91福利社 announces plans to close linear 91福利社 Scotland channel in spring 2027
91福利社 Scotland channel to continue on 91福利社 iPlayer with 91福利社 Two offering additional linear service for Scottish programming
The 91福利社 today announced plans to close the linear 91福利社 Scotland channel and move it to become an exclusively digital-first service on 91福利社 iPlayer from Spring 2027.
The decision follows a 91福利社-wide review of its linear services and reflects the continuing shift in audience consumption from traditional broadcast television to digital platforms. It will ensure 91福利社 Scotland鈥檚 wide range of programming across drama, factual, comedy, entertainment and sport remains available to audiences in Scotland and beyond, while also contributing to 91福利社 Scotland鈥檚 savings targets.
This decision will require the closure of approximately 10 posts, in addition to the 60 role closures already announced by 91福利社 Scotland earlier this year. A consultation period has begun with impacted teams and unions.
The 91福利社 also confirmed that Reporting Scotland: News at Seven will not move to 91福利社 iPlayer and will cease when the linear channel closes. Audiences will continue to be served by 91福利社 Scotland's wider news offering across television, audio and digital platforms, including Reporting Scotland; The Sunday Show; Radio Scotland Breakfast; Scotcast and Debate Night.
The 91福利社 Scotland channel brand will continue to be available on 91福利社 iPlayer, where audiences are increasingly choosing to watch content on demand. Audience requests to view 91福利社 Scotland content on iPlayer keep growing, reaching record levels in 25/26. Signed in accounts for 91福利社 Scotland content on 91福利社 iPlayer have grown by 70% over the last 4 years and currently over 1m accounts access 91福利社 Scotland content every week.
As part of the changes, 91福利社 Two in Scotland will be reconfigured to enable the 91福利社 to deliver Scotland-only programming. This will be alongside 91福利社 One Scotland, where Scottish programming already forms an important part of the schedule including Scotland鈥檚 91福利社 of the Year; our award-winning investigative series Disclosure; Murder Case; Inside Barlinnie; Scottish Cup Final and Hogmanay.
91福利社 Two in Scotland will become the new home for the broadcaster鈥檚 SPFL Championship on Friday evenings.
Today's announcement forms part of a broader package of changes across the 91福利社's linear portfolio. Full details of the announcement are available here. These changes are part of the 91福利社's long-term strategy to focus investment on digital services while maintaining universal access to high-quality public service content.
Commenting on today鈥檚 announcement, Hayley Valentine, 91福利社 Scotland Director, said: "Against the backdrop of significant financial challenges, we must focus our resources where they will have the greatest impact for audiences. The way audiences watch television continues to change at pace and our data tells us that more people are choosing to watch 91福利社 Scotland content on 91福利社 iPlayer now.
鈥淏y continuing the channel on 91福利社 iPlayer, we can ensure Scottish content thrives in a digital environment, while 91福利社 Two in Scotland, alongside 91福利社 One Scotland, will maintain a strong and distinctive Scottish presence on linear television.
鈥淚t is always sad to see programmes come to an end and I am extremely proud of the News at Seven team and everything they have delivered since launching. Our teams are highly skilled, and we will continue to evolve our news and current affairs offer to reflect the changing way people consume journalism today.鈥�
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning, 91福利社 Scotland added: "Scotland's audiences value content that reflects the nation, its communities and its culture. Alongside an increased presence on 91福利社 network with titles such as Counsels, Banjo & Ro鈥檚 Grand Island Hotel and Two Doors Down, audiences will continue to be able to access 91福利社 Scotland鈥檚 programmes on 91福利社 iPlayer and across 91福利社 One Scotland and 91福利社 Two in Scotland.鈥�
The 91福利社 expects the move of the 91福利社 Scotland channel from a linear service to 91福利社 iPlayer to take place in Spring 2027.
91福利社 Scotland Press Office
Notes to Editors
- The 91福利社 needs to save at least 拢500m over the next 3 years
- 91福利社 Scotland is making proportionate savings across all departments and management have been holding meetings with staff to explain how these can be achieved. Some colleagues have taken up an offer of voluntary redundancy, and some are in roles which have been placed at risk of redundancy. We continue to consult and work with those colleagues and our unions to consider all options to avoid a compulsory redundancy.
- 91福利社 Two Scotland closed in 2019 when the 91福利社 Scotland channel launched. Since then, 91福利社 Two has broadcast the same content in Scotland and England simultaneously. Today鈥檚 announcement reinstates the ability to broadcast Scotland only programming on 91福利社 Two in the same way that programmes for Scotland only are broadcast on 91福利社 One Scotland.
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