McAllan urges Ofcom to review BBC Scotland closure — SkimNews
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- Màiri McAllan asked Ofcom chief Melanie Dawes and Scotland director Glenn Preston to review the proposed shutdown, calling it “wholly unacceptable” and saying an online-only channel would reverse gains in Scotland’s visibility and representation.
- BBC announced last week that the linear BBC Scotland channel, BBC Three and Radio 4 Extra would move online as part of £500m in savings by 2028; its wider programme includes 1,800–2,000 job cuts, almost one in 10, after 550 cuts announced in June.
- BBC Scotland’s planned closure of the nightly News at Seven is expected to involve about 10 job cuts in addition to 60 cuts announced earlier this year; McAllan called the reduction in nationally relevant journalism “totally unacceptable.”
- McAllan also highlighted a disparity in indigenous-language broadcasting and what she called the “total absence” of Commonwealth Games coverage on BBC One Scotland.
- BBC says Scotland’s Home of the Year, Murder Case, Inside Barlinnie, the Scottish Cup Final and Hogmanay will remain available online or on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland, while Reporting Scotland will remain unchanged on BBC One, radio or online.
- Ofcom said it will engage with the BBC over its public-service mission and respond to McAllan, but it cannot compel the BBC to provide a particular linear broadcast service; the Scottish government cannot stop the move because broadcasting is a Westminster matter.
Why it matters: McAllan says an online-only BBC Scotland would reverse gains in Scottish visibility and warns that viewers less likely to use online platforms would be disproportionately affected. The News at Seven closure is expected to bring about 10 job cuts on top of 60 already announced, while Ofcom cannot itself restore the linear service.
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