Our decision on BBC Three’s future

In January this year, we began looking at BBC proposals which included closing BBC Three as a TV channel and moving it online. This has been a very detailed study which has sparked a large response through two phases of public consultation.

It hasn’t been an easy process either. It’s a difficult decision to close a TV channel and one that’s been finely balanced throughout but in the end we have given approval to the BBC’s proposal with a range of conditions attached.

We know that a lot of people care deeply about the channel and the programmes it is home to. We hope that the conditions, which were written with the public’s feedback in mind, will help to answer some of the fears that were raised.

Why did we take this decision?

The outcome of this process was by no means a foregone conclusion, you only have to look at past decisions blocking the closure of BBC 6 Music or even the proposal to launch BBC One+1 (which was put forward at the same time as plans for BBC Three) to see that we don’t ‘rubber-stamp’ what is put in front of us.

On this occasion we agreed with the BBC that the future of broadcasting is online and that the BBC, as it has done many times in its history, must adapt and change with the times in order to remain relevant. This decision ensures that BBC Three will continue to develop and flourish.

Younger people are watching less broadcast television, they’re watching more online and they’re using newer digital services in different ways. We need to move with our audiences and respond to these changing habits.

BBC Three online will provide a dedicated space for innovative content, like the groundbreaking drama, comedy and factual programming currently provided, which is a real strength.

Did you listen?

We have received a lot of correspondence on BBC Three; letters, emails, petitions, tweets and consultation responses. Some simply asked us to save BBC Three, while others set out what it was that concerned them and what they needed us to preserve.

We looked at the proposals afresh each time, and considered everything that we received. So while our first period of consultation helped us to set conditions in our provisional conclusions, the second consultation allowed us to test the conditions and get more feedback.

One of the main concerns raised, was that some people will be unable to access BBC Three online. We have now imposed a tight condition to ensure that all long-form content is also available on BBC One or BBC Two.

People also said they didn’t want BBC One and BBC Two to use only late night slots:

In previous iterations of content for a younger audience, BBC One and Two have typically only shown these programmes in late night slots, or inconsistent slots, meaning that many younger viewers may miss them and stop looking for that form of content altogether.

(Male, 25-34)

We don’t want that to happen either, our condition is that content has to be available across the schedule throughout the UK. This will be checked as part of a review in 12-18 months’ time as well as checking that the BBC remains committed to creative risk taking on television, which was raised by other people who responded to our consultation.

BBC Three is the only channel committed to showing programmes aimed at the younger generations, and is also much more creative and experimental with the type of programmes broadcasted

(Female, 16-24)

What will happen to BBC Three?

The BBC can now move forward with their plans for BBC Three’s online service. This will involve making sure people know about the move and can find them online.

All long-form programmes will be shown on BBC One or BBC Two on an ongoing basis, so you will be able to watch them on television or online as you choose.

There will be a service review in 12-18 months’ time to check whether the conditions are working, which could result in more formal quotas or targets if they aren’t.

I’d like to thank everyone who shared their views with us, we have used them to make sure that while the way people watch television may be changing, the BBC continues to reach as many people as possible with the programmes and content they love.

You can read the Trust's decision here.