BBC boss Matt Brittin refuses to rule out closing BBC3 and BBC Scotland to fund ON-DEMAND shift

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026 · last updated 27 September 2026.

BBC director-general Matt Brittin has warned that channels including BBC3 and BBC Scotland could be axed as the corporation races to cut £500 million and shed around 2,000 jobs by 2028-29. Brittin, a former Google executive who took charge in May, said the broadcaster 'wouldn't guarantee any programme or any channel will exist forever'. Closures could be announced as early as next week, with the BBC pushing viewers towards iPlayer instead of live broadcast.

Brittin pointed out that some services already have 100,000 live viewers against 500,000 watching the same content on iPlayer, making on-demand migration 'inevitable'.

The BBC has already axed Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, Live At The Apollo and Football Focus, with further cuts still expected.

Brittin also said he would allow AI-generated presenters 'within guardrails', adding the technology must not substitute for human creativity but could 'make the licence fee go further'.