BBC Three to piggyback CBeebies

According to Broadcast, BBC Three will air on Freeview Channel 202 after CBeebies closes at 7pm.

This will allow the digital channel to return to linear without requiring more spectrum investment. There is currently no firm decision taken, but it's claimed an announcement is imminent.

BBC4 uses the CBeebies slot so they've got that muddled up. The only available slot is CBBC post 9pm unless they turn the red button channel into a timeshare which I think would be unlikely.

Unless BBC4 is to start at 9pm, or CBBC goes back to finishing at 7pm.

Yes, and why would it be on 202 when that's the kids section? Sounds like either someone's making it up or there's something very muddled here.



CBBC after 9pm is free, but not in HD in Scotland

Sounds like someone doesn't know what they're talking about.

I expect they're right that it's coming back to linear but the author just doesn't really know how TV time sharing works or what's actually available to the BBC in terms of free slots. I reckon a 9pm share with CBBC is what will happen, the channel doesn't really need to be on before 9 and a few BBC4 shows do well at 8 so I can't see them swapping BBC4's slot around.

Moving BBC4 to a 21:00 start would mean no more Bob Ross 😱

It will use the spectrum of CBeebies but won't be on 202. I imagine they will get a much better LCN for it on all the various platforms.

when should we officially know when bbc three returns as a tv channel

As soon as the BBC announces it, which Broadcast are saying is "imminent".

If it gets the spectrum of CBeebies, where does BBC4 go?

More importantly, if one of BBC 3 and BBC 4 is getting shifted to start at 9pm, where is Eurovision going to go?