BBC to close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra channels

The BBC will close BBC Three and BBC Scotland as television channels in the spring, moving both to online-only services, and shut Radio 4 Extra as it seeks to save £500m over two years. [1]

BBC Three commissions will remain available on iPlayer and other platforms, including YouTube, with increased investment in content for younger audiences. BBC Scotland will continue on iPlayer, with some programmes also shown on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland. Radio 4 Extra programmes will be available on BBC Sounds; its religious programme The Daily Service will also air on local radio, the BBC said.

The closures form part of a wider savings plan that the BBC says will involve cutting between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs. Director-general Matt Brittin said the corporation faced immediate cost pressures and needed to make “tough choices”.

One programme will not make the move online: the BBC said BBC Scotland’s nightly Reporting Scotland: News at Seven will end when the channel closes. It said audiences would continue to have access to its other Scottish news programmes and services, including Reporting Scotland and Radio Scotland Breakfast.

BBC Three previously moved online in 2016 before returning as a television channel in 2022. BBC Scotland launched in 2019. Both channels currently show television programmes in the evenings; BBC Scotland also carries BBC Radio Scotland during the day. Radio 4 Extra’s schedule is predominantly made up of archive programmes, although it also airs some original content.

The BBC said affected staff were told of the changes on Tuesday. It has already announced around 550 job cuts in its news division and more than 30 at BBC Sport as part of the savings effort. [1]