BBC Three - Trust's final decision published

QFT

So what is the point of the BBC (Mis)Trust? They put out a costly public consultation about the changes, but ignored the people who took part. Effectively ignoring the views of the people that pay their wages! If this took place in a commercial organisation, they'd be sacked for gross mis-conduct! The BBC (Mis)Trust is not fit for purpose, and should be disbanded and replaced.

Because they have to make awkward decisions. They can't do everything.

I think we need to show this again. It always comes down to money.

I have mixed opinions about this. BBC Four has a lower audience share, and so is theoretically less valued by the audience. But, then I think that the content is unique and is not the usual fare produced by the commercial channels. BBC Three on the other hand is well served with other channels.

I think BBC Two and Four are similar enough to be merged together. As a BBC Three viewer, I fear that once the channel goes the BBC won't be properly serving my age-range properly, whereas the older audience will have both Two and Four to watch.

At the end of the day, the younger "Three" viewers just don't watch or appriciate BBC Four, and BBC Two is in a similar situation. The BBC will have to work hard to appease everyone with this decision, where as they could have killed two birds with one stone by merging Four in to Two.

Why not Three into Two? Perhaps you are too young to recall, but BBC Two used to be thriving with programming for the younger demographic. Some of the biggest comedies started on the channel and there were whole strands of youth programming (in fact much of the BBC's youth output was on Two.

Fuming.

I think the fact it has happened on the same day the EBU have announced they've secured the UHF spectrum for the purpose of terrestrial TV for the foreseeable future, with terrestrial TV expected to continue into the 2030s across the EU, says it all.

The case simply hasn't been made for closing the channel, halving the budget and spending £6m of what's left of it on short form content well catered for by Youtube etc. rather than on actual programming, while £30m goes on making more middle aged drama for BBC1.

It's been clear from the outset the public consultation was nothing more than procedure being follow and respondents being ignored.

But you already have BBC Three so what would be the point? BBC Two and Four are currently very similar. It would make a merger much easier. BBC Two and Four just go together.

I hope not Red Button. A) isn't it also going and B) what about HD?

Yeah, red button is closing as well, the Eurovision semis cannot go there. BBC Two it is.

What it means is that the linear channel will close and the online BBC Three will launch at the end of January, but throughout February you'll still be able to find a channel called BBC Three in the usual place on the EPG but it'll just be running a promotional barker.

It's a barmy decision when you consider Radio 3, 6Music, 1Xtra and the Asian Network are still going.