BBC to close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra in spring cost-saving plan

The BBC is to close its BBC Three and BBC Scotland television channels and its Radio 4 Extra radio station in the spring, moving their output online and to other BBC services.

The three closures were reported on Oct. 20, 2026, as part of the BBC's effort to make £500m in cost cuts. Only about £200m of that savings target had been cut at that point, according to The Guardian.

BBC Three, aimed at younger viewers, had left broadcast television in 2016 before returning in 2022. About 4% of the British population watch it live in a week. Radio 4 Extra, which repeats comedy, drama and archive material, reaches 1.4 million listeners a week, according to the most recent Rajar audience figures.

Under the plan, BBC Three programmes would continue on the BBC's streaming service. Content from BBC Scotland would be available on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland.

Matt Brittin is the BBC's director general. The £500m savings plan is to be delivered over the next three years, a sum equivalent to $661 million, according to Reuters.

The channel closures follow other cost-saving steps. In June, the BBC announced 550 job cuts in news, national and regional services, and television and radio content as the first stage of the £500m plan, according to the BBC. Its audio division, BBC Speech and Sounds, will cut its budget by at least 10 percent and close several long-running programmes from April 2027, according to RadioToday.

The possibility of television and radio closures had been raised in the weeks before the announcement. Staff had expressed fears about the future of BBC Three and BBC Scotland, while industry reports said closure announcements were being prepared, according to The Guardian and Deadline.

The BBC and Channel 4 had discussed a broader tie-up to cut costs, as reported on Oct. 7, 2026.