died a long time ago, down to appalling programming and a lack of talent.
Third party program makers destroyed the BEEB, they were far better when all their work was in house.
"Instead the programme will be screened first on digital channel CBBC, with a repeat on BBC1 the following day".
No change there then almost all the programmes on the BBC are repeats why change the habit of a lifetime.......then charge us nearly £150 a year for the privilage....then they wonder why viewing figures are slipping
Oh "after Salford move" eh? Trying to imply something?
Whatever happened to ITV's attempt to create a similar programme, many years ago.
Think it was called "Green Nigel"
Ah Blue Peter used to be the most London centric kids shows out there. I remember watching it while all the presenters would be saying "for a great time this weekend why not head to the national tracy island museum in London or the whatever mueseum in London" I remember thinking why do they always tell me to go to london i live in Manchester. I think it's what started my hatred of the capital. Maybe now the producers may reccomend some hip places to go outside the M25.
If Iam being honest I could not really care where the BBC is based as it makes no change in my life what so ever I am fed up to the back teeth of hearing about media city