BBC Three to return as a linear channel?

Some have suggested selling BBC Three & BBC Four.

I could be wrong here, as I'm no legal expert, but surely the BBC cannot 'sell' PSB channels (even to its commercial arm BBC Studios) without a major change to their charter. Perhaps the only way would be to close both channels (OK, BBC Three is technically only online - but the brand exists), then sell the programme rights to BBC Studios.

However, they would require new EPG slots on both Freeview and Sky, and renaming, perhaps back to just 'Choice' and 'Knowledge'. I'm not sure this would be a solution in such a crowded market where competitors would have better slots.

It would also mean that some of the back-catalogue would no longer be available on BBC iPlayer.

My guess would be that BBC Four airs Sun - Thur, with BBC Three Fri - Sat. How that would work on the EPG for changing the channel name every week I don't know.

It's probably a bit different to that. BBC Studios-made shows would be decommissioned by BBC Public Service (who run BBC Three and Four currently) and then a UKTV Three and a UKTV Four channel could recommission them from themselves - though if they pre-dated the BBC Studios split from BBC Public Service the BBC PS operation may retain IP rights - so that could be complex.

The channels couldn't be called or branded BBC if they carried advertising or sponsorship domestically and were UKTV channels. I think that's pretty clear.

Commissioned shows from indie producers would need to be recommissioned - and that would be less cost effective - but still do-able.



They wouldn't get protected EPG slots - and couldn't be carried on PSB1 (the main BBC SD Freeview mux) as that is reserved for BBC public services channels only. However they could buy the CBBC downtime on PSB3 (the UK HD mux) as that doesn't have the same protection.

I really do think we're getting too bogged down with linear channel names. People watch programmes and not channels, (as distinct from radio, where it's broadly the other way round)

By the end of this decade, linear viewing will be a lot less than it is now, so really I think a different approach is required to 'market' different genres of programming.

One thing which might make relaunching BBC3 easier is they would effectively have 4 years of content which hasn't had a primetime airing which could flesh out the schedules and perhaps fine a new audience on a linear stream.

However on the flip side the 10.35pm slot on BBC1 was far less about giving the BBC3 content an outlet and much more about cutting post-10.35 commissions for BBC1, so removing that raises the question of what they do from Monday to Wednesday.

A relatively cheap option.

BBC Three could effectively become the sustaining evening service for BBC Red Button, which would be universally available., with HD via the iPlayer. Any specials, WImbledon, Euro 2020, Glastonbury etc. could pre-empt the service quickly and easily. I'd not expect much more. Broadcast HD could possibly kick in outside Scotland from 9pm as an extra but would be messy.

How is that going to appeal to casual viewers flicking through the EPG? They might as well leave it on Iplayer if that is the only viable option.

I disagree strongly in the case of BBC 4. It definitely has a core audience.

Give BBC Three an EPG number but use the Red Button Bandwidth. MHEGging when not in use, as happens with BBC Four / Cbeebies now and happened with BBC Three / CBBC previously. The big problem (on Freeview at least) now is the availability of an EPG number, 7 having been pinched for some local services following the closure.

That's almost full circle, that's how BBC Choice started !

Isn't just a BBC issue now - across all the main terrestrials the effort after 10pm is nowhere near as much as it was a decade ago. It's largely been written off for repeats on most nights.

It is a time slot though where the digital channels often step up as a result - can be more beneficial for them to schedule their content at 10pm than 9pm.

I think perhaps that line has already been crossed, whether intentionally or not, as ITV are now advertising Britbox, as a commercial subscription venture with BBC branding as well as their own during regular promotional slots.


Have the BBC managed to get around this, somehow?