Bennett hits out at "snooty" Three critics

BBC Vision chief Jana Bennett has hit out at "middle-aged commentators" who criticise BBC Three.

Speaking at the Media Guardian Changing Broadcast Summit, Bennett said: "The recent arguments about closing down this channel or that have been driven by a peculiarly narrow vision of the BBC's mission.

"It's as though open season had been declared, legitimising every critic in the land to take down their 12-bore and go hunting the bits of the BBC that don't serve them personally.

"But all that's accomplished is the realisation that those taking the pot shots are usually much more interested in protecting their own territory than in embracing the larger mission of the BBC.

"When middle-aged commentators get snooty about BBC Three, for example, you know what? It actually reassures me. If people over 50 were turning on to BBC Three in enormous numbers the channel would be failing to fulfil its remit, which is to bring younger audiences a high quality mixed-genre schedule of innovative UK content featuring new UK talent. Which is exactly what BBC Three is doing.

"It has the highest reach to 16-34s of any digital channel and its audience appreciation is consistently high and young audiences feel a strong allegiance to BBC Three."

Bennett cited programmes such as Kill It, Cook It, Eat It and Gavin and Stacey as being "high-impact" and "impressive".