BBC to close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra channels

The short version

• The BBC will close its BBC Three and BBC Scotland television channels in the spring, as part of £500m of savings over two years.[BBC News]
• The BBC has also announced the closure of Radio 4 Extra, which airs archive speech programmes.[BBC News]
• Director-general Matt Brittin said the BBC must make every pound work harder for audiences amid cost pressures.[BBC News]
• BBC insiders say the corporation is not yet halfway to its £500m savings target, with about £200m cut so far.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• The BBC will close its BBC Three and BBC Scotland television channels in the spring as part of £500m of savings over two years.[BBC News]
• The BBC has announced the closure of Radio 4 Extra, which largely airs speech programmes from its archive.[BBC News]
• BBC Three was moved online in 2016 and reinstated as a TV channel in 2022.[The Guardian · BBC News]
• BBC Scotland launched as a channel in 2019.[BBC News]
• Radio 4 Extra reached an audience of 1.4 million a week, according to the most recent Rajar data.[The Guardian]
• Director-general Matt Brittin said the BBC needs to make every pound work harder for audiences as it responds to cost pressures.[BBC News]
• BBC insiders said the corporation is not yet halfway to its £500m savings target, with only about £200m cut so far.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra broadcast channels to closeBBC News - Entertainment & Arts
• BBC Three and BBC Scotland TV channels to be shut down next yearThe Guardian - World