Kavanagh unveils BBC3 online

BBC3 controller Damian Kavanagh

BBC3 in the UK has unveiled new shows and platforms as well as ‘talent initiatives’ ahead of its relaunch as an online-only channel next month.

The linear network will move online from February 16 and plans to offer longform and shortform programming as well as blogs, social media and image galleries.

The BBC said “original British comedy, contemporary British drama, innovative entertainment, thought-provoking documentaries and distinctive current affairs programming” would be on offer, targeted at a 16-34 demographic.

Programming includes a series of short films produced in collaboration between BBC Drama and Idris Elba’s production company, Green Door Pictures. The untitled shows will feature new writers and actors working alongside established talent.

Idris Elba

Elsewhere, interactive show Love Triangle (8×8′) explores crime scenes and will include additional supporting documents for viewers to peruse, while drama Clique, from writer Jess Brittain, follows two friends whose lives becoming increasingly complicated after they start university in Edinburgh. It’s being produced by BBC Drama and UK prodco Balloon Entertainment.

Other shortform series include Objective Scotland’s Life Hacks with Ben Hart, which sees the magician perform before unsuspecting members of the public, and Unsolved: The Boy Who Disappeared, which uses a variety of mediums to investigate the real-life disappearance of a teenager 20 years ago.

Two new platforms will also be launched, with The Best Of bringing together original longform programmes and a range of new content, including shortform films.

The Daily Drop, meanwhile, will host a “stream of daily content including shortform videos, blogs, social media, image galleries, trending stories and daily updates from news and sport.”

Damian Kavanagh, controller of BBC3, said the programming would be “the same award-winning programmes freed from the constraints of linear TV, and because we’re freed from the schedule we can use whatever format and platform is most appropriate.”

Kavanagh added that “the majority” of content would be TV, but said shortform video, blogs and picture-led stories would also be created and available via YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook and The Daily Drop.