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BBC Three to return as a linear channel?

Split from BBC Three New Logo (March 2020)

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DV
DVB Cornwall
The BBC investment in Britbox I believe is through BBC Studios who operate the UKTV slate of channels exclusively now, which of course show lots of BBC logos in their subscription channels. The same operator provides BBC content for rent/purchase across multiple platforms too. There have been Netflix promos specifically directing attention to the BBC 4K versions of PEII and BPII available there too.
IS
Inspector Sands
Stuart posted:
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.

Yes, it's not like selling a standalone independent radio station, in the BBC everything is shared and interconnected.


It's like when 6 Music was facing closure and I think it was Absolute Radio who suggested they buy it. Even without the point that a lot of its programming just wouldn't exist in a commercial environment, what would they actually be able to buy?

Just buying the name and format doesn't buy the station, they need the people too and not everyone would go or be able to go. They wouldn't have access to the music library but would be able to buy programmes and archive from the BBC. Could they get the same distribution? Yes but paying the BBC for the privilege and space


Selling off local radio stations, as has been proposed, is even more difficult these days as each uses centralised studios. Selling one you basically get a name staff and some non functioning studios

It's the same with 'selling off' BBC 3 or 4.... what would they actually get? It wouldn't be BBC3 or 4
IS
Inspector Sands
Brekkie posted:
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.

Though I think a lot of that content wasn't produced in standard durations, a lot has been short form content designed to go viral. Not necessarily suitable for a linear channel

That is one advantage for producers in the nonlinear world - they don't have to stick to 28 minute slots
IS
Inspector Sands
Stuart posted:

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?

Having an advert on another channel which contains a BBC logo isn't the same as having adverts on a BBC branded service.

If it was called BBC BritBox and carried advertising then that would be an issue.


Of course outside electronic media there have long been adverts on BBC branded products
GO
gottago
Inspector Sands posted:
Brekkie posted:
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.

Though I think a lot of that content wasn't produced in standard durations, a lot has been short form content designed to go viral. Not necessarily suitable for a linear channel

That is one advantage for producers in the nonlinear world - they don't have to stick to 28 minute slots

If you look through iPlayer there is quite a lot on there that is a standard duration. And I'm sure a lot of what isn't could be reversioned to trim it down to a standard length.

I think they largely gave up on the really short form, desperate to go viral stuff some time ago. Their YouTube and Instagram videos seem to just be cut-downs of their long form stuff now.
NL
Ne1L C
johnnyboy posted:
As much as I did not enjoy the programming on BBC3, I thought removing it was a huge mistake given its popularity among its target audience.

I understand that many people choose to watch stuff online (as do I - I love it, in fact) but there are still millions who still like linear TV. Perhaps the true value of a linear channel is to act as a barker for what's on online replay services.

As a lover of the BBC but as someone who is prepared to accept that its services will be cut back and since there is a "fantasy" element to this thread, I would hope for the following if the BBC is hollowed out:

BBC ONE - the very best of UK television between 5pm and 1am (simulcasting the News Channel for other hours)

Reasoning: does the BBC really need to compete with daytime ITV? Do we really need another series of Homes Under The Hammer?

CBeebies until 7pm/BBC TWO until 1am - the under 6 channel followed by off-beat and experimental documentaries and comedies

Reasoning: much of BBC2 daytime is already BBC News (that'll now be on BBC1) and the rest of what's on isn't really much to write home about. The rest of the time could be used to show BBC TWO programs of the like shown before the launch of BBC4.

CBBC/BBC THREE - rather like the old days but with BBC3 starting at 8pm

Reasoning: it wasn't broke before.

BBC FOUR - BBC Choice-type repeats from 3am to 7pm, BBC FOUR showing "high brow" (for want of a better word) programming in the remaining hours

Reason: the BBC could run archive programming during the day (the "From The Archive" is one of my favourite sections on iPlayer) followed by BBC FOUR with boosted investment

BBC "EXTRA 1"/BBC SCOTLAND - red button type service for sporting events and other programming from 12am to 7pm followed by BBC Scotland programming

Reasoning: it'd be nice to have red button programming in HD on Sky etc on a BBC "Extra" type channel. And, despite its knockers, BBC Scotland is actually a good channel (and I am English).

BBC NEWS 24 (24hrs)

Reasoning: I miss the "24" prefix. And the flags would be nice to have back too.

BBC PARLIAMENT

Reasoning: Charter-stuff

BBC "EXTRA 2"/BBC ALBA

Reasoning: more dead hours that could be filled with Red Button type programming in HD with BBC Alba becoming HD at the same time.

BBC WORLD +1 (24hrs)

Reasoning: Just kidding.


Re BBC1 starting at 5PM. What would you have between 5 and 5.15 so to keep Pointless in its slot?
LL
Larry the Loafer
Interlude?
JO
Josh
Everybody's favourite filler programme - Coast!
uktvwatcher and Ne1L C gave kudos
BA
Ballyboy
If you merge bbc four and three it’ll be “ we’re in north east Scotland with coast, after more silly antics from this country”
ST
Stuart
I see many have delved into some 'fantasy channel mergers' on here; but they ignore the essential problem that returning BBC Three to a linear schedule just creates the same issue they faced before: BBCs One to Four are chasing different demographics within the same primetime broadcast hours of 19:00 to 23:00.

Having 'BBC Three on One/Two/Four' during the 23:30-06:00 slot is actually no different to having it as just an online channel.

People looking for those programmes will simply stream/download them from iPlayer as they do now, regardless of whether or not they had been broadcast on an actual channel in the middle of the night, when they are supposed to be writing an essay or falling off a bar stool.

Equally, the BBC Four viewership is not senile or stupid. They are capable of finding their genre of programmes on iPlayer.

As much as I didn't like to see the demise of the linear BBC Three channel, perhaps it's time to move ahead with the market and do the same with BBC Four. The content will still be there.
NL
Ne1L C
Stuart posted:
I see many have delved into some 'fantasy channel mergers' on here; but they ignore the essential problem that returning BBC Three to a linear schedule just creates the same issue they faced before: BBCs One to Four are chasing different demographics within the same primetime broadcast hours of 19:00 to 23:00.

Having 'BBC Three on One/Two/Four' during the 23:30-06:00 slot is actually no different to having it as just an online channel.

People looking for those programmes will simply stream/download them from iPlayer as they do now, regardless of whether or not they had been broadcast on an actual channel in the middle of the night, when they are supposed to be writing an essay or falling off a bar stool.

Equally, the BBC Four viewership is not senile or stupid. They are capable of finding their genre of programmes on iPlayer.

As much as I didn't like to see the demise of the linear BBC Three channel, perhaps it's time to move ahead with the market and do the same with BBC Four. The content will still be there.



To quote Eminem it’s “back to reality” I’m a huge bbc 4 fan but i also understand that BBC’ s 1 and 2 will always be the primary focus so with that in mind maybe the solution is to shift BBC 4 to online leaving the slots

That way the channel slots are free for a variety of options ( don’t ask what options because I can’t think of any)

Now here comes the kicker as they say in the states. Close down CBBC and CBeebies and have their programmes as digital exclusives.

That way the beeb would have 1,2 and News at the core and everything else as extras.

Now if you will excuse me I’ll just go and check my life insurance!
FA
fanoftv
With regards to the children’s channels would or could they revert to showing a slot on the main channels which could work as a showcase for their programme catalogue through IPlayer?

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