BBC to close BBC Three and BBC Scotland in spring 2027

Summarised from 7 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 14:38 · Archive

The BBC will close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra linear broadcast services in spring 2027 to save £500 million.

The BBC has announced the closure of three of its linear broadcast services in spring 2027: BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra. The move forms part of a broader cost-cutting programme designed to save £500 million by 2028. The corporation faces sustained financial pressures and has determined that these closures are necessary to meet its savings target.

Approximately 100 jobs will be cut at BBC News as a result of these measures. Additional redundancies will follow the broadcast closures themselves, with ten roles being lost in Scotland specifically. The BBC confirmed that staff were informed of the decisions on Tuesday morning before the public announcement.

BBC Three, which targets a younger audience aged 16 to 34, will transition to online-only provision. Its content will be available on BBC iPlayer and other platforms including YouTube. This is not the first time the channel has been removed from linear television. BBC Three previously moved online in 2016, before returning as a fully-fledged television channel in January 2022. Since its return, it has been behind major hits including Fleabag, Normal People and Killing Eve.

BBC Scotland will also cease traditional television broadcasting but will remain accessible as a channel on iPlayer. Scottish audiences will continue to access BBC content through BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland. Programmes from Radio 4 Extra will remain available on BBC Sounds, and The Daily Service will continue on BBC Sounds and local radio.

BBC Director-General Matt Brittin said in a statement to staff: 'We need to make every pound work harder for audiences as we respond to the immediate cost pressures and reinvent the BBC for a changing world. We all know that means tough choices.' He acknowledged that 'much of the great content they currently carry will still be found where audiences already enjoy them on iPlayer and Sounds', while recognising that 'the confirmation of this news will be hard for audiences and colleagues'.

How it is being reported

• BBC Three and BBC Scotland axed in latest round of cutsAround 100 jobs will also go at BBC News as the corporation faces pressure to make £500m savingsThe i Paper · 20 Oct, 14:35
• BBC Three and BBC Scotland channels to close in savage cost-cutting bidAround 100 jobs will also be cut at BBC NewsEvening Standard · 20 Oct, 14:30
• BBC Three and BBC Scotland TV channels to be shut down next yearCorporation announces broadcast closures and job losses in effort to find savings of £500m UK politics live – latest updates The BBC will close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra linear broadcast services in spring 2027 as part of cost-cutting measures. In addition, about 100 jobs will be cut at BBC News, as the corporation faces pressure to make savings of £500m by 2028. Continue reading...The Guardian · 20 Oct, 14:24
• BBC to axe 100 jobs in its News department and stop broadcasting BBC Three and BBC Scotland on TV as part of £500million cost-cutting driveThe corporation announced on Tuesday afternoon that BBC Three, Scotland and Radio 4 Extra will close permanently in spring 2027.Daily Mail · 20 Oct, 14:20
• BBC to axe key TV channels in cost-cutting driveCorporation set to cut BBC Three and BBC Scotland as part of move to save £500mThe Independent · 20 Oct, 14:16
• BBC Three officially being shut down for a second time, broadcaster confirmsBBC Three will now be moving its content online as part of cost-cutting measures (Picture: Reuters) The BBC is to close the linear broadcast services of BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra in spring 2027 as part of major cost-cutting measures. Around 100 jobs will also be axed at BBC…Metro · 20 Oct, 14:10
• BBC announces details of cuts in bid to save £500mThe BBC has confirmed the closure of BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra linear broadcast services in the spring of 2027Sky News · 20 Oct, 13:55

In this story: BBC · BBC News · BBC Three · BBC Scotland · BBC Radio 4 Extra · Matt Brittin · United Kingdom

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