Staff fears grow that BBC will shut its Three and Scotland channels next week

The BBC has initiated a redundancy process in its TV and streaming division, raising concerns among staff that the corporation's director general, Matt Brittin, may announce the closure of the underperforming BBC Three and BBC Scotland channels next week. This move is part of a broader strategy to save £500 million and potentially eliminate up to 2,000 jobs.

On Wednesday, Brittin is expected to inform staff about the latest developments in the cost-cutting plan. This week, Dan McGolpin, the director of the BBC iPlayer and Channels division, called for expressions of interest in voluntary redundancy across the department. In an email, he outlined plans to mitigate enforced redundancies, including job-sharing arrangements, reduced hours, and relocation options.

Sources indicate that the BBC may transition the two channels to an online-only format as part of its efforts to cut back on services that deliver the least value for money. An insider noted:

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"It is no secret that BBC Scotland and BBC Three are very expensive on a cost-per-viewer basis – a key metric being looked at – and they clearly haven’t achieved what was hoped."