'BBC THREE TO RETURN AS LINEAR CHANNEL' -BROADCAST

BBC's youth-skewing channel is expected to air after CBeebies closes at 7pm each day.

Broadcast reports that the BBC is poised to reinstate BBC3 as a linear service using existing spectrum from their children's channel CBeebies.

It is expected to air in the slot occupied by CBeebies (Freeview #202) after the pre-school channel shuts down at 7pm.

Speaking two weeks ago, new BBC Director General Tim Davie said about the return on BBC Three: "If we want to launch a new offer, and we will consider our options, it would need to use the current space."

According to this month’s Annual Report, BBC3 boosted its weekly viewing from young people by 36% last year, with the likes of Normal People and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK enticing viewers. Under separate proposals, the BBC3 controller role could soon be abolished as newly-promoted chief content officer Charlotte Moore considers the structure of her commissioning team.

The BBC insist no decision has been made.