BBC to close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra linear services
October 20, 2026 14.05 Europe/London By Julian Clover


The BBC will close the linear broadcast services of BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra in spring 2027, shifting their programming towards iPlayer, Sounds and other digital platforms.

The closures form part of the corporation’s efforts to deliver £500 million in savings by 2028 amid sustained financial pressures.

BBC Scotland will continue as a channel on iPlayer, with content also shown on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland. The BBC Scotland television channel launched on 24 February 2019. In addition to a much heralded Scottish centric news bulletin and other new commissions, the channel also broadcast content previously shown on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland.

BBC Three commissions will be available through iPlayer and other platforms, including YouTube. The BBC said the move would be supported by increased investment in content for younger audiences. BBC Three has been here before; is was online-only from 16 February 2016 to 1 February 2022, when it returned as a linear television channel. The channel was behind the launch of Gavin & Stacey, Fleabag and Killing Eve.

Radio 4 Extra programming will move to BBC Sounds, while The Daily Service will be available through Sounds and local radio.

“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,” Director-General Matt Brittin told staff. “We all know that means tough choices.”

Brittin said much of the programming carried by the services would remain available digitally.

“While this follows media speculation, I recognise the confirmation of this news will be hard for audiences and colleagues,” he added.

The BBC also announced further changes within BBC News. Its new director, Rachel Jupp, will set out additional savings plans early next year as part of a longer-term strategy for the division.

Other divisions will confirm their plans in the coming months, following savings already announced across the BBC’s nations, local services, and Speech and Sounds operations.

The announcement did not specify how much the three linear closures would contribute to the overall savings target.