BBC PLANS CLOSURE OF SCOTLAND TV CHANNEL

The BBC has announced plans to close its BBC Scotland television channel as it seeks to save £500m. The broadcaster said the channel would move to BBC iPlayer next spring, while its nightly News at Seven programme would end. It expects the change to cut about 10 posts, in addition to 60 cuts BBC Scotland announced earlier this year. BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine said: “Against the backdrop of significant financial challenges, we must focus our resources where they will have the greatest impact for audiences.”

The channel began broadcasting in February 2019. The BBC said programmes including Scotland’s Home of the Year, Murder Case, Inside Barlinnie, the Scottish Cup Final and Hogmanay would remain available online or on BBC One or BBC Two in Scotland. It plans to move its Friday evening SPFL Championship matches to BBC Two in Scotland. The broadcaster also said BBC Three and Radio Four Extra would move online. BBC Director General Matt Brittin said last month that the BBC’s finances and changing audience habits could lead to channel and radio station closures.

The BBC has previously announced plans to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs, which it described as almost one in 10. A National Union of Journalists spokesperson said the union had asked the UK chancellor to intervene urgently and urged BBC management to find other savings. The spokesperson said the proposals would leave fewer journalists producing news in Scotland. Scotland’s Culture Secretary Màiri McAllan said the Scottish government strongly opposed the “wholly unacceptable” proposals. She said the plan raised questions about the BBC’s commitment to Scottish audiences, the creative sector and its public service obligations across the UK.