BBC Two's remit is to be a mixed-genre channel appealing to a broad adult audience with programmes of depth and substance. It should carry the greatest amount and range of knowledge-building programming of any BBC television channel, complemented by distinctive comedy, drama and arts programming.

BBC Two will continue to contribute towards the delivery of the BBC's public purposes in the range of ways set out in its service licence. Key developments in the way in which the service will contribute to each purpose are outlined below. These are designed to address the priorities identified by the BBC Trust, future-proof the delivery of the purposes, and address perceived gaps in delivery in line with strategies in the BBC's purpose plans.

1 Promoting education and learning

• Priority: BBC Two plays the lead role on television in the delivery of the BBC's knowledge-building strategy. It aims to cover a wide range of factual subjects and explore ways to make thought-provoking factual programmes enjoyable and stimulating for a diverse audience, often using specialist talent or new approaches to examine complex subjects. There will be a particular emphasis on science and contemporary history this year, with a wide-ranging sequence of major factual series.
• Priority: The anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species will be marked by a focus on Darwin and evolution in early 2009, with a number of programmes including an exploration of the influence of Darwin's legacy on the ideas and politics of the 20th century and Dr Alice Roberts uncovering the story of the evolution of the human race. The partnership between BBC Two and BBC Four will deliver complementary content on this subject during this period, to deepen the range, depth and audience impact of the offer.
• Priority: In other landmarks, Peter Taylor will explore the historical roots of today's terrorist movements, while Simon Schama will examine how America's history is shaping its future as the US elects its next president. Dan Cruickshank will return with an exploration of world architecture, and Laurence Rees will use the latest historical research to create a new account of the diplomacy of World War Two. In natural history, the channel aims to provide a definitive portrait of the flora and fauna of China with Wild China, which will also be complemented by programming on China on BBC Four.
• BBC Two will continue to provide a home on television for the BBC's new offer for the teen audience via BBC Switch, featuring a range of output including new music programming in Sound, original and acquired drama and factual, all supported with rich interactivity online and on radio. BBC Two will also continue to showcase children's programming for the analogue audience, alongside the BBC's digital channels.

2 Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence

• Priority: BBC Two's role in addressing the BBC's priorities in this area are to support its reputation for innovation and distinctiveness through commissioning a range of fresh and new ideas and through supporting cultural excellence in areas such drama, music and arts. This year there will be a focus on new approaches to arts output with Maestro opening up the world of conducting, and a series looking at the history of British style. There will also be a new slot for Later... and The Culture Show, delivering a more prominent, consistent space for contemporary music and arts in the heart of the schedule.
• Priority: Refreshment and innovation in comedy will be a particular priority this year, with titles such as Taking the Flak, which explores the reality of modern war reporting, and Lab Rats, a surreal science sitcom from Chris Addison. Investment in drama this year will focus on distinctive single plays and authored pieces tackling a range of subjects, including Burn Up, a two-part thriller from Simon Beaufoy looking at the oil industry, and a thought-provoking piece from Frank Cottrell Boyce, God on Trial. In daytime, BBC Two will focus on introducing new factual entertainment and intelligent entertainment formats.

3 Sustaining citizenship and civil society

• Priority: BBC Two will contribute to the BBC's priorities in this purpose by producing high-quality, distinctive journalism with specialist analysis and a focus on international issues. The channel's current affairs strategy will focus on delivering high-impact programmes in the heart of peak time. It will work with the This World team and others to experiment with new approaches to increase the impact of its foreign affairs coverage. A landmark film marking Remembrance Day will record each British member of the services who gave their life serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• BBC Two will also aim to engage a broad range of audiences in active citizenship and in documenting the lives of the people of the UK. The teen zone BBC Switch will launch a new discussion show for teenagers, and an innovative entertainment series, Speak Up for Britain, will challenge young people from across the UK to develop their skills in public speaking.

4 Delivering the benefit of emerging communications technologies

• Priority: Building on the success of the White season, we will continue to create truly multi-platform seasons and experiences, including a project to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armistice. We will relaunch important programme brands online including Gardeners' World and The Culture Show, which will prepare the ground for a wider range of BBC-wide content on subjects including parenting, cookery, culture and gardening. The BBC Two website will also start to personalise its offer more, advising viewers about other opportunities to engage with our content outside the schedule, including a full set of programme pages with embedded video. We will also reflect comments and activity on the rest of the web on the channel site, beginning to build more audience engagement with the channel.

5 Representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities

• Priority: BBC Two will enhance the BBC's portrayal of the UK's diverse communities through programmes from a range of genres including The Cup, a comedy following a children's football team in the north of England, a series from Alexei Sayle looking at his native Liverpool to celebrate its year as European Capital of Culture, and a series following Jimmy Doherty as he meets farming heroes across the UK countryside. 2008's BBC Electric Proms will also centre on Liverpool. In factual, BBC Two will also run BBC Scotland's landmark Scotland's History.

6 Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK

• BBC Two will continue to contribute to this purpose through output with a strong international flavour that deepens audiences' understanding of the world around us. Alongside the regular coverage provided by Newsnight and its current affairs and documentary output, Jonathan Dimbleby will travel through the heart of contemporary Russia, and Bruce Parry will undertake an epic journey to explore the reality of life in the Amazon basin.

Unless otherwise stated, all commitments are minimum hours and include originations, repeats and acquisitions.
All conditions are annual unless otherwise stated.

Promoting education and learning

• 520 hours of new factual programmes
• 1,500 hours of children's programmes, shared commitment with BBC One

Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence

• 200 hours of arts and music programming
  (does not include output broadcast overnight in the Sign Zone)

Representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities

• 110 hours of religious programming, shared commitment with BBC One
  (does not include output broadcast overnight in the Sign Zone)

In these commitments, peak time is defined as 18.00–22.30 hours.

The following quotas are agreed with Ofcom and are measured across a calendar year (results are published in the BBC Annual Report and Accounts):

• A minimum of 25% of qualifying hours are provided by independent producers.
• A minimum of 70% of all hours, and 80% of hours in peak time, to be original productions (original productions include all BBC-commissioned programming, including originations and all repeats of programming first shown on any BBC public service channel).

In addition, BBC Two shares the following commitments with BBC One:

• A minimum of 365 hours of network current affairs programming, of which at least 105 hours will be in peak time.
• A minimum of 1,030 hours of regional programmes in peak time, plus a further 355 hours at times adjacent to peak time (i.e. the hour either side of peak time) excluding news on BBC One.
• A minimum of 6,580 hours of regional programming across the range of genres, including regional news programmes for BBC One.
• At least 95% of regional programmes to be made in the relevant area.

And in conjunction with other BBC network television services:

• A minimum of 30% of relevant programme production budgets, representing a minimum of 25% hours of productions by volume, to be spent outside the M25.
• To maintain the current broad range of programmes produced outside the M25, and broad range of different production centres used across the UK.
• A minimum of 25% of qualifying hours across all of the BBC's network and non-network television services are provided by independent producers.

The BBC observes Ofcom's Access Services Code. BBC Two has the following targets:

• A minimum of 90% of qualifying programming hours to have subtitling. Additionally, the BBC aims to subtitle 100% of actual programmes on the channel.
  (The relevant 12-month period runs from 1 April.)
• A minimum of 5% of qualifying programme hours to have signing.
  (The relevant 12-month period runs from 1 November.)
• A minimum of 10% of qualifying programme hours to have audio description.
  (The relevant 12-month period runs from 1 November.)