The BBC’s decision to close its dedicated Scotland television channel has provoked strong criticism from both the SNP and Scottish Greens, with warnings about the future of Scottish broadcasting, jobs and access to public service television.

The corporation announced on Tuesday 20 October that BBC Scotland will stop broadcasting as a conventional television channel in spring 2027, with its programming moving to BBC iPlayer and selected programmes continuing on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland.

The decision forms part of wider BBC plans to make £500 million in savings, with BBC Three and Radio 4 Extra also losing their traditional broadcast services.

Launched in February 2019, BBC Scotland was intended to provide a dedicated home for Scottish news, culture, entertainment and sport.

Its closure will also mean the end of the Reporting Scotland News at Seven bulletin, while around 10 additional jobs in Scotland are expected to go.

The SNP has accused the BBC’s London leadership of failing to recognise the importance of Scottish broadcasting.

SNP MSP Alex Kerr said:

“BBC chiefs in London must rethink this appalling decision which sums up the organisation’s disdain for Scottish broadcasting and our journalists.

“Those same BBC overlords in Westminster see spend in Scotland far below what the license fee raises here, they barely lifted a finger to cover the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and are considering wielding the axe on our cultural events too.

“Scotland has so much to showcase: our world class arts and music, stars at the height of their sports, the most exciting football league in Europe, these things aren’t important to bosses in Westminster, but they matter to us.

“The axing of the BBC Scotland channel serves to underline that through a fresh start with independence we would have the power to properly invest in our broadcasting industry and escape a Westminster system that has no desire to cater for people in Scotland.”

The Scottish Greens have raised particular concerns about viewers who cannot easily access online services.

Their culture spokesperson, Q Manivannan MSP, said:

“This is a serious blow for Scotland’s media and my solidarity is with all of the BBC workers who will be impacted by it.

“It is a backwards step that risks leaving viewers behind, and reflects a wider cultural crisis in Scotland.

“Moving away from a traditional TV channel will only make BBC Scotland less accessible, particularly for older people and those who face barriers to getting online.

“Not everyone has reliable internet access, the right devices or the confidence to navigate digital services.

“Public broadcasting should be available to everyone, not just those who are digitally connected.

“BBC Scotland has been home to excellent Scottish programming and a launchpad for a lot of creative talent.

“We should be expanding access to Scottish stories and culture, not putting up new barriers.

“There remains a significant gap between the BBC’s license fee income in Scotland and BBC’s identified spend in our country.

“License fee payers here need guarantees that money raised in Scotland is spent in Scotland.

“A move to iPlayer cannot become cover for a smaller Scottish office, and channels like BBC Alba need support to ensure their survival.

“There are big challenges facing the BBC, and there have already been cuts which have been felt.

“The Scottish Greens are ready to support the Scottish Government in advocating for the protection of Scotland’s broadcasting sector, particularly in its conversations with Westminster about the BBC’s Charter renewal next year.

“At a time when Scotland’s media is already under pressure, we need to protect inclusive, accessible public broadcasting.”

For viewers across the Highlands and Islands, the concern about digital access carries particular significance in communities where reliable broadband and familiarity with streaming services cannot always be taken for granted.

Scottish programming will not disappear entirely from traditional television, with BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland continuing to carry selected programmes, including Scottish football coverage.

The BBC argues that changing viewing habits and financial pressures require it to concentrate resources where audiences increasingly watch its programmes.

However, the loss of a dedicated broadcast channel and its evening news programme raises questions about the visibility of Scottish stories and the future opportunities available to journalists and programme makers.

With BBC Alba also central to Gaelic broadcasting across the Highlands and Islands, the wider debate over investment in Scotland’s public service media is likely to continue as the BBC approaches its next Charter renewal.