BBC has announced BBC Three will be switched off from airing for second time in Spring 2027. According to Deadline, it was revealed last month that BBC Three was in serious jeopardy, but the announcement of the closure was delayed from various cuts to save 500 million.
BBC’s decision to be taken off the air marks the second time in the past 10 years that the network goes off from its channel, originally being moved online in 2016 until coming back on television in 2022 from former director general Tim Davie’s decision to reverse it back on. BBC Three has promoted the beloved British series including Fleabag (2016-2019) and Gavin & Stacey (2007-2010). The network will remain as a brand on iPlayer to launch these BBC series, become ahead of its time, and increase investment for younger audiences, but Davie’s decision still baffles people.
The BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra will also close in the spring next year. It was confirmed by Deadline that Radio 4 Extra was in jeopardy while BBC Scotland has been similarly retained on iPlayer like BBC Three. More BBC cuts are taking place from cancelled shows, dismissed sports bulletins, and 110 layoffs in BBC Media Tech. 2,000 jobs are at risk and unions are rejecting BBC offers to negotiate increase payment.
When sending out the changes of the network in a memo, BBC director-general Matt Brittin said to the staff: “We need to make every pound work harder for audiences as we respond to the immediate cost pressures and reinvent the BBC for a changing world. We all know that means tough choices.”
He adds on: “Much of the great content the currently carry will still be found where audiences already enjoy them on iPlayer and Sounds. While this follows media speculation, I recognize the confirmation of this news will be hard for audiences and colleagues.”