Hat trick and Avalon confirm approach to buy BBC Three
Independent production houses Hat Trick and Avalon have confirmed they have mounted a joint £100m bid to buy BBC Three, protecting the channel from imminent cuts and relegation to online-only broadcast.
The firm’s game plan would see a business as usual strategy for the digital station with it continuing to broadcast on all existing platforms and honouring its current contracts. Moreover the station’s annual programming budget would be upped from £81m to £100m.
This would obviate the need for deep cuts at the channel which would be implemented by the BBC under its Delivering Quality First initiative to slash costs.
A joint statement issued by both companies read: “Following media reports about Hat Trick and Avalon bidding for BBC Three, the companies can confirm that an approach has been made to the BBC Trust to buy the channel.
“All original commissions would be made by UK companies and the channel would continue to be aimed at a young and ethnically diverse audience.”