Youth channel will be renamed BBC3
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Almost 40 years after it launched BBC2, the BBC is set to start broadcasting a BBC3 channel within the year.
The project has the full backing of director general Greg Dyke and the corporation's new director of television Mark Thompson.
BBC 3 will be a youth and entertainment channel, and is expected to evolve from a major repositioning of the digital channel, BBC Choice. "It has been called BBC 3 internally for some time," a spokesman said.
However, Mr Dyke is expected to make the final decision on a new BBC 3 identity only when clearance has been granted for a bigger budget. BBC Choice operates on £35m a year - tiny by comparison with BBC2's £400m.
Stuart Murphy, the controller of BBC Choice, has been charged with transforming the channel which, BBC executives say, "lacked identity" and was aimed at too wide an age range - from 16-45 year olds.
Mr Murphy said that he is aiming for the sort of viewers attracted to programmes such as ITV'sCold Feet and the BBC drama This Life - people in their late twenties and early thirties who "think the footballers look young, who believe that swearing is not an issue but manners are and think that a good night out is a night out".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments