BBC Three gave us Fleabag and the best shows on TV. Axing it is short-termist madness

BBC Three will leave terrestrial broadcasting again after Matt Brittin, the BBC’s new Director-General, announced the channel’s latest shutdown. The linear channel returned in 2022 after being removed in 2015 as part of a shift to digital, but the comeback is expected to be short-lived under a broader cost-cutting drive. The article notes BBC Three’s history as a launchpad for British comedy, citing shows such as Fleabag, Gavin & Stacey, The Mighty Boosh and Killing Eve. Despite a monthly reach of 9.8 million viewers—about 15% of people who accessed a BBC channel choosing BBC Three—savings are estimated at £10m, roughly 0.5% of the BBC’s £500m target.