The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced plans to close BBC Three, BBC Scotland and Radio 4 Extra as broadcast channels to save £500 million over two years.

The corporation said the services would become available online, citing the need to maintain traditional broadcast schedules.

Radio 4 Extra, which airs comedy, drama and documentaries, will also cease broadcasting as a linear radio channel.

BBC Director-General Matt Brittin said the changes were necessary as the corporation faced high costs and adapted to changing audience habits.

“We need to make every pound work harder for audiences as we respond to the immediate cost pressures and reinvent the BBC for a changing world. We all know that means tough choices.”

He explained that the closure of linear broadcast services would be found where audiences already enjoy them on iPlayer and Sounds.

“While this follows media speculation, I recognise the confirmation of this news will be hard for audiences and colleagues,” he said

The BBC said BBC Scotland would remain available on BBC iPlayer, while some of its programmes would continue to air on BBC One and BBC Two in Scotland.

It added that BBC Three would continue commissioning programmes, with increased investment in content for younger audiences. The programmes would be available on BBC iPlayer and other platforms, including YouTube.

Some programmes currently broadcast on Radio 4 Extra would remain available on BBC Sounds, while its religious programme, the Daily Service, would be accessible through BBC Sounds and local radio.

The planned closures come as the BBC seeks to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs, to represent almost one in 10 of its workforce, as part of a two-year savings programme aimed at addressing significant financial pressures.