The BBC confirmed that BBC Three, the 11-year-old youth-orientated channel, is to close in the autumn of 2015 and move to an online only channel in an attempt to reduce costs. The decision follows a speech given by director general Tony Hall earlier this month, in which he said “tough choices” would have to be made if the corporation was to meet its savings target.
Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention, he said: “This is the first time in the BBC’s history that we are proposing to close a television channel. I can’t rule out it being the last change to our programmes or services.
“We are in the final stages of a budget process to find an extra £100m of savings. I will announce the outcome of those decisions in the next month.”
Half of BBC Three’s commissioning budget will be diverted to help fund BBC One drama, such as Sherlock and Doctor Who. The proposed move would see many BBC Three shows, including PramFace, Don’t Tell the Bride and acquired programme Family Guy (currently the channels biggest show) moving to iPlayer or switching to either BBC One or BBC Two, playing out in a late night slot from 10.35pm onwards.
“This will allow the makers of say, the next Little Britain, to still get airtime on mainstream TV, in fact even more high profile than on BBC Three, even if it is later at night,” said a source familiar with the plans.
“It also means viewers not comfortable with iPlayer will still be able to watch and record original productions,” they added.
The BBC is also thought to have struck a deal with TV ratings body Barb that will allow online viewing on the iPlayer to be included in official audience figures for the first time, a move the corporation expects will protect the measurement of audience figures for key demographics such as the youth market.
Mr Hall stated: “I believe it’s the right thing to do: young audiences – the BBC Three audience – are the most mobile and ready to move to an online world.”
He described iPlayer, which will be home to the new-look BBC Three, as a “key part of the future for public service broadcasting” and the “gateway for people who increasingly want to watch and listen to what they want, when they want it”.
“Reaching those audiences is vital for the BBC,” he added.
Hall said a quarter of viewing by 16 to 24-year-olds was already on catchup services away from a traditional TV channel and said it was expected to reach 40 per cent in the next few years.
But he added: “We recognise that, for now, most of this audience still do their viewing on television and that is why we plan to show BBC Three’s long-form content on either BBC One or BBC Two.”
The Digital TV bandwidth previously occupied by the channel will be used for a time shifted BBC One+1 service, plus an extra hour of children’s channel CBBC, screened each night. While the addition of a catch up service will help to grow BBC One’s audiences, replacing BBC Three with time shifted repeats of BBC One shows including The Voice, EastEnders, Call the Midwife and Strictly Come Dancing it’s likely to prompt renewed criticism of the corporation’s decision to axe the youth channel.
The planned closure has to be approved by the BBC Trust, which rejected the previous director general Mark Thompson’s proposals to axe BBC Radio 6 Music four years ago and a similar move to close its sister station, the Asian Network.
The trust’s response is likely to take several months and will include a four-stage public value test, including an assessment of its value to the public and a market impact assessment carried out by Ofcom. Its provisional findings will then be published before a further consultation on the proposed change.
In a statement, it said: “The trust’s priority will be to listen to the views of audiences as we consider proposed changes to BBC3 and other services.
“Any major changes to existing BBC services require approval from the trust. In this case, we expect to conduct a public value test, including a public consultation, so licence fee payers will have the opportunity to have their say in the process.”
The proposed move saw strong objections from some of the channel’s stars, comedians Jack Whitehall, Matt Lucas and Russell Kane.
Since its launch in 2003, BBC Three has been the birthplace of numerous ratings successes, including Little Britain, Torchwood, Being Human and Gavin and Stacey. These were among the shows singled out by Little Britain star Matt Lucas in a tweet proclaiming the channel to be “the home of new comedy and drama”.
His sentiments were echoed by comedian Jack Whitehall: “I really hope reports that the BBC may kill BBC Three are just rumours. Their support of new comedy in particular is vital.”
Comedian Russell Kane, who presents stand-up show Live at the Electric on BBC Three, said the channel “provides a vital part of the entertainment portfolio of the BBC”. It’s not necessarily a youth channel, but it is younger-skewed. I don’t see why it should be cut because people who are younger have quieter voices in the political process.”
Kane said that moving the channel to iPlayer would reduce viewers and hinder audience engagement when it screens political debates, suggesting the channel would lack the “rubber stamp of approval” awarded to other services.
The broadcaster argued that switching to an online-only brand would help “super-charge” viewing on iPlayer. The BBC wants to extend the licence fee to cover households where people watch on demand programmes exclusively on mobile and tablet devices.
BBC Three’s own Twitter feed also joined the protest, posting recently: “Who knew people love BBC Three more than pancakes?! Feeling loved. #SaveBBC3”