BBC Three

I really do have to wonder about the sanity of some of our channel controllers – in particular, step forward Mr Stuart Murphy, controller of BBC Three.
Since it was launched, this particular channel has gone for a multi-channel styling like no other channel. That means permament on-screen “DOG” (i.e. a BBC Three logo), reminders of what’s on next before the previous programme’s finished, and of course the “All New” nonsense to highlight how few new programmes the channel carries. More recently we have “themed” nights such as “Comedy Tuesday” and “Sunday Best”, which have DOGs as well, though they’re done at different luminocities just to look even more ugly.
I think this has now reached an extreme since the channel appears to be jealous of those commerical rivals that can interrupt their programmes with an ad break. BBC Three are showing the US version of the Graham Norton show that’s made for Comedy Central. Of course, this is identical to the recently finished So Graham Norton that was on Channel 4, in particular it’s exactly the same as those episodes of that show that were shot in the States. (As a side note, the BBC had to pay extra for these shows, since despite signing Norton up for a major entertainment programme on BBC1, they’ve yet to find the right vehicle).
Now this programme airs on Comedy Central as I say, and therefore features ad breaks. So do we just cut those bits out like so many US import shows before now? No. Instead some bright spark decided that it’d be a good idea to keep a break and run short animations in the middle, while a countdown clock informed us that we were just 90 seconds away from Norton’s continuation.
Has NOBODY told BBC Three that it’s in ad breaks that you LOSE audience? People go channel hopping – particularly in this multi-channel age. Do you not think that if they could, commercial channels wouldn’t actually have breaks. You only have to look at BARB minute-by-minute ratings to see dips in all the ad breaks as audiences start zapping away with their remotes – a good percentage never to return. (I was amongst this number, but was feeling guilty enough about 1. watching Norton, and 2. watching BBC Three – a channel that this evening featured a Christmas Special of one of its shows).


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