BBC3

Farewell BBC3

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The day that some of us never believed would come has finally arrived; it has sneaked up on us, leaving those who opposed the change, like myself, feeling powerless.

If you weren’t aware that BBC3 was set to move online, let me fill you in. It’s a little over two years ago now that the Director-General of the BBC announced that there were to be £100 million’s worth of cuts. This was followed a month later with the declaration that BBC3 was to leave our television screens to be replaced by an online-only service. The money saved from this format shift would be used to introduce a BBC1+1 service and extend the hours CBBC broadcasts for each evening. And now it has happened. Tuesday 16th February 2016 was the final day of television broadcasting for BBC3.

The Mighty Boosh © BBC

The Mighty Boosh © BBC

Although the move of BBC3 to an online platform is said to be a way of catering to an increasingly young audience, I continue having difficulty believing that. I am a young person and, believe it or not, I know quite a few other young people, and many of us share the same view. It will be harder to access the comedy we love and the comedy we are yet to discover if we have to access it online, regardless of what the media seem to be telling us. Tuesday night’s episode of The One Show may have told you in no uncertain terms that people simply prefer to watch television on their phones, tablets or computers these days, but is this really the case? The ignorant and blatant one-sidedness of this segment made me laugh (perhaps The One Show can replace the comedy I’ll be missing out on from this week onwards).

Is online content really easier to access than television? I have my doubts but I’m also beginning to think that maybe I am secretly afraid of a not-so-distant almost-Orwellian society where our lives are dictated by the internet. Yes, I’m burying my head in the sand. The fact is, it’s already happening. What I am wholly justified in objecting to, however, has got to be fact that the biggest source of comedy was first to go. What a disrespect to this aspect of the entertainment industry, to the countless creatives who dedicate their lives to producing innovative content.

But, complain all we like, the truth is at its most painfully clear today; BBC3’s fate is sealed. It seems that the only thing left to do is ensure that we do not let the channel die, through doing what we can to use the new online service provided by the BBC and spreading the word about new comedy projects as and when they come. I’d like to commend the work of Jono Read and all those who worked on the Save BBC3 campaign. It was a valiant effort to change a decision that was clearly set in stone a long time ago. I am interested to see the coverage of comedy on a new platform as the time has come to embrace the decision and continue to support Britain’s finest creative minds.

WATCH BBC3 ONLINE FROM TODAY

Save BBC3

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On Wednesday, a large part of the nation was swept up in fury when they heard the rumours that the BBC were planning to axe BBC3. It all developed extremely quickly and now there are people all across the country desperately trying to save the channel. This has been done through articles (like this but actually with an audience), petitions and Twitter trends (#SaveBBC3). We have been assured that all BBC3 shows will still be available online but this offers no comfort to me as there will be thousands of people without internet access who will now miss out altogether.

The reason this is so high-profile is because it is an insanely massive decision and will affect so many of us, including hundreds of well-known celebrities who’s work relies on broadcasts from BBC3. Some of the biggest names to speak out about it this week include Russell Kane, Jack Whitehall and Greg James.

This was the particular article that inspired me to write. It pointed out that the BBC plans to spend £30 million on Drama and also wants to create a BBC1+1 which seems pointless as we already have iPlayer. When I first heard of the plans, a small part of me thought fair enough, they are on financial difficulty. But they’re not! They just want the £100 million to put back into the other channels and the difference won’t even be that noticeable. What a huge sacrifice for a change that nobody wants. Not to mention that most of this money comes from the nation’s pocket: my parents’ money and one day, my own. So we are paying for something we don’t actually want?

The Mighty Boosh

BBC3 has brought us so many influential and brilliant programmes, from The Mighty Boosh in 2004 and Little Britain in 2003 to last summer’s Mental Health Season: It’s a Mad World. I admit that some other programmes have been less well-received but at least the channel is taking risks. It is the major platform for new comedy in the UK, for example, Uncle was broadcast earlier this year and was brilliant, in my opinion. Other SitComs that the nation loves have been produced by BBC3 like Gavin & Stacey and brought new, young people into the public eye.

If this decision goes ahead, I, as a young person who loves comedy, am going to lose out on so much. The majority of my school are going to be affected also and I know a lot of them are as outraged as I am. Ja’mie: Private School Girl was a massive hit with the older years of my school when BBC3 first broadcast it recently. Most of the people who watched it probably wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been on television as it is easier to access.

Talking in general terms, I feel as though the BBC are completely skipping out the younger generation. BBC1, 2 and 4 often focus on the more serious side of things such as the news and The One Show, history documentaries and programmes about antiques. If you axe the main source of our comedy and innovative documentaries- what do we have left?

I honestly don’t know if we can make a difference but we can’t just sit there and let them take away our favourite channel. Please sign this petition to show the BBC that actually, we will not let them disregard us so absentmindedly. Sharing this blogpost would also be a massive help, we need as much support as we can get- surely the BBC can’t ignore so many people?