BBCThree is blasted a 'waste of licence fee money' as it returns to TV

BBC Three is blasted as a ‘waste of licence fee payer money’ as it returns to TV with shows like Eating With My Ex and a reality competition about tractor racing – but fans insist they’re ‘so excited’ to tune in

Viewers are divided as BBC Three returns to TV tonight after six years off air
Some are excited to see RuPaul’s Drag Race and Eating With My Ex on screens
But others question if young people will tune in and say it’s a poor use of money

Viewers are divided as BBC Three returns to TV tonight after six years off air.

The channel, which is behind hits including Normal People, Fleabag and Gavin and Stacey, was moved online in March 2016 to save money.

It will return to screens at 7pm tonight after it was given the green light by broadcasting regulator Ofcom in November.

Viewers are divided as BBC Three returns to TV tonight after six years off air. New shows include The Fast and The Farmerish, pictured, about young farmers racing tractors

Dozens of viewers have hailed the channel’s return but others question why it is necessary

The watchdog said the relaunch would help the BBC reach younger viewers, particularly those from lower-income homes and those living outside London and the South East.

The channel will kick off with a BBC Three Launch Party, followed by a double bill of reality TV show Eating With My Ex and the premiere of RuPaul spin-off show RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK Versus the World.

Dozens of viewers have hailed the channel’s return, with one tweeting: ‘This has been a long time coming but tonight after nearly 7 years #BBCThree is back on the proper tellybox here’s to the next generation of iconic shows like the many that sprang out of the original version of the channel.’

However others questioned the need for BBC Three, pointing out many 16-25 year olds favour streaming services over TV channels and so wouldn’t be tuning in to watch.

Some questioned the need for BBC Three, pointing out many 16-25 year olds favour streaming services over TV channels and so wouldn’t be tuning in to watch

Others questioned whether the channel’s shows – which will include Fast and the Farmerish, a reality competition about tractor racing – are a fair use of licence fee payer money.

One tweeted: ‘Totally waste of money. Misuse of the license fee from the old and retired. Cancel this channel. We don’t need this wasteful programming.’

Another posted: ‘Bringing back #bbcthree just full of repeats utter big step backwards & added costs. @BBC can’t rely on the outdated licence fee forever needs to find new funding ways! bbc3 online only was actually step in right direction! Old stuffy BBC yet again! Stuck in the past!’

A third added: ‘What universe do they think they can get young people to watch live tv. And if you are young and watching live tv, wtf is wrong with you #BBCThree.’

Other viewers are excited about the channel’s return to TV and can’t wait to tune in

BBC Three will air from 7pm every night on Freeview, Sky, Virgin and Freesat, and will also be available on iPlayer.

According to the broadcaster, the channel will be a ‘multi-genre offering’, where audiences can expect a ‘rich content mix of drama, comedy, entertainment, documentaries, news and sport’.

The BBC announced in March 2014 that it was planning to move the channel online, sparking a protest outside Broadcasting House.

More than 300,000 people signed a petition to save it on change.org, but it ceased operations in 2016 and was replaced by an online-only version available on iPlayer

Ofcom stipulated the BBC must ensure that at least ’75 per cent of hours broadcast each year must be original programmes’, as commissioned by the corporation for a UK viewing audience.

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