There have been rumours circulating for the last couple of days that the BBC were ready to axe BBC3 and BBC4, and now The Radio Times has confirmed that poor old BBC3 is getting the chop.
The BBC need to make annual savings of £100 million and the Director General, Tony Hall, had previously announced that they wouldn't go about it by "salami slicing", that is saving a little bit here and a little bit there. Cutting an entire channel would certainly help a long way towards making those savings, but at what cost to us the viewer?
Whatever you might think of Snog, Marry, Avoid and Don't Tell the Bride, it was BBC3 that bought us Torchwood and Doctor Who Confidential. BBC3 has broadcast a lot of new comedy that wouldn't have made it into our homes otherwise, Gavin & Stacey, Little Britain and The Mighty Boosh to name but three. BBC3 gave us Being Human and The Fades. It's the home to Orphan Black and In The Flesh. It will be a real shame to see it go.
An official announcement is due tomorrow, but there is a small glimmer of hope. The Radio Times notes that the plan to axe BBC3 will require approval from the BBC Trust, which reversed the decision to axe alternative radio station BBC 6 Music in 2010 following a high-profile campaign by listeners. We will keep our fingers crossed that history repeats itself with this decision.
Source: The Radio Times
Updated - March 6th.
The BBC have released an official announcement here, stating that they plan to shut down BBC3 in Autumn 2015. In doing so they hope to;
- Save over £50 million a year
- Invest an additional £30 million into drama on BBC One
- Reinvent BBC Three as a new and innovative online service
- Use the freed-up spectrum to extend CBBC by an hour a night and to provide a BBC1 +1 service.
