Editing BBC Three (section)

==== Approval and launch ====
[[File:BBC Three logo.svg|thumb|Logo from 2016 to 2020.]]
[[File:BBC Three (2020).svg|thumb|230px|Logo used from 2020 to 2021]]
The transition was finalised by the BBC Trust in November 2015. The trust cited the shifting viewing habits of BBC Three's target audience from linear TV to digital services, and that the discontinuation of BBC Three as a television channel would allow the BBC to "deliver more distinctive content online, while bearing down on costs". Conditions were imposed on other BBC properties to complement the changes; [[BBC One]] and [[BBC Two|Two]] were required to develop "distinctive programmes designed for younger audiences", as well as air repeats of all full-length programmes commissioned for BBC Three. The trust also approved related proposals to allow first-run and third-party content on iPlayer, and extend [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]]'s broadcast day to 9:00&nbsp;p.m. (CBBC signed off at 7:00&nbsp;p.m. to conserve [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] bandwidth for BBC Three) with a focus on an older youth audience.<ref name="telegraph-parentsconcerns">{{cite news|title=BBC Trust rejects parents' concerns over keeping CBBC on air until 9pm |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/12019648/BBC-Trust-rejects-parents-concerns-over-keeping-CBBC-on-air-until-9pm.html|access-date=17 February 2016|work=Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref name="bbc-3shutdownconditions">{{cite web|title=BBC Trust publishes final decision on proposals for BBC Three, CBBC, iPlayer, BBC One+1|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/news/press_releases/2015/service_changes_decision|publisher=BBC|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref>

On 4 January 2016, it was announced that the new BBC Three digital service would launch on 16 February 2016.<ref name="digitalspy.com">{{cite web|last=Goodacre |first=Kate |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a775348/bbc-three-will-move-online-in-march-2016-as-bbc-trust-approves-plans-to-axe-broadcast-tv-channel/ |title=BBC Three will move online in March 2016 as BBC Trust approves plans to axe broadcast TV channel |publisher=Digital Spy |date=26 November 2015 |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35221706 |title=BBC Three reveals new logo and switchover date |publisher=BBC |date=4 January 2016 |access-date=4 January 2016}}</ref> BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh explained that the new digital service would feature the "same award-winning programmes freed from the constraints of linear TV", emphasizing the ability to distribute content across "whatever format and platform is most appropriate".<ref name="wired-postreboot"/> Hall described the internal atmosphere surrounding the new BBC Three as being like a "[[startup company|startup]]", explaining that "I love the feeling of going and being with Damian's team. It feels creative, energetic and mischievous as well, just as it should be."<ref name="rt-likeastartup">{{cite web|title=New BBC3 feels "like a start-up" says director general Tony Hall|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-01-26/new-bbc3-feels-like-a-start-up-says-director-general-tony-hall|website=Radio Times|access-date=15 February 2016}}</ref> Kavanagh felt that the concise "pillars" of BBC Three, combined with its new structure, would give creators more flexibility and immediacy in how they produce content. He explained that "we can allow people to do things that I don't think other broadcasters can really do at the moment—in terms of giving people room to try things and also play around with form in a way we couldn’t have done if we'd stayed on television", with the remainder of the BBC's content ecosystem as a "safety net".<ref name="guardian-onlineonly"/> Kavanagh also emphasized a continued goal to use the service as an incubator for new talent, hoping that it will be remembered as "the place that spotted the next [[James Corden]], the next [[Aidan Turner]], the next whoever."<ref name="rt-likeastartup"/>

On 13 February 2016, prior to the service's launch, it was reported that the BBC was considering merging BBC Three and [[BBC Radio 1]] under unified management if the digital BBC Three service is not successful. Kavanagh stated that he himself was unaware of this proposal, but added that BBC Three was "a really powerful youth brand with 13 years' heritage" and that he "[didn't] see the logic in winding down something that has that audience, and has that badge of quality, and has that heritage."<ref name="bbc-rd13merge">{{cite news|title='Merger plan' for BBC Three and Radio One|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35566451|access-date=15 February 2016|work=BBC News}}</ref>

The BBC Three television channel formally signed off during the late-night evening of 15 February 2016, concurrent with the official re-launch of the new BBC Three a day later. The last programme aired was an episode of ''[[Gavin & Stacey]]'', introduced by its co-star [[James Corden]] from the set of his then current U.S. chat show ''[[The Late Late Show with James Corden|The Late Late Show]]'' in Los Angeles. The channel space continued to carry promotional information regarding the BBC Three online service, as well as a marathon of selected programmes from midnight, until it officially shut down on 31 March 2016.<ref name="guardian-onlineonly"/><ref name="dspy-finalshow">{{cite web|title=James Corden bids farewell to BBC Three with a heartfelt message: 'It took a chance on Gavin & Stacey'|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a783648/james-corden-bids-farewell-to-bbc-three-with-a-heartfelt-message-it-took-a-chance-on-gavin-stacey/|website=Digital Spy|date=15 February 2016 |access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref>