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Salmond hits out over TV football | Salmond hits out over TV football |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Alex Salmond has criticised broadcasters such as BBC Scotland and STV for not showing Scotland's international football matches live. | Alex Salmond has criticised broadcasters such as BBC Scotland and STV for not showing Scotland's international football matches live. |
In a hard-hitting speech, the first minister said Scotland's qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup would not be shown on terrestrial channels. | In a hard-hitting speech, the first minister said Scotland's qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup would not be shown on terrestrial channels. |
He told the Royal Television Society in Glasgow that England's home matches would be shown on the BBC in Scotland. | He told the Royal Television Society in Glasgow that England's home matches would be shown on the BBC in Scotland. |
He said this was an "extraordinary and frankly unacceptable" position. | He said this was an "extraordinary and frankly unacceptable" position. |
National events | National events |
Mr Salmond said: "Let me simply say that when it comes to getting the national team back onto the screens of all our citizens - it can be done and it should be done." | |
He did not specify what action he had in mind but aides said the comments were aimed at broadcasters and the Westminster Government. | He did not specify what action he had in mind but aides said the comments were aimed at broadcasters and the Westminster Government. |
"At UK level some national sporting events like Wimbledon and the Grand National are protected," said an aide. | "At UK level some national sporting events like Wimbledon and the Grand National are protected," said an aide. |
"If the Scottish Government had legislative competence over broadcasting, we would be able to protect Scotland's qualifying games and allow millions of Scots football fans to watch the game." | "If the Scottish Government had legislative competence over broadcasting, we would be able to protect Scotland's qualifying games and allow millions of Scots football fans to watch the game." |
Mr Salmond's call came when he delivered the Campbell Swinton memorial lecture. | Mr Salmond's call came when he delivered the Campbell Swinton memorial lecture. |
Even in Scotland, the only games shown on terrestrial television will be England's home matches Alex SalmondFirst minister | Even in Scotland, the only games shown on terrestrial television will be England's home matches Alex SalmondFirst minister |
Scotland's home games in the Euro 2008 qualifiers were only broadcast live on subscription channel Sky Sports after a deal was done with the SFA. | |
None of Scotland's World Cup qualifiers for the 2010 tournament, which begins in September, will be shown live on terrestrial TV. | None of Scotland's World Cup qualifiers for the 2010 tournament, which begins in September, will be shown live on terrestrial TV. |
The home games will only be screened on Sky, with the away matches on Setanta. | The home games will only be screened on Sky, with the away matches on Setanta. |
Ewan Angus, head of sport at BBC Scotland, said: "BBC Scotland attempts to secure live rights for Scotland games where possible. | Ewan Angus, head of sport at BBC Scotland, said: "BBC Scotland attempts to secure live rights for Scotland games where possible. |
"During the European Championship campaign, for instance, we were successful in securing the rights for several of the away fixtures from individual football authorities. | "During the European Championship campaign, for instance, we were successful in securing the rights for several of the away fixtures from individual football authorities. |
"These included the matches in Italy, the Ukraine and Georgia. | "These included the matches in Italy, the Ukraine and Georgia. |
"However it is an open market which is becoming ever more competitive and we have to be mindful, as a public service broadcaster with a finite amount of money to spend on sports rights, of using the licence fee to serve all of our audiences." | "However it is an open market which is becoming ever more competitive and we have to be mindful, as a public service broadcaster with a finite amount of money to spend on sports rights, of using the licence fee to serve all of our audiences." |
'Not surprised' | 'Not surprised' |
In his speech, Mr Salmond praised Scotland's "impressive" performance in the European qualifiers. | In his speech, Mr Salmond praised Scotland's "impressive" performance in the European qualifiers. |
He said: "However, even in Scotland, the only games shown on terrestrial television will be England's home matches. | He said: "However, even in Scotland, the only games shown on terrestrial television will be England's home matches. |
"It is an extraordinary, and frankly unacceptable position. | "It is an extraordinary, and frankly unacceptable position. |
"And it reveals a carelessness in the attitudes of some broadcasters to their wider responsibilities." | "And it reveals a carelessness in the attitudes of some broadcasters to their wider responsibilities." |
Elsewhere in the lecture, Mr Salmond said his administration was "angered but not surprised" at figures last October which showed Scotland's share of total UK network production falling from 6% in 2004 to 3% in 2006. | Elsewhere in the lecture, Mr Salmond said his administration was "angered but not surprised" at figures last October which showed Scotland's share of total UK network production falling from 6% in 2004 to 3% in 2006. |
This had prompted the decision to set up a Scottish Broadcasting Commission, whose interim report he welcomed. | This had prompted the decision to set up a Scottish Broadcasting Commission, whose interim report he welcomed. |
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