The BBC's director of television has admitted that he would have preferred to axe the BBC3 TV channel in "four or five years", giving more time to develop the audience for iPlayer on-demand content.
Danny Cohen, a former BBC3 controller, admitted in an email to BBC staff on Thursday explaining the rationale for closing the channel, that there is "undoubtedly a strong counter-argument" to the digital shift – a wave of protest has already erupted over the plans – but the "financial necessity" to belt-tighten had forced the corporation's hand.
"Given an entirely free hand I would make this change in about four or five years' time, using the years between now and then to slowly shift the balance between linear and on-demand BBC3 content," he said. "That would be a safer, less risky strategy but we don't have the choice to wait … I want to protect programme budgets from more major cuts across the board."
In moving BBC3 online the corporation is aiming to take a leaf out of the Netflix playbook, using the opportunity to break from the rules that govern traditional TV, such as programme and series lengths.
"It will not just be a TV channel distributed online, there is a wonderful creative opportunity here," said Cohen. "What will we learn about the length we want to make each episode of our dramas or comedies, perhaps learning from new market players like Netflix and Amazon? Will we still want to make all of our current affairs' documentaries at 60 minutes in the age of Vice and youtube? Will we find that contemporary documentary and formats work much better at 40 or 45 minutes than 58?"
Cohen said that BBC3 will be used to experiment with keeping pace with the digital shift in viewing among youth audiences – a "pathfinder" in the corporation's strategy – but traditional staples of the channel such as original comedy will still be core to the on-demand schedule.
"BBC3 will continue to build on the comic brilliance of Little Britain, Gavin and Stacey and Bad Education, of the entertainment value of Russell Howard's Good News and Backchat," he said. "I want and expect us to keep making shows for young audiences of the quality of Our War and the public service value of the recent season on young people and mental health."
Current affairs will also remain strong with Cohen pledging to maintain the "pedigree" of recent documentaries on Afghanistan, the Congo and India.
"BBC3 will continue to do all the things we love but it will also have the freedom to break traditional shackles and allow the BBC to be a leader in digital change," said Cohen.
Mindful of the fact that not all BBC3 viewers are ready, willing or able to enter the digital age all "long form" programming will also be aired on BBC1 or BBC2.
"We do not want our content for young audiences to be available only to those with a broadband connection – and we don't want anyone to miss out on the great new programmes we will be producing," he said. "Playing them on BBC1 will massively increase the reach of these programmes for young audiences and guarantee that we do not risk creating a 'haves and have nots', a digital divide when it comes to enjoying what we are making for the public."
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