Will BBC4 be axed to pay for BBC3’s return to TV?

BBC4 could be axed to put BBC3 back on TV, it was claimed last night.

Corporation bosses are deciding what to include in the broadcaster’s Annual Plan. One change, as revealed by the Daily Mail this week, could see BBC3 reinstated to TV after it was moved online-only four years ago – a move which it was hoped would save more than £50million per year.

But there are concerns that the money needed to reinstate BBC3 would be raised by getting rid of BBC4 and moving its programmes on to BBC2 or online-only.

A BBC source said: ‘No matter what the BBC does, it can’t do something in one area without chopping in another.’

Spending on BBC4 shows was £44million according to the last annual report, though it is unclear what the channel’s total budget is. Figures show it reaches 11.8 per cent of the UK population each week. Axing BBC4 could be seen as in line with the corporation’s plans to focus less on its traditional metropolitan heartlands and more on less well-off and younger viewers.

But industry insiders say that BBC4’s audience includes some of the corporation’s most loyal supporters.

One source said: ‘The bad side of taking BBC4 off the television is that opinionmakers and influencers within political circles are probably going to miss BBC4 programming much more than being pleased that BBC3 is reaching a wider base of 16 to 34s. I don’t think the BBC4 audience will be as driven to find programming online.’

Returning BBC3 to TV would also raise eyebrows as the current trend is towards streaming content online.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘The BBC hasn’t announced its Annual Plan so people need not to get ahead of themselves.’