BBC Three officially being shut down for a second time, broadcaster confirms

BBC Three will now be moving its content online as part of cost-cutting measures (Picture: BBC) The BBC is to close the linear broadcast services of BBC Three, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4 Extra in spring 2027 as part of major cost-cutting measures. Around 100 jobs will also be axed at BBC News, as the corporation faces pressure to save £500 million by 2028. The closures will result in further job losses, including 10 roles in Scotland. BBC Scotland will remain available on BBC iPlayer, but will no longer broadcast as a traditional television channel. Content will also continue to be shown on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland. BBC Three, which targets a younger audience, will move its content online, with programmes available on BBC iPlayer and other platforms, including YouTube. It is not the first time the channel has been taken off linear television. BBC Three moved online in 2016 before returning as a fully-fledged TV channel in January 2022. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Around 100 jobs will also be axed at BBC News (Picture: Reuters) The channel has since been behind major hits including Fleabag, Normal People and Killing Eve. Meanwhile, programmes from BBC Radio 4 Extra will remain available on BBC Sounds. The Daily Service will also continue on BBC Sounds and local radio. In a note to staff announcing the changes, BBC director-general Matt Brittin said the corporation needed to make difficult decisions to deal with financial pressures. ‘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,’ he said. 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 recognise the confirmation of this news will be hard for audiences and colleagues.’ New BBC News director Rachel Jupp is expected to outline further savings plans early next year, while other divisions will announce their own measures in the coming months. The latest cuts follow previous savings announcements across BBC Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as local radio and the corporation’s speech and audio services. The BBC has also recently confirmed that long-running home renovation show DIY SOS will be ‘rested’ next year amid its ongoing savings challenges. Plans to build a new purpose-built studio for radio drama The Archers at the corporation’s Tea Factory site in Digbeth have also been scrapped as part of the cost-cutting drive.