Guest
17th September 2002, 17:01
The BBC has been given government approval to launch BBC Three, a new digital channel which will replace BBC Choice.
The original proposals were rejected by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell last year, after she said they were insufficiently distinctive from similar commercial channels.
Announcing the decision this morning, the Culture Secretary said: "The BBC has now made the case for BBC Three. It has been a long, sometimes arduous process, but the negotiations have led to the toughest set of conditions ever issued in giving the green light to a TV channel.
"I am determined BBC Three should be a distinctive public service channel that is not competing with what is already out there in a vigorous market place. The channel will be reviewed after two years to ensure this is the case."
New government conditions include a requirement that 80 per cent of the output will have to be specially commissioned for the channel, with emphasis on new talent.
The channel will also be restricted in its imports, with 90 per cent of all its programming produced in Europe.
BBC chairman Gavyn Davies said: "We would like to thank the Secretary of State for the approval she has given today.
"She has laid out some demanding conditions in the approval but the Governors agree that BBC Three must be a high quality and distinctive public service channel and we shall ensure that those conditions are met.
"BBC Three completes the BBC's portfolio of TV channels for the digital age and will help promote digital take up."
Director-general Greg Dyke said: "BBC Three is central in our drive to connect with young audiences. This has been a tough decision for the Secretary of State and, looking back, I think she was right to push us to define the channel more clearly.
"The new channel will be launched in the New Year, and I'm confident that it will bring a new public service concept to this currently underserved audience."
Stuart Murphy, currently controller of BBC Choice, who helped develop the proposal, said: "It's great that the DCMS have given approval for BBC Three.
"It's been a long time coming, but we are convinced that the mix of new and established talent and programme ideas we have in mind for BBC Three will make it a uniquely creative channel.
"We are particularly excited that we will now be able to offer new writing, acting, presenting and production talent a place to experiment and grow."
The original proposals were rejected by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell last year, after she said they were insufficiently distinctive from similar commercial channels.
Announcing the decision this morning, the Culture Secretary said: "The BBC has now made the case for BBC Three. It has been a long, sometimes arduous process, but the negotiations have led to the toughest set of conditions ever issued in giving the green light to a TV channel.
"I am determined BBC Three should be a distinctive public service channel that is not competing with what is already out there in a vigorous market place. The channel will be reviewed after two years to ensure this is the case."
New government conditions include a requirement that 80 per cent of the output will have to be specially commissioned for the channel, with emphasis on new talent.
The channel will also be restricted in its imports, with 90 per cent of all its programming produced in Europe.
BBC chairman Gavyn Davies said: "We would like to thank the Secretary of State for the approval she has given today.
"She has laid out some demanding conditions in the approval but the Governors agree that BBC Three must be a high quality and distinctive public service channel and we shall ensure that those conditions are met.
"BBC Three completes the BBC's portfolio of TV channels for the digital age and will help promote digital take up."
Director-general Greg Dyke said: "BBC Three is central in our drive to connect with young audiences. This has been a tough decision for the Secretary of State and, looking back, I think she was right to push us to define the channel more clearly.
"The new channel will be launched in the New Year, and I'm confident that it will bring a new public service concept to this currently underserved audience."
Stuart Murphy, currently controller of BBC Choice, who helped develop the proposal, said: "It's great that the DCMS have given approval for BBC Three.
"It's been a long time coming, but we are convinced that the mix of new and established talent and programme ideas we have in mind for BBC Three will make it a uniquely creative channel.
"We are particularly excited that we will now be able to offer new writing, acting, presenting and production talent a place to experiment and grow."