BBC announces channel closures, plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs

Facing a budget squeeze, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will close its BBC Three and BBC Scotland television channels in the spring and move their content exclusively online as part of a cost-cutting plan aimed at saving £500 million ($670 million) over two years. Both channels will continue to produce and host some content on the BBC iPlayer streaming platform, while the corporation will also close Radio 4 Extra, which primarily broadcasts archived speech programs, including comedy, drama, and documentaries.

BBC Director-General Matt Brittin said the measures were necessary as the corporation faces financial pressures 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. Addressing the closure of linear broadcasting services, he added: "Much of the great content they currently carry will still be found where audiences already enjoy them on iPlayer and Sounds."

"While this follows media speculation, I recognize the confirmation of this news will be hard for audiences and colleagues," he said. The closures come as the BBC seeks to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs, representing almost one in 10 of its workforce, in an effort to achieve £500 million in savings over two years. The corporation on Tuesday also confirmed further job cuts in its news division, with additional details expected from newly appointed director Rachel Jupp.

Around 550 job cuts have already been announced in the news division, while more than 30 job cuts have so far been announced at BBC Sport. The latest announcements follow the cancellation of several high-profile BBC television series in recent weeks, as the publicly funded broadcaster continues efforts to address what it has described as "significant financial pressures."