Cohen rejects $155m BBC3 bid

BBC director of television Danny Cohen has dismissed a £100m (US$155m) proposal from UK production companies Avalon and Hat Trick to buy youth-skewing channel BBC3.

Cohen told Hat Trick MD Jimmy Mulville and Avalon joint MD Jon Thoday that their bid “does not stack up,” adding that he was “not sure what you would be spending your money on.”

“We cannot sell you the BBC brand name, the electronic programme guide (EPG) slot or the vast majority of rights to programmes. These are the key assets,” said Cohen in an open letter published yesterday.

“Your proposal does not add up when all these elements are taken into account. Essentially you would be buying a channel with a new non-BBC name, without an EPG slot on digital terrestrial television and cable, and without any rights to currently produced or archive BBC programmes.

“When you actually get into the detail, we are not sure what you would be spending your money on. There is, of course, nothing to stop you setting up a new TV channel for young audiences if this is something you are passionate about doing.”

Last month, the UK pubcaster poured cold water on the suggestion that Avalon and Hat Trick could secure BBC3’s future as a linear channel.

That came after the BBC launched a public consultation on its previously announced plans to move the channel wholly online, saving the corporation £50m a year.

The move, led by director general Tony Hall and director of television Danny Cohen, has met opposition in the UK indie sector.

Avalon, which produces the channel’s long-running series Russell Howard’s Good News, and Hat Trick, known for BBC1 panel comedy Have I Got News For You, say they want to buy the channel and run it privately.

Cohen added: “We are not willing to privatise a UK public-service, BBC-branded channel. Nor would the BBC be willing to allow a third-party company to decide the editorial direction of a BBC-branded channel in the UK.”