BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra channels to close
The BBC is closing its linear television channels BBC Three and BBC Scotland, as well as Radio 4 Extra, to transition them into online-only services. This move is part of a broader effort to save £500 million amid changing audience habits and financial pressures.
Why it matters
The shift reflects the ongoing decline of traditional linear broadcasting in favor of digital-first content delivery models.
By Steven McIntosh Entertainment reporter Published 4 minutes ago The BBC is to close its BBC Three and BBC Scotland television channels in the spring, as the corporation continues to make £500m of savings over two years.
Both services will become online-only, meaning they will continue to produce and host some content on iPlayer, without the need to fill a terrestrial TV schedule.
The BBC has also announced the closure of Radio 4 Extra, which largely airs speech programmes from the BBC's archive, including documentaries, comedy and drama.
BBC director-general Matt 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."
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