Scottish Government opposes BBC Scotland channel’s planned move to iPlayer
Culture Secretary Mairi McAllan called the planned spring 2027 move ‘wholly unacceptable’ and said she would raise her objections with Ofcom.
The Scottish Government opposed the BBC’s announcement on Tuesday, 20 October, that it plans to move the BBC Scotland television channel to iPlayer in spring 2027. Culture Secretary Mairi McAllan called the proposal ‘wholly unacceptable’ and said she would take her objections to media regulator Ofcom. The move would end the channel’s traditional television broadcast and is expected to cut about 10 posts in Scotland.
What changes for BBC Scotland viewers
BBC Scotland programmes would continue on iPlayer, while some content would also be shown on BBC One or BBC Two in Scotland, BBC News reported. The channel’s nightly Reporting Scotland: News at Seven programme, however, will end when the broadcast channel closes and will not move to iPlayer. The BBC has given spring 2027 as the planned timing without announcing a more precise date.
The expected loss of about 10 posts comes on top of 60 BBC Scotland job cuts announced earlier this year, according to BBC News. The Scotland move is part of a wider BBC plan that would also take BBC Three off traditional television and close Radio 4 Extra. The broadcaster is seeking £500 million in savings over two years and aims to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs across the organisation.
Scottish Government to raise objections with Ofcom
McAllan said the Scottish Government opposed the proposal ‘in the strongest possible terms’. Scottish Green culture spokesperson Q Manivannan called it a ‘huge blow for staff’ and warned that moving away from a traditional television channel could leave behind older viewers and people who face barriers to getting online. The Greens said they were ready to back the government’s advocacy for Scottish broadcasting in discussions with Westminster about the BBC Charter renewal next year.
BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine said significant financial challenges meant the broadcaster had to focus resources where they would have the greatest impact for audiences. She said continuing the channel on iPlayer would allow Scottish content to thrive online. The BBC said its other Scottish news output, including Reporting Scotland, The Sunday Show and Radio Scotland Breakfast, would continue to serve audiences.
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Sources and context
- Moving BBC Scotland online ‘wholly unacceptable’, says Scottish GovernmentEvening Standard, reporting credited to PA Media
- BBC Scotland TV channel to close amid cuts to servicesBBC News, republished by Yahoo News Canada
- BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra channels to closeBBC News
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.