BBC Three scrapped to go straight to internet

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BBC THREE will become an online-only channel, the BBC Trust having backed plans to cease its broadcast despite a high profile campaign to save it.
The move to the internet is expected to save the BBC £30 million per year, although calls to keep the channel broadcasting on digital TV were backed by 750 big names from the creative industry, including Daniel Radcliffe, Olivia Coleman, Poldark star Aidan Turner, and comedian Rob Brydon.
Turner’s big television break came on Being Human, a drama made for BBC Three, while Brydon was one of the stars of Gavin and Stacey, first shown on the digital channel aimed at viewers under 35.
The Trust has said there is “long-term” potential for BBC Three as an internet channel, but also recognises that the move could cause a gap in provision for the 16 to 34-year-old audience.
In the same report the Trust also rejected a proposal from the corporation to launch a BBC One +1 channel, on the basis of the potential impact on the public broadcaster’s commercial rivals.
On the BBC Three move, BBC Trust chairperson Rona Fairhead said: “We know young audiences are already moving towards the online future, but we do recognise in the short term some of them will feel the immediate impact of the BBC Three proposals. We are therefore asking the BBC for commitments to ensure it uses the full range of its television services to better serve young people and others who make up BBC Three’s audience.”

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