Editing BBC Three (section)

===Original run===
[[File:BBC Three (2003).svg|thumb|Logo used from 2003 to 2008]]
[[File:BBC Three (2008).svg|thumb|Logo used from 2008 to 2016]]
In mid-2000, the BBC decided to reposition and rebrand their two digital channels so that they could be more closely linked to the well established [[BBC One]] and [[BBC Two]]. Their plan was for [[BBC Knowledge]] to be replaced with [[BBC Four]] (which took place in 2002) and for [[BBC Choice]] to be replaced with BBC Three. However, questions were raised over the proposed format of the new BBC Three, as some thought the new format would be too similar to the BBC's commercial rivals, namely [[ITV2]] & [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]] at the time. It would be unnecessary competition. Whilst BBC Four, the BBC's proposed children's channels and digital radio stations all received approval, the BBC Three plans were rejected in September 2001.

The channel was eventually given the go ahead, eleven months after the original launch date on 17 September 2002, following a change to the remit of the channel where a 15-minute news programme and an altered target age range of 25-34 audiences. BBC Three was launched on 9 February 2003.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2738245.stm | work=BBC News | title=BBC Three digital channel launches | date=10 February 2003 | access-date=3 February 2011 | archive-date=17 February 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060217211605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2738245.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> The channel was launched by Stuart Murphy, who previously ran BBC Choice, and before that [[Play UK|UK Play]], the now-discontinued [[UKTV]] music and comedy channel. At 33, Murphy was still the youngest channel controller in the country, a title he had held since launching UK Play at the age of 26; although on 20 October 2005 it was announced that Murphy was soon to leave the channel to work in commercial television.
On 12 May 2011, BBC Three was added to the Sky EPG in the Republic of Ireland on channel 229.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theairwaves.net/channelnews/4399-ireland-extra-bbc-channels-being-added-to-sky-epg |title=Ireland: Extra BBC channels being added to Sky EPG |publisher=The Airwaves |date=2 May 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507070203/http://www.theairwaves.net/channelnews/4399-ireland-extra-bbc-channels-being-added-to-sky-epg |archive-date=7 May 2011}}</ref> It was later moved to channel 210 on 3 July 2012, to free up space for new channels.

For the duration of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], BBC Three increased its broadcasting hours to 24 hours to provide extra coverage of Olympic events.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/bbcthree/2012/07/the-olympics-on-bbc-three.shtml |title=The Olympics on BBC Three |publisher=BBC Three |date=27 July 2012 |access-date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=27 May 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140527165810/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/bbcthree/2012/07/the-olympics-on-bbc-three.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> Broadcast hours were extended again for the [[2014 Commonwealth Games]] with BBC Three broadcasting from 9:00 am to 4:00 am for the duration of the games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/cwg/ |title=Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=20 May 2014 |access-date=22 May 2014 |archive-date=21 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521200350/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/cwg |url-status=live }}</ref> On 16 July 2013 the BBC announced that a [[High-definition television|high-definition]] (HD) [[simulcast]] of BBC Three would be launched by early 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23326709 |title=BBC to launch five new HD channels |work=BBC News |date=16 July 2013 |access-date=16 July 2013 |archive-date=16 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716105627/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23326709 |url-status=live }}</ref> The channel launched on 10 December 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/new-hd-channels.html |title=BBC to launch five new subscription-free HD channels on Tuesday 10 December |publisher=BBC |date=9 December 2013 |access-date=9 December 2013 |archive-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211204948/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/new-hd-channels.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The former controller of the station, [[Zai Bennett]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12009574 | work=BBC News | title=Zai Bennett announced as new BBC Three controller | date=16 December 2010 | access-date=16 November 2013 | archive-date=5 June 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605150250/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12009574 | url-status=live }}</ref> left to join [[Sky Atlantic]] in July 2014, at which point BBC Three commissioner Sam Bickley became acting controller.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC Three appoints new channel boss Sam Bickley|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27661302|access-date=2 June 2014|work=BBC News|date=2 June 2014|archive-date=3 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603091347/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27661302|url-status=live}}</ref>