Channel 5 Opposes Plans For New BBC3

Channel 5 is believed to be leading industry opposition to the BBC’s reworked proposal for BBC3, its digital channel aimed at 16-35 year-olds.

The channel is objecting to the new plans for BBC3 on the grounds that it will use public money to fund programming that is already provided by commercial broadcasters.

The BBC had its original proposal for the channel rejected by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell last September because it was “not truly distinctive in an already crowded market” (see Government Says No To BBC3). However, the BBC resubmitted its plans to the DCMS last month and a public consultation inviting views from the public and the industry was launched.

The BBC’s new plans are thought include a greater emphasis on news and current affairs with a news bulletin being shown every hour. Channel 5, which currently shows more news than any other commercial station (see Channel 5 Sidesteps ITC Decision With New 5.30pm News Bulletin), claims that the reworked proposal “lacks variety” and is considering submitting its views to the DCMS before the end of the consultation period on Friday.

A spokesman for Channel 5 said: “We’ve always objected to the amount of money the BBC proposes to spend on BBC3 and there is nothing unique about the proposal to show news on the hour every hour. That is the real sticking point.”

Channel 5 confirmed yesterday that its programming budget for 2002 will be increased by around £5m to £149m. The channel also announced that advertising revenues for 2001 were down 7.5% year on year to £191.8m (see Channel 5 Programming Budget Increased).

Channel 5: 020 7550 5555 www.channel5.co.uk

Subscribers can access further information on Channel 5 and other TV channels by selecting “Television” from the drop-down box at the top of this page.