Story perspectives

BBC Scotland to end linear TV in 2027, iPlayer shift

By Drooid · Oct 22, 2026, 2:02 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

BBC Scotland will close its linear TV channel and move programming to iPlayer in spring 2027.
The shutdown will end the News at Seven programme and cut about ten jobs, adding to 60 earlier cuts.
BBC expects the closure to save £1 million-£2 million, contributing to a £500 million savings plan by 2028.
Despite cuts, 93 % of Scotland’s population still consume BBC content each month.

History

Historical Context

The BBC’s open-beta iPlayer launched on 27 July 2007, delivering 3.5 million streamed or downloaded programmes in its first three weeks and prompting rapid audience migration online. That digital shift underpins the corporation’s current plan, announced in 2026, to shut BBC Scotland’s linear channel by spring 2027 and move flagship shows such as News at Seven to iPlayer.

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Story summary

BBC Scotland will close its linear TV channel and move programming to iPlayer in spring 2027.
The shutdown will end the News at Seven programme and cut about ten jobs, adding to 60 earlier cuts.
BBC expects the closure to save £1 million-£2 million, contributing to a £500 million savings plan by 2028.
Despite cuts, 93 % of Scotland’s population still consume BBC content each month.

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