BBC ONE to launch +1 Channel

BBC Director General Tony Hall announced today that Britain's most-watched channel will launch a BBC One +1 channel.

Speaking today, he said: “Any plan for channels starts with BBC One. Above all, BBC One needs to be on top form. It has to be the nation’s favourite channel, but also its bravest. We’ll also look to launch a BBC One +1 channel, too – it’s what audiences expect, especially younger ones, and it means people can get more of what they’ve already paid for.”

Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, adds: "This is brilliant news for BBC One viewers, it means the content we pay for delivers even more value for audiences. In a world of increased choice, +1 will enable licence fee payers to have even more access to our broad range of programmes every day."

BBC One already reaches 80 per cent of the population on average per week, by far the biggest reach of any other channel. The backwards programme guide on YouView is already helping audiences fit more of the best content into their busy lives. The extras audiences get through the red button and our new connected red button makes pressing red even better, bringing TV, radio and online seamlessly together on the living room TV, in the simplest way possible. And with plans to launch on a number of new platforms, including FreeView, Freesat and YouView, in the next 12 months - this is what channels will feel like, in the future.

Further details on when this new service will launch and how it will be made available to licence fee payers will be confirmed in due course.