Highly anticipated BBC Three goes on-air

The BBC’s highly anticipated new digital TV channel BBC Three was launched last night.
After weeks of intensive promotion, the BBC's latest “boldest” new digital channel went on air last night with a two-hour special programme hosted by ex-Big Breakfast Channel 4 presenter, Johnny Vaughan, followed by the much-anticipated return of Steve Coogan’s satirical siblings, Paul and Pauline Calf. There was also drama, animation and science, on the channel that is broadly aimed at the 25-34 age group which was broadcast simultaneously on BBC2 – just so you could see what you’re missing.
BBC Three replaces digital channel Choice and unlike Choice will not use many repeats from BBC One and BBC Two.
It joins BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, CBBC and CBeebies as part of the BBC's portfolio of television channels.
According to the BBC, the channel will be “the only channel aimed at people in their 20s and 30s which offers a genuinely mixed schedule of quality British programmes, and reflects their complex lives, concerns and interests”.
The government Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell finally approved the scope of BBC Three last year after 18 months of negotiations with some of the strictest public service requirements ever issued to a television station.
“Programming has to be of a consistently innovative and risk-taking character," said Jowell announcing her decision in September 2002.
One of the 12 conditions set out in the licence agreement is that 80% of the service's output in terms of hours must consist of programmes specially commissioned for BBC3 and genuinely new to TV. These programmes will develop untried talent on or off-screen.
She also warned that BBC3 should not contemplate trying to poach established talent such as Graham Norton or entering bidding wars for US programmes that draw big youth audiences such as 'Sex in the City' or 'Friends'.
“I believe the revised format will see BBC Three emerge as a real powerhouse for new talent, within which the independent sector will have a strong voice. It will be a first for British Broadcasting,” Ms Jowell said.
Outlining the channel's first schedule, Stuart Murphy, Controller of BBC Three, emphasised that the line-up would be "packed full of modern, radical, imaginative and funny British shows".
He said: “In every programme, whether it is science, arts, comedy, current affairs, drama, news, documentaries or animation, it will be BBC Three’s job to raise the creative game, and to be constantly surprising and stimulating.
"In contrast to other channels, Britishness will be found throughout BBC Three and I think will be one of its defining characteristics. We want to reflect the lives of young people in this country – the geographical contrasts and the ethnic mix which is part and parcel of being young and British. The channel will always be seeking shows which tread new ground with contemporary and caustic satire."
The channel’s success in meeting the government’s stipulations will be reviewed after two years.
(AMcE)