BBC to Close BBC Three and BBC Scotland as Linear TV Channels in 2027

The BBC confirmed on October 20–22, 2026 that it will end the linear television broadcasts of BBC Three and BBC Scotland, and the linear radio broadcast of BBC Radio 4 Extra, in spring 2027. The closures are part of a £500 million savings drive the corporation must complete by 2028. BBC Three content — which skews towards younger audiences and includes some of the BBC's most successful recent shows — will move entirely to BBC iPlayer and YouTube. BBC Scotland will similarly shift to iPlayer, with its content also appearing on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland, though it will no longer be a standalone broadcast channel. This marks the second time BBC Three has lost its linear status, having previously moved online in 2016 before being restored as a full broadcast channel in January 2022. A number of jobs will be cut as a result of the closures, including at least ten in Scotland. Industry bodies Pact and Bectu raised concerns about the impact on independent commissioning and on public service broadcasting more broadly. GB News, Times and Star, ITV News and IBTimes all carried prominent coverage of the announcement, reflecting strong public interest in the fate of the channels.