The BBC has announced plans to close its Scottish digital TV channel as part of a broader £500 million cost-saving drive, with the channel set to move to BBC iPlayer in Spring next year. The nightly News at Seven program will cease, and approximately 10 posts will be cut, in addition to 60 job losses previously announced for Scotland.
This decision follows criticism that the channel, launched in 2019, aired too many repeats and struggled with low viewership. The BBC stated that viewing habits have changed significantly, with a 70% increase in signed-in BBC iPlayer accounts accessing BBC Scotland content over the past four years, and over one million accounts now accessing this content weekly.
Hayley Valentine, director of BBC Scotland, explained that the move is a response to "significant financial challenges" and a need to focus resources where they will have the greatest impact. She noted that more viewers are choosing to watch BBC Scotland content on iPlayer, and maintaining the channel on the platform will allow Scottish content to thrive in a digital environment. BBC One Scotland and a revamped BBC Two Scotland service will continue to provide a Scottish presence on linear television.
The BBC Scotland channel brand will persist on BBC iPlayer, with Scottish-specific programming also available on BBC One Scotland and the updated BBC Two Scotland service. Shows such as Scotland’s Home of the Year, Murder Case, Inside Barlinnie, the Scottish Cup Final, and Hogmanay will remain accessible.
Critics have raised concerns about the decision. Shadow Scottish secretary Harriet Cross stated that the BBC must provide "best value for money that reflects the interests of viewers" and urged SNP ministers to work with the BBC to protect Scottish TV production. Scottish Labour culture spokesman Katherine Sangster emphasized the importance of continued production reflecting Scotland’s communities, culture, and priorities, even with the shift to iPlayer and BBC Two Scotland.
Culture Secretary Mairi McAllan called the move "wholly unacceptable," viewing it as a "significant blow to our media landscape" and a sign of "long-standing pattern of BBC underinvestment in Scotland." She indicated plans to engage with Ofcom regarding these concerns.
Professor John Cook, emeritus professor of media at Glasgow Caledonian University, commented that while the BBC Scotland channel will continue on iPlayer, the changes to BBC Scotland, BBC Three, and Radio 4 Extra signify a move away from traditional broadcasting towards an "online first" approach. He suggested this marks an end to the BBC's century-long broadcasting history.
Other changes announced by the BBC include moving BBC Three and Radio Four Extra online. This is part of a wider effort by the BBC to make £500 million in savings over the next two years, which has already led to the announcement of 1,800 to 2,000 job cuts and the closure of various programs and radio shows. BBC Three, aimed at younger audiences, had previously moved online in 2016 before being reinstated as a TV channel in 2022. Radio 4 Extra's schedule largely consists of archive content available on BBC Sounds.
BBC Director General Matt Brittin has previously indicated that some channels and radio stations might close to allow for investment in on-demand services, stating that "we wouldn’t guarantee any programme or any channel will exist forever."