BBC Scotland is the dedicated channel for Scottish audiences, showcasing distinctive drama, entertainment, factual series and sport alongside Scottish news and current affairs. Here you can watch BBC Scotland live free of charge and follow an up-to-date daily guide that shows exactly what’s on now, what’s next and when tonight’s key programmes begin. The player loads quickly on mobile and desktop, and the listings update through the day so you can plan your viewing with confidence.
As a channel built around Scotland’s stories, BBC Scotland blends national moments with a strong regional lens. Weeknights open with Reporting Scotland: News at Seven, a concise 30-minute bulletin focused on the day’s biggest Scottish developments. Through the week you’ll also encounter the midweek discussion programme Debate Night, where politicians and public figures take questions from a live audience, and weekend football staples under the Sportscene banner with highlights and analysis from across the Scottish game. Long-running drama River City brings character-led storytelling from a Glasgow setting, while new commissions and documentaries explore culture, communities and contemporary life across the country. The exact mix changes by season, but the emphasis remains the same: Scottish voices, Scottish perspectives, and programmes that travel well beyond the Central Belt.
How to watch and where it sits on TV platforms
in Scotland the channel is easy to find on Freeview 9 (SD) and 108 (HD). On satellite and cable, Sky maps BBC Scotland HD to 115 in Scotland, while Freesat places it in the HD range (typically 106 in Scotland and 110 elsewhere in the UK). Virgin Media commonly lists the channel in Scotland’s HD range as well. If you prefer app-based viewing, the broadcaster’s own streaming service carries a live simulcast on supported devices for viewers within the UK. Availability can vary when connecting from outside the country and some devices may enforce regional settings automatically.
What today’s schedule typically looks like
the grid leans into evenings, with fresh Scottish news at 19:00 followed by lifestyle and factual series, comedy, entertainment and drama. Fridays often build into weekend sport and culture; Saturdays and Sundays bring Sportscene highlights and guest analysis. During major events—football coverage, national moments, festivals—the schedule can shift; when that happens, the “now / next / later” view on this page mirrors the broadcaster’s running order, so start times and durations remain accurate even if a live programme overruns.
Picture and playback
BBC Scotland is widely available in HD, which is why you’ll encounter it in the 100-series on most platforms. On compatible devices you should expect crisp studio output, clean graphics and smooth motion during live sport. Streaming typically trails over-the-air reception by a few seconds; that latency is normal and helps maintain stable playback on variable connections.
A quick note on licences and availability
in the UK, watching any live TV channel—on a TV service or via a streaming app—requires a TV Licence. If you only ever watch on-demand programmes (apart from the BBC’s own on-demand service), you generally won’t need one; live simulcasts are the boundary. If you’re travelling abroad, be aware that live access may be limited.
Why this page is useful
most visitors want two things immediately—a reliable live stream and today’s accurate schedule. This page puts the player first so you can start watching in seconds, and keeps the day’s listings alongside to show the current programme, what follows and tonight’s highlights at a glance. Programme summaries are concise and kept current; start times are written clearly in UK format and adjust if a live event shifts the grid. The layout is lightweight and responsive, so the experience stays fast on phones, tablets and desktop.
Start watching
press play to join BBC Scotland live now. Then scan today’s guide below to see when your programme begins—whether it’s News at Seven, a new documentary, Debate Night, Sportscene, or the latest from River City. The schedule here keeps pace with the channel so you can plan your evening precisely.
