BBC Three to return as a linear channel?

That doesn't work in EPG terms does it? If the channel stays on-air 24/7 then either it's in the general section (and kids won't know it's there as they surf between channels) or it's in the kids section (which is weird for a channel aimed largely at adults for large chunks of the day)...

Quite - the ratings Only Connect is getting on BBC Two these days would be record breaking on BBC Four. The move of Only Connect from Four to Two increased its ratings hugely. It's hardly shoved away - it's co-scheduled with University Challenge and does very well.

Although this is still in the papers and not definitive for sure, BBC3 returning to screens on a channel again is sort of a backwards slap towards the BBC in that they wasted all their promotion moving all their content onto iPlayer only to then backtrack and begin retracing their mistakes 4 years later.

Granted, the output of BBC3 online hasn't been up to that standard they would've hoped for (as shown evident with the audience shares) but the problem with that sort of service with a few high-budget shows sprinkled in just doesn't work. You'll have a goldmine here and there and then a sea of other bland repetitive content you would see on YouTube or Instagram if you really rifled through it. That sort of content isn't what the BBC should be making, rather instead focusing their output on actual programming that audiences would want to watch. There's a reason why audiences don't see BBC3 as anything they should stick around for. They moved it way too early and in the wrong time.

Not to mention that it seems like other broadcasters are following in the BBC's footsteps, closing down channels like DR3 or France 4, when really, the move should just be as seemless as possible and ease the viewer into the new frontier, rather than just opening the hatchdoors and expecting to stick instantly. Plus, NPO3 have done a reasonable job with connecting to their audience with a special format called "3LAB" where viewers would end up choosing the programmes they'd want to see on the channel and those that won would become their own fully-fledged series. BBC3 hasn't done anything to communicate to their audience and they do not know what they want.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking there's a correlation between quality and audience. Quality in itself doesnt drive audiences.

Some of the best produced, most expensive, most award winning TV programmes ever made had got small audiences, whereas the cheapest mass produced stuff often gets great ratings.

Also 'audience share' isn't a thing with non linear content.

Indeed. Cinema proves this all the time, chuck an obscene budget at a production and no guarantee it won't fail at the box office (Cats is a prime example, they've spent $100m on the production, yet it looks like its not going to recoup its outlay and the only awards it may "get" are a load of Golden Raspberrys and an IMDb rating that puts it in the bottom 100). Jurassic Park by comparison only had a budget of about $60m and raked in on initial release over $900m. Go figure.

Why can’t BBC One (or Two) give over a few 8 or 9pm slots a week to BBC Three programmes when it’s appropriate?

Brand it as “Three on One” or whatever and show Drag Race at 8pm on a Wednesday.

They’d really struggle to fill a BBC Three channel now as the filler content like Family Guy, Don’t Tell The Bride and Sun Sex Suspicious Parents aren’t BBC shows anymore. You need a bigger budget to make newer shows like this & big budgets is what the BBC can’t give this sort of service anymore.

and then there's Fleabag: high-quality, critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic but made on a BBC Three budget.... and only got a small, niche 'cult' audience.

Drag Race is totally unsuitable for 8pm, there’s a reason it’s on in a late slot

Yes - because it’s absolute ****.

BBC three linear should have a mixture of old and new programmes, itv want family guy unless three puts up a fight

I agree with this but enjoy the programme never the less. It could easily be 45 minutes I ended up skipping bits of it. As 60+ is a bit of a drag...

Drag Race UK was excellent but I agree definitely should've been 45 mins.