Story perspectives

BBC to close channels, targeting £500m savings by 2028

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 4:36 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

BBC will close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra linear channels, moving programmes to iPlayer, Sounds and YouTube.
Director-general Matt Brittin says the closures help achieve a £500 million savings target by 2028.
About 100 BBC News jobs and ten positions in Scotland will be cut.
Directors UK CEO Andy Harrower warned the cuts must not reduce commissioning volume or director opportunities.

History

Historical Context

In 2014, Director-General Tony Hall announced BBC Three would leave linear TV for iPlayer, saving £30 million a year and preserving 150 jobs. The move was part of the “Delivering Quality First” plan to cut £700 million. Now Commercial Director Matt Brittin proposes closing the online BBC Three and Radio 4 Extra to achieve £500 million savings by 2028, a plan criticised by Directors UK chief Andy Harrower.

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Story summary

BBC will close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra linear channels, moving programmes to iPlayer, Sounds and YouTube.
Director-general Matt Brittin says the closures help achieve a £500 million savings target by 2028.
About 100 BBC News jobs and ten positions in Scotland will be cut.
Directors UK CEO Andy Harrower warned the cuts must not reduce commissioning volume or director opportunities.

1 / 2