Zai Bennett has axed spin off show Doctor Who Confidential as part of his move to focus finances on the 9pm and 10:30pm slots.
The BBC3 controller has already canned a number of pre-watershed programmes including Hotter than my Daughter, with the axe hanging over Snog, Marry, Avoid? as Bennett looks to withdraw from commissioning original content before 9pm.
He announced the strategy at this year’s Edinburgh International TV Festival and told Broadcast: “It’s about focusing my budget on 9pm and 10.30pm; those are the time slots that count. Budgets are tight, so we have to be sensible with the money we have.”
A BBC spokeswoman stressed this was about Bennett’s current budget, and had no connection with the ongoing Delivering Quality First initiative, which seeks to save £1.3bn.
Bennett began a review of the “eclectic” mix of programmes before 9pm shortly after taking on the reins this spring.
No comments yet