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

The BBC has announced plans to close television channels BBC Three and BBC Scotland alongside digital radio station Radio 4 Extra this spring, as part of a wider cost-saving initiative.

Under the changes, BBC Three and BBC Scotland will transition to become online-only services. Both networks will continue to produce content hosted on BBC iPlayer, eliminating the requirement to maintain terrestrial television schedules. BBC Three commissions will remain available on iPlayer and platforms such as YouTube, backed by increased investment for younger audiences. BBC Scotland will also maintain an iPlayer presence, with select content airing on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland, though its nightly program Reporting Scotland: News at Seven will end with the channel's closure.

Radio 4 Extra, which primarily broadcasts archive speech programs including comedy, drama, and documentaries, is slated for closure. The BBC stated that programs from the station will be accessible via BBC Sounds, while its religious program The Daily Service will move to BBC Sounds and local radio.

Director-general Matt Brittin cited immediate cost pressures and financial challenges as the drivers behind the decisions, noting that the corporation aims to save £500m over two years. The restructuring is accompanied by job reductions across the organization, including cuts within the news and sport divisions.