BBC to cut 2,000 jobs, shut BBC Three, BBC Scotland TV channels and Radio 4 Extra to save £500 million

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is shutting down two television channels and a radio channel to save £500 million over two years. The process will eliminate about 1,800-2,000 jobs, BBC said in a report today. Under the cost-cutting measures, BBC will shut down BBC Three and BBC Scotland television channels in spring and move both services online amid mounting financial pressures. The broadcaster will also shut Radio 4 Extra, which airs speech-based programmes from its archives.

BBC had earlier announced around 550 job cuts in news and more than 30 in BBC Sport. Rachel Jupp, the newly appointed director of BBC News, has also proposed additional savings of £5.5 million, which could result in the elimination of around 100 roles. The broadcaster has announced several high-profile programme cancellations in recent weeks, including RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, Live at the Apollo, Football Focus and Ski Sunday. Other programmes, including DIY SOS, have been temporarily rested.

BBC Director-General Matt Brittin said the changes were necessary as the corporation responds to rising costs and adapts to changing audience habits. “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,” Brittin said.

BBC Three, BBC Scotland to move online

BBC Scotland's programming will remain available on BBC iPlayer, with selected shows also airing on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland.

BBC Three, which is known for programmes aimed at younger audiences, will continue commissioning new content for iPlayer and other platforms, including YouTube.

The move marks another change in BBC Three's distribution model. The channel originally moved online in 2016 before returning to television in 2022.

BBC Scotland launched as a television channel in 2019, offering a mix of news, sports, documentaries and entertainment. Much of its content will continue to be available digitally after the closure.

Brittin said audiences would still be able to access much of the programming currently carried by the three services.

“Much of the great content they currently carry will still be found where audiences already enjoy them on iPlayer and Sounds,” he said.

Radio 4 Extra programmes to remain on BBC Sounds

BBC Radio 4 Extra, which features speech programming from the broadcaster's archives, will also close under the restructuring plan.

Its programmes will remain accessible through BBC Sounds. The religious programme The Daily Service will continue to be available on BBC Sounds and local radio.

The changes reflect the BBC's broader shift towards digital platforms as it attempts to manage costs while maintaining access to its content.

BBC Scotland's Reporting Scotland: News at Seven to end

The closure will also affect some of BBC Scotland's existing programming.

The channel's nightly news programme, Reporting Scotland: News at Seven, will not move to BBC iPlayer and will end when the linear television service closes.

The BBC will continue providing Scottish news and current affairs through other programmes, including Reporting Scotland, The Sunday Show, Radio Scotland Breakfast, Debate Night and Scotcast.

BBC Scotland's television channel primarily broadcasts content during the evening and simulcasts BBC Radio Scotland during the day.

BBC Funding crisis

BBC in its annual report earlier this year had admitted that its funding model was not sustainable to fund its public broadcasting mission. While acknowledging “substantial financial pressures”, BBC earlier said it wanted to cut about a tenth of its budget by 2029. The bulk of the cuts are to be made in the next fiscal year beginning April 1, 2027.

The Conversation in a report cited various reasons behind the BBC funding woes including rising inflation, diversion of licence fee revenue, rise in production costs, among others.

The BBC was founded in 1922 as a radio service to “inform, educate and entertain”.

It now operates 15 UK national and regional television channels, several international channels, 10 national radio stations, dozens of local radio stations, the globe-spanning World Service radio and extensive digital output, including the iPlayer streaming service.