All Freeview, Sky Q, and Virgin viewers will see a long-awaited channel return this week

Also confirmed for launch week, BBC Three will be hosting live football, with both semi-finals and the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) live on free-to-air television. The huge tournament featuring 24 National teams based in Africa is hosted in Cameroon this year and the three matches all kick off at 7pm. Coverage will be fronted by Jermaine Jenas and audiences can tune in to watch full games live from kick-off when the channel begins broadcasting from 7pm. To watch full match coverage including the build-up, audiences can choose to watch live from 6.30pm on the BBC Three page on iPlayer.

BBC Three is primarily targeted at younger viewers – one of the reasons the Beeb believed that younger viewers would be happy to watch on-demand, rather than tuning in for set broadcast times. The channel has launched a number of blockbuster successes for the BBC over the years, including the critically-acclaimed 15 Storeys High from the late Sean Lock, the award-winning smash Fleabag from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, This Country, Little Britain, which launched the careers of David Walliams and Matt Lucas, cult comedy classic The Mighty Boost, People Just Do Nothing, Don’t Tell the Bride – which has recently resurfaced on Netflix, and Gavin and Stacey. The latter was later promoted to BBC One and set viewing records when it returned for a Christmas special back in 2019.

Speaking about the decision to return BBC Three to EPGs across the country, Fiona Campbell, Controller, BBC Three, said: “We know how popular sport is with younger audiences and it’s going to have a big part to play on BBC Three. AFCON is set to be an incredibly exciting tournament with some of the best players in the World on show and it’s brilliant news that we will be showing the climax of the competition on free to air television.”