BBC3 Looks Set For Government Go-Ahead
The BBC looks set to gain approval to launch digital entertainment channel BBC3. A report by the ITC has been published by the DCMS, which suggests that concerns about the channel’s effect on the television market could be “manageable”.
The BBC first sought approval for the channel, a likely rival for Sky One and E4, last year, along with BBC4 and two children’s channels. The other three channels were given the go ahead by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, and have since launched, but in a surprising move, BBC3 was not given the go ahead (see Government Says No To BBC3). Jowell said at the time “”The BBC still has not made the case for BBC3, the station for 16 to 34 year olds. It was not clear that its proposals were truly distinctive in an already crowded market”. The Corporation was invited to re-submit its plans.
Commercial broadcasters object to plans for the channel as they believe that the market is well served already, and argue that BBC3 could cost them considerably in revenue (see BBC3 Could Cost Commercial Broadcasters £25m). A wider-held concern lies in the fact that while funding for the channel would come from a licence fee paid by everyone, only those who subscribe to digital services or who have purchased digital equipment would be able to view the channel.
The revised target audience for the channel is now 25-34 year olds, and the new proposals concentrate more on news and current affairs, with a strong commitment to British production.
A statement released by the BBC today welcomes the report, saying: “We believe that BBC3 will make an important contribution to driving digital take-up, especially among people who don’t want to pay a subscription, at a time when this is much needed. We welcome the ITC report and its conclusions, and trust that it will prove useful to the Secretary of State. We hope that she will soon be able to give us consent to launch the new channel.”
An announcement from Jowell is expected later this week.
BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.culture.gov.uk
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