BBC3 television channel is to close – with shows to air solely online via iPLayer from August 2015.
Following budget cuts and a six-year license fee freeze, the BBC has had to make tough decisions regarding its output.
The first major casualty has been youth-oriented channel BBC3, whose budget has been dramatically reduced from £85million to just £25million.
MM asked people on the street if they agreed with the BBC’s decision:
Do you agree with the decision to close BBC3?
| Options | Results |
| Yes | 37.5% |
| Unsure | 12.5% |
| No | 50% |
Dorothy King, 69, retired, from Salford, said: “I’m not happy [with the decision]. People are definitely going to miss it.”
Andy Bennet, 24, a charity worker, originally from South Africa and now living in Manchester, said: “Yeah they’re taking away part of the youth culture.
“You’ve got to say it’s unfair on kids. Why don’t they cut other channels like BBC parliament? They should move that, people that want to watch Parliament would go find it online.”
Will Lacey, 20, a student who lives in Manchester city centre, said: “It’ll be bad for upcoming comedians.
“If there’s no format for them then there’ll be no new comedians coming through. Some programmes weren’t great, but overall it was OK.”
Laura McDonnell, 33, an actress in Manchester, said: “I never really watched it, it’s for a young audience.
“If more money goes towards BBC drama I support that, but overall I think it’s worrying that the BBC has had to make the decision in the first place.”
Russell Robson, 49, originally from Durham, said: “We don’t watch it but it will be missed. It was another option and good for the younger element. I think people probably will go online to watch it.”
Andrew Jackson, 19, a student in Manchester, said: “No I won’t miss it, I never watched it. It’s better that they’ve kept BBC4.”
Image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks.
