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Scotland 'needs national channel' Scotland 'needs national channel'
(about 1 hour later)
Up to £75m of public money should be spent on a new, high-quality Scottish TV channel, it has been recommended.Up to £75m of public money should be spent on a new, high-quality Scottish TV channel, it has been recommended.
The Scottish Broadcasting Commission said the not-for-profit digital operation would fill a missing piece of the public service jigsaw. The Scottish Broadcasting Commission said the not-for-profit digital operation would fill a "missing piece of the public service jigsaw".
The commission, set up by the Scottish Government, also called on the BBC to review its commissioning policy for Scottish programmes.The commission, set up by the Scottish Government, also called on the BBC to review its commissioning policy for Scottish programmes.
And some broadcasting powers should also be devolved to Scotland. And it said some broadcasting powers should also be devolved to Scotland.
READ THE REPORT Scottish Broadcasting Commission final report [29KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE REPORT Scottish Broadcasting Commission final report [29KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
However, legislative powers for broadcasting should remain with the UK Government, the commission's final report stated. These would include requiring broadcasters to report to the Scottish Parliament.
The commission, chaired by former BBC news boss Blair Jenkins, was set up by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond a year ago. However, the commission's final report stated that legislative powers for broadcasting should remain with the UK Government.
The commission, chaired by former BBC news boss Blair Jenkins, made a total of 22 recommendations.
It said the digital switchover, due for completion in Scotland by 2011, should provide the vehicle for a Scottish channel featuring "high-quality information and entertainment, including news and current affairs covering Scottish and international issues, and innovative and ambitious content".
The annual budget could be between £50m and £75m, although the commission did not say where the cash should come from.
The case for such a channel and a related online presence had "strengthened considerably", said the commission in its findings.
It added: "After more than 50 years of opt-out television services, with schedulers struggling on both BBC and ITV to find decent peak-time slots for Scottish programmes, it is right to have a network based in Scotland serving audiences in Scotland."
Network commissions
The channel, the commission said, would also provide a crucial competitor for the BBC, which suffered from a "perceived lack of ambition" in Scottish productions, according to evidence collected by the body.
The BBC Trust should also ensure better news coverage of the devolved nations, and the commission also called for a review of BBC Radio Scotland - currently the only Scotland-wide broadcasting service - amid criticism that it lacked ambition and space for new ideas.
The commission said the BBC should maintain a steady 8.6% of network commissions from Scotland, with the same target for Channel 4, and consider moving BBC One, Two, Three or Four to Scotland.
The commission also expressed concern over whether ITV, which has been pursuing a more commercial agenda, would remain within the public service broadcasting framework, but recommended that STV be required to continue to produce news and current affairs for Scottish viewers.