The BBC reportedly considered merging CBBC into CBeebies as part of the multi-million-pound savings the broadcaster needs to secure its future. The children's TV channel has produced hits including Horrible Histories, The Worst Witch, Deadly 60 and Blue Peter, as well as vintage classics such as Tracy Beaker and ChuckleVision.
The corporation has to find £500 million in savings by 2028 amid declining uptake of the licence fee. As part of the cost-cutting measures, the broadcaster this week announced the closure of BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra, as well as the loss of 100 jobs at BBC News.
Merger proposal dismissed
It has now been reported that the closure of CBBC was mooted as part of this latest round of cuts, since the network airs via BBC Three and will continue to be an expense. However, the merger with CBeebies was ultimately dismissed, as executives feared it would put the BBC's commitment to children's public service media in doubt.
A senior insider told Deadline that the closure was judged to be 'too politically dangerous' amid the ongoing charter negotiations with the government. Another source told the publication that the BBC's children's services are important to culture secretary Lisa Nandy and that a visit to the broadcaster previously involved meeting the CBBC puppet Hacker T Dog.
BBC Three moves online
BBC Three, which targets a younger audience, was axed from linear television for a second time this week, after it first got the chop in 2016, only to return in 2022. Its content will now move online, with programmes available on iPlayer and other platforms, including YouTube.
Three has been behind hits including Fleabag, Normal People and Killing Eve and has been a key avenue for discovering new talent, such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge. In a note to staff announcing the changes, BBC director-general Matt Brittin said the corporation needed to make difficult decisions to deal with financial pressures.
'We need to make every pound work harder for audiences as we respond to the immediate cost pressures and reinvent the BBC for a changing world. We all know that means tough choices,' he said. He added: 'Much of the great content they currently carry will still be found where audiences already enjoy them on iPlayer and Sounds.'
'While this follows media speculation, I recognise the confirmation of this news will be hard for audiences and colleagues.'
