BBC plans to replace bulletin after cutbacks approved by Ofcom

BBC Scotland is set to end its flagship news bulletin after plans to cut back peak-time news on the channel were approved by Ofcom.

BBC announced that it would be making changes to news programming in February this year.

The approved changes include replacing its hour-long Nine broadcast with a 30-minute news programme at 7pm as well as increasing investment in online news.

It comes just five years after the Nine first launched from BBC Scotland’s Pacific Quay in 2019.

On Tuesday, Ofcom approved the changes saying they were “appropriate” for the BBC’s public purposes.

The media regulator said they will be monitoring the impact of the changes and will adapt them as necessary to meet the audience’s needs.

A spokesperson for Ofcom said: “We have approved a request by the BBC to reduce the peak time news quota for the BBC Scotland channel in the BBC Operating Licence.

“We consider that the revised news quota is appropriate for requiring the BBC to fulfil its Mission and promote its Public Purposes, and that the BBC should be innovating to engage Scotland’s audiences with its news and current affairs output as their viewing behaviour evolves.

“The BBC must be transparent about how it is delivering for audiences in Scotland, and we will hold it to account.

“We expect the BBC to monitor the impact of the changes it has proposed and be ready to continue to adapt as necessary to meet audience needs.

“We will also monitor performance and will report on it in our Annual Report on the BBC next year.”