The BBC has set out the details of its digital plans in a letter to the DCMS. In accordance with new guidelines, which require the Corporation to seek approval of its digital proposals (see Government Lays Out Criteria For BBC’s Digital Services), it has revealed that plans for an extra 5 digital radio channels and three television channels will cost over £300m over the next two years.
BBC3 will replace BBC Choice in late 2001, targeting a youth audience, and will require investment of over £150m for its first three years. A further £57m will be spent on the “unashamedly intellectual” BBC4, to replace BBC Knowledge, also scheduled for a late 2001 launch date. Two children’s channels, targeting over 6’s and 6-13’s will receive £10m and £31m a year respectively until 2003, following mid 2001 and early 2002 launch dates.
Five new digital radio services will require funding of £35m, the largest chunk of which will be devoted to a black music station. Further new services include a speech-based station and a youth-oriented music station, currently codenamed Network Y and Z. The Asian Network, which currently broadcasts across various UK regions, will become a national channel, and BBC Five Live Sports Plus will provide further sports coverage.
BBC director-general, Greg Dyke, laid out digital proposals for the Corporation at the Edinburgh Television Festival last year (see Greg Dyke Lays Out Future Of The BBC) and plans for further digital radio services were announced later in the year (see BBC Radio Plans Introduction Of Three New Digital Stations). Despite attempts to limit its expansion plans, the Corporation continues to attract criticism for its new media activities, with commercial players claiming licence fee funding gives them an unfair advantage across new markets.
The BBC has countered criticism by conducting its largest ever public consultation into its proposals (see BBC Launches Public Consultation Of Digital Plans), the results of which are released today. A total 73% of respondents said that the new television services would be a valuable addition to the BBC’s services, with almost 90% welcoming extra channels for children, free from advertising and built on British programming.
In a parallel survey conducted by BMRB the results were similar: 79% of young people supported a youth channel from the BBC, while 66% of Afro-Caribbean respondents were in favour of an black music channel from the BBC. Dyke said: “This is a strong and welcome endorsement of our proposals to provide viewers and listeners with imaginative and distinctive services over the next few years. I am particularly pleased that those services aimed at specific audience groups have met with widespread approval within those groups.”
The Corporation is seeking approval for its proposals by the beginning of March 2001.
BBC: 020 8743 8000 Full details can be found at: www.bbc.co.uk/consult
