BBC THREE VIEWING 'SHRANK BY 70%' AFTER IT MOVED ONLINE

A study by City, University of London found that viewing minutes for BBC Three content fell by 72% after the channel moved online and closed its linear TV channel in 2016.

It also reveals that BBC Three was viewed for 89% fewer minutes per year since the move online. The study estimates BBC Three’s audience shrank by 60–70% after its linear channel was closed.

Author, Neil Thurman, suggests that the BBC is right to be considering bringing the channel back to linear television. He said: “Time spent with BBC Three fell just as sharply as it has at other media brands, like The Independent and the New Musical Express (NME). The size of BBC Three’s weekly and monthly audience, in common with most of its competitor TV channels, was declining before it reinvented itself online. However, its decision to stop broadcasting resulted in sharp drops.”