The year 2003 was when it all started for the channel that was launched to be primarily aimed at 16-34 year-olds as a way for the BBC to appear more fun and diverse. No more half-an-hour news interruptions; instead a quick fix of 60 Second News. A channel that not only provided us with Family Guy re-runs, but also gave us our guilty pleasure in the form of Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents. The BBC had us all fooled that they knew how to please the younger generations and let their hair loose once in a while; then doom hit, and now our fun is over. Tony Hall, the BBC director general, announced to the world the terrible news that the BBC would axe the channel for ‘financial and strategic reasons’, making it online-only by Autumn 2015. Reading between the lines, he has no time or money to encourage our foolish, adolescent television needs.
A change.org online petition (https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/to-the-bbc-trust-savebbc3) managed to gain over 85,000 signatures simply two days after going live; it has now reached a total of over 194,000 names willing to support the fight against getting rid of BBC3. Twitter and Facebook also went into chaos mode on hearing the news, with the Save BBC3 page having over 200,000 supporters (https://www.facebook.com/PleaseSaveBBC3) and the Please Save BBC3 Twitter account gaining 11,000 followers (https://twitter.com/PleaseSaveBBC3). If it was Tony Hall who wanted us youngsters to go online, which is his plan for our beloved channel, then that is certainly what we seem to be giving him. Countless social network accounts, hashtags, and bloggers have woken up and are creating havoc in the virtual world.
But why save BBC3? What has it got to offer? Who really watches it anyway? Well, over the years this channel has given hope to TV series and actors that other channels denied. Household names such as James Corden and David Walliams all started off on this experimental channel that gave shows like Gavin and Stacey and Little Britain a source of output and led to enormous popularity. Stars of shows such as these, who start on the small screen and are then catapulted to fame, have BBC3 to thank for their successes. With the channel being axed, we seriously have to question the BBC’s attitude towards searching for new, home-grown talent and ground-breaking programmes.
Jono Read, the change.org petition leader, stated “BBC Three has produced exciting, original television programming for 16-34 year olds since 2002. It has been a launchpad for programmes like Being Human, Torchwood, Russell Howard’s Good News, Mighty Boosh, Bad Education, Gavin and Stacey, and Little Britain. Unlike other BBC channels it takes risks. It offers live debates and documentaries. It is also the channel for young people to go to for live music – something that is often relegated from the other main BBC television channels. Where else would dedicated coverage of Reading and Leeds, T In The Park, and Radio 1’s Big Weekend fit if it was not on BBC Three?”
Many actors from these programmes have taken to the online platform to show their support and back the campaign. Chris Chibnall, the writer of ITV’s Broadchurch, emphasised that all the programmes the channel had taken a risk with, they were risks that ended up paying off. To add to the names of celebrities backing the campaign, Jack Whitehall resorted to a Twitter rant saying, “Every channel on TV has dodgy programmes the great thing about BBC3 is it made some mistakes early doors but developed and evolved… It’s quality control got better whilst still supporting new untested writers and performers. Something hard to achieve.” Whilst Russell Kane released a statement “This place is THE crucible of upcoming comedic artists”, whilst Matt Lucas too fell to Twitter, writing, “Hearing horrible rumours about the possible closure of BBC3. This would be really bad for new comedy. Like, REALLY bad. #SaveBBC3”. The best comment came from Radio 1 DJ Greg James, “Such a load of balls if the rumours about BBC3 being axed are true. Genuinely brilliant new comedy + live music needs that platform #SaveBBC3”.
With this huge debate on the horizon of whether or not it will be enough for the BBC to simply put the channel online, get involved in the campaign and let your views be heard, because we are the audience, we are the demand, and we should not be swayed by Tony Hall’s excuse of budget cuts. The £75million budget for BBC3 is apparently to be put to good use, funding BBC One dramas, creating a BBC1+1 channel to replace BBC3 and extending the hours of CBBC. Satisfied with those reasons? If not, follow the link below and show your support!
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/to-the-bbc-trust-savebbc3
Online References:
1) http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/07/saving-bbc3-cutting-funds-dramas-sherlock
3) http://platform-online.net/2014/03/opinion-bbc3-why-it-should-stay/
Image Sources:
1) https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/to-the-bbc-trust-savebbc3
2) http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/07/saving-bbc3-cutting-funds-dramas-sherlock
3) http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/5487338/stars-campaign-bbc-three-axe.html