The BBC is set to shut three of its major linear broadcast services and eliminate more than 100 jobs under a new round of cost-cutting measures.
The corporation announced on Tuesday afternoon that BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra will close in spring 2027.
About 100 BBC News employees are expected to lose their jobs as the corporation faces pressure to deliver approximately £500 million in savings by 2028. Further positions will also be affected by the broadcast closures, including 10 roles in Scotland.
In a statement, the BBC described the move as a “tough decision” driven by the “sustained financial pressures facing the organisation”.
Staff were informed of the plans on Tuesday morning, the corporation said.
BBC Director-General Mark Brittin said: “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.
“Much of the great content they currently carry will still be found where audiences already enjoy it on iPlayer and Sounds. While this follows media speculation, I recognise the confirmation of this news will be hard for audiences and colleagues.”
BBC Scotland will continue to be available on iPlayer, but it will no longer operate as a traditional television broadcast channel. Scottish audiences will still be able to watch content on BBC One and BBC Two.
The BBC will shut three of its main linear broadcast services next year as part of its latest drive to reduce costs
BBC Director-General Matt Brittin (pictured) previously said he “could not guarantee any programme will exist forever”
BBC Three’s programming, aimed primarily at younger viewers, will remain available through BBC iPlayer and other platforms, including YouTube.
This is not the first time BBC Three has been removed from linear television. The channel returned as a full-time TV service in January 2022, six years after moving online.
Radio 4 Extra programmes will continue on BBC Sounds, while The Daily Service will be offered through BBC Sounds and local radio.
The BBC News employees facing redundancy were told about the plans in an email from Rachel Jupp, the newly appointed director of BBC News.
She wrote: “We’re now announcing further saving proposals, with a total value of around £5.5 million which represents the net closure of just over 100 roles.
DISCOVER MORE: Russia Launches Missile into Poland Following Attack on Ukraine by ISIS – NewsFinale
“I know this will be very difficult news for those affected. We will continue to work closely with colleagues and trade unions throughout the consultation process and will do everything we can to minimise the need for compulsory redundancies.
“Colleagues affected by today’s proposals have already been informed.”
Ms Jupp said she would review whether additional savings were needed “over the next few weeks”, although plans are understood to be in place to deliver further reductions next year.
The latest cost-cutting announcement comes just over a week after the BBC confirmed the cancellation of several Radio 4 programmes.
You and Yours, Thinking Allowed, Free Thinking and The Artificial Human are among the shows being axed in a move the corporation said would produce “significant savings”. Open Country, a long-running programme focused on rural affairs, has also been cancelled.
BBC 5 Live will too see a reduction in its commissioning budget on schedule and sports podcasts from 2027.
Jonathan Wall, director of BBC Sounds, said when the move was announced on October 8: ‘We are reshaping BBC speech audio to build a strong future for trusted journalism, distinctive storytelling and programmes that bring people together.
‘By commissioning fewer programmes overall, we can focus our investment and make our best shows work across broadcast, on demand and different formats.
‘That means accelerating growth on our own digital platforms and reaching more people beyond the BBC, while maintaining the strength of Radio 4 and 5 Live, the country’s two biggest speech radio stations.
‘These are difficult decisions, and they are not based on cost alone. We need to make significant savings while investing for the future. I am extremely grateful to the teams behind the programmes affected, and we will support colleagues and work closely with unions throughout consultation.’
Previous reports suggest the BBC planned to cut some 2,000 jobs on its quest to save £500million over the next three years.
Speaking in September, Matt Brittin – who has fronted the broadcaster since May – said he ‘could not guarantee any programme will exist forever’.
The former Google executive said during an appearance on Sunday with Laura Kuessenberg: ‘If you see changes that we make in the future as we work out how best to deal with this challenge, by the way hopefully with a new charter in 18 months’ time, we will be in a position where we can make longer term decisions about funding.
‘The tight financial situation means that we are having to look at some of those decisions a bit sooner than we might like but, if most of an audience is getting things on demand, we have to look at the cost and the value of all of those different services.’