Business
BBC to close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra broadcast channels
October 20, 2026 at 02:28 PM · Updated 18h ago
Coverage
4 reports · over 2 hours
BNBBC News
BBC closures make business sense, but far more savings are needed, says Katie Razzall
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TGThe Guardian
BBC Three and BBC Scotland TV channels to be shut down next year
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BNBBC News
BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra broadcast channels to close
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
BBC Scotland TV channel to close amid cuts to services
(opens the publisher’s site)The BBC has announced it will close BBC Three and BBC Scotland television channels and Radio 4 Extra radio station next spring as part of a £500m cost-cutting drive.
- All three services will move online from spring 2026, with content hosted on iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
- Matt Brittin, the BBC's director general, said the corporation needed to "make every pound work harder for audiences".
- The BBC confirmed BBC Scotland's nightly programme News at Seven will cease when the linear channel closes.
- The BBC aims to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs, while insiders said only about £200m of the £500m savings target has been met.
- The three closures are expected to save less than £10m a year, a fraction of the £500m target, meaning further cuts will be required.