Digital channel premiÿres 'EastEnders'

Eastenders and the second series of the American drama 24 will be screened on the new digital channel BBC3 next month before they are shown on terrestrial television.

The BBC has faced a difficult balancing act of encouraging viewers to use its digital services without angering licence-fee payers who cannot access them.

But BBC sources have confirmed that some hit shows will be screened first on BBC3, the newest channel in the BBC's digital portfolio, to promote its launch on 9 February. For the first two weeks, EastEnders will have its première on the channel in an attempt to encourage interest in the new service and increase the number of viewers – although the show will continue to be broadcast in its normal slot on BBC1.

The first episode of the second series of the cult show24 will go out on BBC2, but subsequent episodes will be previewed on BBC3, sources confirmed. The show was first broadcast in Britain last year.

Jana Bennett, the director of television, said: "The BBC is committed to driving digital take-up and that is why I am happy to bring the strength of BBC1 and BBC2 to help show viewers what else is on offer from the BBC with the launch of our brand new digital channel, BBC3."

For the first three weeks, BBC1 will also show highlights of BBC3 programming late at night and the showcase will continue one night a week for the rest of the year.

Figures for the corporation's other digital channel, BBC4, which was first broadcast in March, show that it is attracting comparatively small audiences. Its most popular regular shows, including repeats of the Horizon science programmes, were seen by 31,000 people last year, although more than 10 million people have watched the channel.

BBC3 aims to bring the best in entertainment, comedy, contemporary drama and music to a young adult audience. About 80 per cent of its programmes will be commissioned and at least a quarter of the programme budget will be spent on independent productions.