BBC Three was a British over-the-top Internet tv service operated by the BBC. It was launched on 16 February 2016 as a alternative for the linear BBC Three tv channel, which closed down the identical day but was later relaunched on 1 February 2022. The service produces and streams tv and net collection aimed on the demographic of sixteen to 34-year-olds, with a selected deal with comedy and documentary programming. BBC Three content was primarily streamed on BBC iPlayer, while the service’s other content, together with net collection and different supplies, have been also distributed by means of presences on social networks. All full-length authentic programming commissioned for BBC Three needed to eventually be broadcast on the linear BBC One and BBC Two tv channels following their on-line premiere. Beginning in March 2019, BBC One introduced a dedicated timeslot for BBC Three programmes on Mondays through Wednesdays following the BBC News at Ten. On Slot , it was announced throughout the BBC’s annual plan that the company is “contemplating the case” for returning BBC Three to linear tv, four years after it was taken off air.

The annual plan also said that the BBC would be “backing the success” of the channel by doubling its funds, after producing a variety of critically acclaimed series together with Normal People, Fleabag and This Country. Research launched in September 2020 confirmed that BBC Three was being seen for 89% much less time per-yr for the reason that closure of its linear broadcast platform, and 72% if rebroadcasts of its content on other BBC linear channels have been included. In the 12 months after it closed its linear broadcast platform its weekly viewers of viewers aged 16-34 declined 69% in contrast with the year before the closure. BBC was within the process of finalizing plans to make another £100 million in cuts to be introduced the next month. Believing that general finances cuts throughout all the company would compromise the standard of its in-house productions-particularly dramas, which he described as being the “essence” of the BBC-Hall said that these cuts may require “exhausting selections” to be made.

On 5 March 2014, the BBC announced several cost-financial savings proposals, topic to the approval of the BBC Trust. Among them were plans to discontinue BBC Three as a television channel, and convert it into a web-based service. In its proposal, the BBC stated that while motivated by monetary concerns, the conversion was a “future-going through transfer” that will “develop a ground-breaking new online service which will deliver high quality, distinctive UK-originated lengthy type and new kind interactive content material to 16-34 12 months olds”, and benefit from the increased use of online services by the channel’s goal demographics. It was outlined that the service must leverage the “strengths” of BBC Three, such as curation, original productions, and “finest-in-class storytelling”, and adapt them to the “immediacy” and interactivity of digital. Because the service would not be sure to the limitations of linear schedules, the scope of the brand new BBC Three would fall underneath three “editorial pillars” versus programming genres: “Make Me Laugh” reflects comedic and “character-driven” programmes, and “Make Me Think” reflects present affairs, drama, and different factual programming.

A third pillar, “Give Me a Voice”, reflects that the service’s content material would be of topical interest to the 16-34 yr-old demographic, and would encourage discussion and participation particularly by way of social media. The overall programming funds of the service can be decreased by almost half compared to the BBC Three channel. While it would have a larger deal with quick-type net collection, the service planned to proceed investments into commissioning long-form programmes and “comedy at near current levels”, and serving as an incubator for brand spanking new talent. The service’s output would primarily be delivered through iPlayer, but plans known as for a revamped “branded house” to showcase the content, as effectively distributing quick-kind productions by way of alternative retailers resembling YouTube. The proposal faced criticism from notable parties, together with Greg James, Matt Lucas and Jack Whitehall. Media author Roy Greenslade thought of the change to be “unquestionably the most sensible or maybe the least worst” means of slicing prices.