Last night digital channel BBC Choice finally became youth channel BBC 3, launching with a new series of Tonight With Johnny Vaughan. As previously reported, the Beeb’s initial attempts to launch a youth focused channel was overruled by the government concerned licence fee money would be spent to compete with commercial channels like E4. But after making commitments on the amount of original programme that would be commissioned and on the level of public service commitment the channel would aim for (and closing down UK Play, the commercial youth channel the BBC had a stake in, thus reducing commercial competition!) the new channel finally got government permission last summer. It remains to be seen if BBC 3 will meet those obligations, or if its arrival will have any impact on the likes of E4 and MTV who aim for a similar crowd.
Channel boss Stuart Murphy certainly holds his new station with high regard calling it "television's boldest single investment in the future of Britain's creative talent" creating a "distinctive new voice to a generation of young adults".