Government minister calls for review of 'unacceptable' BBC Scotland channel closure

The BBC said a wide range of its programming currently shown on the linear TV channel would be available online or on BBC One or BBC Two in Scotland.

Shows include Scotland's Home of the Year, Murder Case, Inside Barlinnie, the Scottish Cup Final and Hogmanay.

The current plans won't see any changes to BBC Scotland's main news programme Reporting Scotland, which is shown on BBC One or the broadcasters radio or online services.

After the announcement, Director of BBC Scotland, Hayley Valentine said more cuts could be on the way.

The BBC previously announced it would cut between 1,800 and 2,000 - almost one in 10 jobs - as part of measures to make £500m savings in the next two years.

In June, 550 job cuts were announced in news, nations and TV and radio content as part of its first stage of cuts.

In recent months, the BBC announced a series of closures of programmes including Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, Live At The Apollo and Football Focus.

Cuts to radio programmes have also been announced.

The broadcaster, which has about 21,500 full time employees, gets most of its income from the licence fee, but the number of TV licences sold has been declining in recent years.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: "While decisions about closing a service are a matter for the BBC Board, Ofcom's role is to hold the BBC to account for delivering its mission and public purposes.

"We will be engaging with the BBC to understand how it plans to serve audiences across the UK in light of its proposed changes and will respond to the cabinet secretary in due course."

As a public service broadcaster, the BBC's mission is "to act in the public interest, serving all audiences through the provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain".

The proposed closure of the BBC Scotland TV channel as a linear service is proving highly controversial.

Many within the TV industry saw the move as almost inevitable. Audiences for traditional broadcast television are falling and BBC funding is under huge pressure.

There was the question of whether the linear channel was sufficient value for money. Would a focus on the iPlayer and opt-outs on BBC One and BBC Two better meet the needs of audiences?

Some programmes shown on the BBC Scotland channel get more viewers when they are repeated later on BBC One Scotland.

The Scottish government's opposition to the proposal runs deep.

But it has no power to stop the move. Broadcasting is a Westminster matter.

TV regulator Ofcom helps to ensure that the BBC serves its public service purposes and serves all audiences.

But it does not have the power to simply compel the BBC to provide a particular linear broadcast service.

Its interest in this issue is likely to be more holistic.

It may, for instance, examine whether the BBC is serving Scottish audiences adequately and how the linear TV channel's closure would affect this.