BBC Three and BBC Scotland to move online next spring

The BBC will close the linear broadcast services of BBC Three and BBC Scotland next spring while keeping their programming available online, the corporation announced.

BBC Three and BBC Scotland will continue on BBC iPlayer. Radio 4 Extra will also leave linear broadcasting, with its programmes moving to BBC Sounds.

The changes form part of a plan to save 500 million pounds over two years. BBC Director-General Matt Brittin linked the decisions to rising costs and the need to reshape the corporation.

The BBC plans to cut between 1.8 thousand and 2 thousand jobs, nearly a tenth of its workforce. It previously announced around 550 job cuts in news and more than 30 in its sports department.