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**Chris** · 13-03-2016, 10:04

The BBC itself said if it had had the choice, it wouldn't have experimented with an online-only channel for another 10 years. Given that its hand was forced, BBC3 was the best choice. It always was the channel with the thinnest public service justification, as the 18-35 audience is extremely well catered for elsewhere*. BBC3's audience can also go off and stream stuff without adult supervision. If you're going to run a grand experiment, why would you make it more complicated than it needs to be by choosing a kids channel that would require parental involvement?

* BBC management's first attempt to close BBC Choice and replace it with BBC3 was rejected by the BBC Trust, because the Trust said management had not demonstrated the public service value of what they were proposing. Management had to go away, redraw their plans and then try a lot harder to convince the Trust it was necessary and worthwhile. BBC Four, meanwhile, had no such problems and was up and running some while before Three.

13-03-2016, 10:04	#678
Chris Trollsplatter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 38,135	Re: The future for linear TV channels The BBC itself said if it had had the choice, it wouldn't have experimented with an online-only channel for another 10 years. Given that its hand was forced, BBC3 was the best choice. It always was the channel with the thinnest public service justification, as the 18-35 audience is extremely well catered for elsewhere. BBC3's audience can also go off and stream stuff without adult supervision. If you're going to run a grand experiment, why would you make it more complicated than it needs to be by choosing a kids channel that would require parental involvement? BBC management's first attempt to close BBC Choice and replace it with BBC3 was rejected by the BBC Trust, because the Trust said management had not demonstrated the public service value of what they were proposing. Management had to go away, redraw their plans and then try a lot harder to convince the Trust it was necessary and worthwhile. BBC Four, meanwhile, had no such problems and was up and running some while before Three.