BBC to close three broadcast channels, with savings below £10m a year

The BBC is to close the linear broadcast versions of BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra, a move media editor Katie Razzall says makes financial sense as audiences shift online — but will save less than £10m a year towards the corporation’s £500m savings target.

The BBC plans to continue making many programmes for BBC Scotland on iPlayer and to reconfigure BBC Two in Scotland to carry Scotland-only programming. BBC Three’s commissioning team is due to receive more money to make programmes for younger audiences, while many Radio 4 Extra programmes will remain on BBC Sounds. [1]

Razzall said BBC Three’s most-watched programme on the Monday before her report was a repeat of *Top Gear*, watched by about 77,000 people. The BBC’s annual report put BBC Scotland’s weekly reach at 12% of Scotland’s population. By comparison, BBC Alba reached 43% weekly, though Razzall raised the possibility that its Italian Serie A football coverage helped attract viewers. [1]

The closures mark another change for BBC Three, which launched in 2003, later became digital-only and returned to linear television in 2022. The channel commissioned programmes including *Normal People*, *Fleabag* and *Killing Eve*. The BBC has also announced commissions made specifically for YouTube, aiming to reach younger viewers. [1]

The limited savings come as the BBC seeks £500m over three years. Razzall reported that about two-fifths of the total had been announced so far. In BBC News, 100 further job cuts have been announced on top of 200 already announced, while the division remains short of its £51m cuts target. [1]

Razzall said the channel changes were more about the BBC’s shift towards audiences’ online habits than substantial savings. The corporation is also negotiating with the government over its future and funding, she noted, as it faces pressure to show it is becoming more efficient without losing audiences. [1]