BBC Trust

The BBC Trust has formally approved proposals to move BBC Three online, and has set conditions to ensure that younger audiences continue to be well served, in its final decision on a package of proposals from the BBC published today. 

Trustees concluded that that there is clear public value in moving BBC Three online, as independent evidence shows younger audiences are watching more online and watching less linear TV.  The move will also contribute to the significant savings the BBC is currently making. 

The decision follows a detailed and rigorous assessment that began in January 2015, which has included two public consultations, audience research, and a wide range of independent evidence.  

Today’s final decision reflects the provisional conclusions the Trust published in June, but with amended and strengthened conditions in direct response to views expressed by the public and stakeholders during the Trust’s public consultation about the potential impact on younger audiences and those without reliable internet access:

• A condition requiring BBC Three programmes to be broadcast on BBC One/Two, has been strengthened so that all BBC Three long-form programmes must be broadcast in slots on BBC One and Two, on an ongoing basis, effective immediately on closure of the BBC Three TV channel. 
• In addition, BBC Three long-form programmes must be broadcast on both BBC One and Two at a variety of times across the schedule and throughout the UK
• A condition requiring BBC One and Two to offer programmes specifically aimed at younger audiences, including the BBC Three programmes, now requires the channels to offer distinctive programmes designed for younger audiences, including the long-form BBC Three programmes. 

The Trust has also added a requirement to the service licences for BBC One and Two to ensure continued creative risk-taking and experimenting with new talent and ideas.  The online BBC Three will also be required to have the same accessibility standards as the TV channel, wherever practicable. 

As part of our ongoing obligations to monitor adherence to service licence requirements, a service review will be conducted within 18 months of today’s decision, assessing the progress of the new online BBC Three and the effectiveness of the conditions the Trust has imposed.  The Trust could then consider imposing quotas or formal targets if it considers that performance against the conditions has been unsatisfactory. 

As part of its decision today the Trust has also approved plans to extend the hours of CBBC to 9pm, and to develop iPlayer beyond a catchup service, to include online-first and third party content.  But it formally rejected the BBC’s proposals for a BBC One +1 channel, on the basis of limited public value.

BBC Trustee Suzanna Taverne, Chair of the Trust’s Services Committee which led the assessment of the proposals, said:

"The decision to close a TV channel is a difficult one, and one we have not taken lightly.  The BBC must adapt with its audiences; the evidence is very clear that younger audiences are watching more online and less linear TV.  The plans enable the BBC to deliver more distinctive content online, while bearing down on costs; to address concerns about the impact of moving BBC Three online, we have set new requirements for programmes for younger audiences on BBC One and Two."

The Trust is also requiring the BBC to return with a full proposal for the use of the spectrum vacated by BBC Three’s closure, within three months from today; and an update from the BBC on negotiations on content rights before launch.  

Today’s full decision and supporting evidence can be found here. 

Notes to Editors

1. In March 2014 the BBC announced plans to close BBC Three as a linear TV channel. 
The BBC submitted its formal proposals for this and for this and for BBC One +1, BBC iPlayer, and CBBC, on 3 December 2014. The Trust launched a four-week public consultation on 20 January 2015. On 30 June the Trust published its provisional conclusions, and asked the BBC to provide further detailed information in a number of areas. On 12 August, the Trust published this information from the BBC, and launched a public consultation on its provisional conclusions, which ran until 30 September.

2. The conditions the Trust is imposing as part of its approval of the move of BBC Three online, are as follows:

Use of slots on BBC One and BBC Two

• All BBC Three long-form content will be transmitted on slots on BBC One and BBC Two on an on-going basis, beginning as soon as the closure of BBC Three as a linear channel takes effect
• BBC Three long-form content will be made available on both BBC One and BBC Two at a variety of times across the schedule and throughout the UK.

Commitment to creative risk-taking and appeal to younger audiences

• A commitment to providing risk-taking space will be incorporated in the service licences of BBC One and BBC Two such that both channels: Should take creative risks and regularly experiment with new talent and new ideas.
• A commitment to programmes targeted at younger audiences will be incorporated in the service licences of BBC One and BBC Two as follows: While BBC One and BBC Two aim most programmes at audiences of all ages, they should offer some programmes with a distinctive approach that are designed for younger audiences. They should also show all long-form originated programmes from BBC Three. These should be shown at a variety of times on both channels and made available across the UK.

A gradual transition

• There will be a brief phased migration online from January 2016 until the end of February 2016, using the vacated distribution capacity as a promotional transitional channel to run alongside BBC Three Online in that period. All cross-promotional activity must be platform neutral (with reference to the BBC code on cross-promotion) to ensure that no inappropriate activity occurs.

Accessibility

• The online offer should be required to have the same accessibility standards as linear television wherever practicable
• The Executive should encourage third party platforms that carry BBC Three content to work towards full accessibility.

Ongoing compliance

• We will also undertake a review within 18 months of this final decision measuring the progress of the new service and the Executive’s adherence to the conditions. If we consider performance against the new licence conditions to be unsatisfactory, the Trust has the power to impose quotas or formal targets (for example by including commitments to minimum levels of content with particular appeal to young and diverse audiences within the service licences). The review will have particular regard to:
  • audience numbers and reach among young and diverse audiences, in particular younger viewers (16-34 year olds), C2DE adults and those from black, Asian and ethnic minority groups
  • the level of creative risk taking
  • the use of new talent and formats
  • the performance of BBC Three output on BBC One and Two
  • the level of accessibility for those with auditory and sensory impairments.
• The Executive will also be required to report on the performance of the new offer as part of the quarterly performance updates to the Trust and the existing annual report and accounts.