New BBC director-general Tim Davie has declared that the BBC has reached "the end of linear expansion" as he begins to develop an agenda for the future of the broadcaster.
Delivering his first speech in charge of the corporation, Davie categorically ruled out launching new linear TV channels and radio stations through additional capacity, insisting that any new services would have to make use of the existing BBC capacity.
The comments come amid reports that BBC Three could be resurrected as a linear TV channel and BBC Four could move in the opposite direction - possibly as a paid-for service - but Davie said that he had "no short-term plans to shut channels".
"What would we stop?" he said. "We have no short-term plans to shut channels or radio networks. But I do think this moment marks the end of linear expansion for the BBC.
"We will not propose to take any further DAB or traditional TV channel capacity for our services.
"If we want to launch a new offer, and we will consider our options, it would need to use the current space.
"And, as we move further towards an online world we will not hesitate to close channels if they do not offer value to our audiences."
BBC Three has enjoyed a successful year as part of iPlayer, spearheaded by breakout drama Normal People.
Neil Wilkes
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