And lo, it came to pass. The BBC finally published details of what it is planning to do with online-only BBC3 when it axes the 11-year-old TV channel next year.
Twitter seized on two strands of today’s proposals – the twin pillars of “make me laugh” and “make me think” around which the new BBC3’s content will be based.
And the unfortunate fate that lies for factual entertainment shows such as Snog Marry Avoid, Don’t Tell The Bride and Sun, Sea and Suspicious Parents, which look to be on the way out.
But first, those pillars. What’s that all about then?
New BBC3 plans separate drama & comedy into strands called 'Make Me Think' & 'Make Me Laugh'. Drama never funny, comedies never thoughtful?
— Charlie Brooker (@charltonbrooker) December 10, 2014
It was a theme picked up elsewhere.
It's good that BBC3 is clamping down on comedy that makes you think or drama that makes you laugh. That's why there are 2 different masks.
— Richard K Herring (@Herring1967) December 10, 2014
And here...
BBC3's new Make Me Think, Make Me Laugh "strands": apparently 3rd one will be 'Make Me Despair of Anyone Who Works In Television Management'
— Jon Holmes (@jonholmes1) December 10, 2014
Yes, yes, but how will it play with the viewers? You know, the kids?
'Laugh' and 'Think' are just not how teenagers view content. Branding like that isn't the answer to being 'in touch with youth' #BBC3
— Guy Lambert (@SohoGuy) December 10, 2014
Better still, find a younger viewer and ask them.
@DannyCohen Why ru movin BBC3 online? Aren't ur competitors ITV2? There needs 2 a young cool TV Channel. I'll present 4 free if money tight!
— Asha CCR (@AshaCCR6) December 10, 2014
The imminent devise of Snog Marry Avoid wasn’t about to change anyone’s minds, either the best thing about BBC3 or the worst (invariably but not universally influenced by how old you are).
People used Snog, Marry, Avoid as an example of BBC3 being rubbish but I found strangely compelling http://t.co/kOngTbXeI8
— Patrick Smith (@psmith) December 5, 2014
But what kind of programmes can we expect on the new BBC3?
Make Me Eat Cake
— Charlie Brooker (@charltonbrooker) December 10, 2014
And it would be remiss not to find room for a (comedy) conspiracy theory.
Is this BBC theme park a way of offsetting the closure of BBC3? Train the kids to love Auntie by letting them ride Top Gear dodgems?
— Catherine Neilan (@CatNeilan) December 10, 2014
The proposals to axe the TV channel and take the BBC3 brand online-only remain just that at the moment, with final approval required from the BBC Trust, after a public consultation which kicks off in January. The stakes are high.
They say axing BBC3 is 'the forefront of generational change'. I say it'll lose BBC a generation of viewers http://t.co/TasmL1L3I1
— Joey Knock (@JoeyKnock) December 10, 2014
