BBC considering move to make news channel online only

Corporation understood to be looking into future of 66.2m TV channel and how live news is covered, with final decision yet to be made

The BBC is considering making its news channel online only following a similar cost-cutting move for its BBC3 TV channel, it has emerged.

Work had already started on assessing the impact of making the news channel online only before the government unveiled a surprise licence fee settlement on Monday in which the BBC will have to shoulder the full 750m cost of free licence fees for people aged over 75 by 2020.