The BBC has begun a redundancy process within its TV and streaming division, intensifying staff concerns that BBC Director-General Matt Brittin could announce the closure of BBC Three and BBC Scotland channels next week. This move is part of a broader strategy to save £500m and reduce up to 2,000 jobs.
Mr Brittin is expected to inform staff on Wednesday about the latest stage of this plan. Dan McGolpin, director of the BBC iPlayer and Channels division, has already sought expressions of interest for voluntary redundancy, job-sharing, reduced hours, and relocation across the UK.
Sources indicate that the BBC may shift both channels to an online-only format. BBC Three, which returned to linear TV in 2022 after an initial online-only period, has reportedly struggled with audience figures, with its highest-rating show recently attracting an average of 74,000 viewers. Its budget was cut to £66m in 2024-25.
The BBC Scotland television channel, launched in 2019, also faces a similar potential fate. Its latest annual report shows that 12% of people in Scotland watch the channel live. The channel had a budget of £42m in 2024-25.