The BBC plans to close its linear channels as it “consolidates activity under one simple, single brand,” Director General Tim Davie has revealed, as he unveiled a blueprint for a digitally-led public service broadcaster. Davie didn’t elaborate on the linear closures during an RTS talk this morning but the declaration raises the possibility of BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three and BBC Four uniting under a single brand, which he described as “The BBC.”
It is, by common consent, the job from hell, but within days of starting as BBC Director General, Tim Davie, achieved the impossible by generating positive headlines in outlets normally critical of the Beeb. In his first speech as DG on Thursday, Davie appeared to break with the BBC’s past by saying the BBC must “have more impact by making less.” This marked a potentially seminal moment for the broadcaster. He also emphasized that the BBC needed to be more scrupulous regarding impartiality, focus on “unique, high impact content” and build commercial income.
