[Smithy]

The BBC has given serious consideration to the idea of moving BBC Three back to television four years after the youth network became an online-only service through BBC streaming service iPlayer.

Deadline understands that BBC top brass have held talks about the possibility of reversing the controversial decision to kill BBC Three as a television channel.

Although no decision has been made, it is under review as the BBC prepares to publish its annual plan later this month — a document setting out the broadcaster’s strategic objectives for the year ahead.

The thinking is that BBC Three is in good health, buoyed by hits including RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Fleabag and This Country, and restoring the channel to television could be a battering ram in the BBC’s efforts to win back young viewers.

But the decision could have an impact on other services, given the BBC’s financial constraints. The suggestion being that cuts would have to be made elsewhere to fund BBC Three’s move back to TV.

BBC director general Tony Hall ultimately made the call to shift BBC Three online in 2014, sparking a vocal campaign to save the channel before it was switched off in 2016. If he changes his mind, he is likely to face accusations that he made a mistake in pulling the shutters down on the youth service.

[Smithy]

Here for it!

[Marsh.]

Not arsed either way.

[Saph]

It would be nice but tbh I only really had it on as background noise for family guy/american dad late at night

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Smithy

restoring the channel to television could be a battering ram in the BBC’s efforts to win back young viewers.

Making Shows that have a bit of life in them would be a good start at fixing this problem.

[Strictly Jake]

Originally Posted by Saph

It would be nice but tbh I only really had it on as background noise for family guy/american dad late at night

Ah yeah same. Also snog marry avoid was good if I was drunk. Same with sun sex and suspicious parents

The best show bbc3 ever did and cant believe they only did one series of was

How to survive a zombie apocalypse with Greg James

Did anyone else watch it? It had bb aspects to it it was a bit like a gameshow of dead set

[arista]

"If he changes his mind,"


Smithy Hall is going in a few months
We get a New Boss of the BBC.

[Daniel.]

I hope so

[Livia]

The BBC really does cater for the younger generation. They have channels dedicated to children and to young people... and they're asking the elderly to pay for a licence despite the fact they are not catered for at all.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Livia

The BBC really does cater for the younger generation. They have channels dedicated to children and to young people... and they're asking the elderly to pay for a licence despite the fact they are not catered for at all.

BBC2 & 4 and arguably Radio 2 - 6 cared for the elderly

[Samm]

Originally Posted by Livia

The BBC really does cater for the younger generation. They have channels dedicated to children and to young people... and they're asking the elderly to pay for a licence despite the fact they are not catered for at all.

That’s literally not true, the BBC’s main audience are the older generation.

as for this news, I think it has worked really well online, we’re in the age of streaming so it’s really smart

[Amy Jade]

Originally Posted by Strictly Jake

The best show bbc3 ever did and cant believe they only did one series of was

How to survive a zombie apocalypse with Greg James

Did anyone else watch it? It had bb aspects to it it was a bit like a gameshow of dead set

Urgh loved this, was so sad it wasn't given another series.

[Alf]

They need to show re-runs of Alf Garnett. There's a demand for Alf, out there.

[MB.]

Looks as though this is going ahead, quite possibly at the expense of BBC Four

The BBC is hoping to bring back BBC Three as a regular TV channel, four years after it was taken off air and moved online.

The youth channel, which commissioned hits like Normal People and Fleabag, will also have its budget doubled.

It left linear TV in 2016 to save £30m, and because the corporation said young people were watching more shows online.

The BBC now says it is "considering the case" for returning the channel to "linear television".

A BBC spokesman said "we'd be wrong not to back a service that is doing better than anyone could have ever conceived".

The turnaround will be formally announced as part of the BBC's annual plan on Wednesday, but there was no news about the fate of BBC Four, which has been rumoured for the axe.

The corporation warned that putting BBC Three back on TV will mean reductions in other areas, especially as the BBC's income has been reduced by £125 million during the coronavirus outbreak.

But it says those decisions won't be made until the autumn when there is a clearer picture of the BBC's finances.

However, the BBC did say it had no plans to close BBC Four at the moment.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52719883

[Greg!]

Happy about this but they shouldn’t have closed it in the first place, glad the budget is increasing too.

Not that arsed if BBC4 gets axed as long as they show the old TOTP compilations on BBC2 or something

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by MB.

Looks as though this is going ahead, quite possibly at the expense of BBC Four



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52719883

Coming for record rating with drag race season 2

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

The BBC really does cater for the younger generation. They have channels dedicated to children and to young people... and they're asking the elderly to pay for a licence despite the fact they are not catered for at all.

How narrow minded. The majority of BBC viewers are older.

[Maxxie.]

bbc four's a great channel and not to sound patronising but a lot of their demographic probably barely know how to use iplayer or at are gonna bother specifically using it to watch a BBC four programme, so replacing it with BBC three is a bad idea imo.

I'm here for BBC three if four stays though.

[Saph]

can they not afford to just keep both?

[Saph]

(not that I'd care if bbc4 got axed)

[Gstar]

Great news

[Maxxie.]

Originally Posted by Saph

(not that I'd care if bbc4 got axed)

Anyone who thinks BBC4 should be axed or would prefer the BBC3 channel over it is an uncultured swine.

[Liam-]

Originally Posted by Maxxie.

Anyone who thinks BBC4 should be axed or would prefer the BBC3 channel over it is an uncultured swine.

Umm, Young, dumb and living off mum was the peak of culture, watch yourself

[Mitchell]

Originally Posted by Maxxie.

Anyone who thinks BBC4 should be axed or would prefer the BBC3 channel over it is an uncultured swine.

Do you need a ladder to get off that high horse of yours?

[Mitchell]

Imagine calling someone uncultured when you’re on a big brother forum and actively support Katie Hopkins?