This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/feb/29/how-would-the-bbc-be-divided-if-scotland-became-independent

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
How would the BBC be divided if Scotland became independent? How would the BBC be divided if Scotland became independent?
(about 2 hours later)
8.30am: The future of the BBC if Scotland became independent is likely to be one of the major issues in the referendum campaign, not because its costs are great or lives depend on it, but because the BBC is seen as one of the great "British" institutions.8.30am: The future of the BBC if Scotland became independent is likely to be one of the major issues in the referendum campaign, not because its costs are great or lives depend on it, but because the BBC is seen as one of the great "British" institutions.
The national broadcaster is identified by critics of independence as a great unifier for the UK's nations and regions, as an institution which helps bind Britain's citizens into a common family. Indeed its father figure was a Scot, Lord Reith, who established the corporation as a public service broadcaster.The national broadcaster is identified by critics of independence as a great unifier for the UK's nations and regions, as an institution which helps bind Britain's citizens into a common family. Indeed its father figure was a Scot, Lord Reith, who established the corporation as a public service broadcaster.
While critical about its programming about Scotland and lack of control by the Scottish parliament, the Scottish National party is sensitive to the BBC's iconic status and its popularity. It insists that after independence Scottish audiences would continue to see Strictly Come Dancing and EastEnders as they do now. It wants to put the BBC on a similar footing to the issues of keeping the Queen as head of state, sterling and the Bank of England.While critical about its programming about Scotland and lack of control by the Scottish parliament, the Scottish National party is sensitive to the BBC's iconic status and its popularity. It insists that after independence Scottish audiences would continue to see Strictly Come Dancing and EastEnders as they do now. It wants to put the BBC on a similar footing to the issues of keeping the Queen as head of state, sterling and the Bank of England.
In its recent manifesto for independence, Your Scotland, Your Future, the SNP suggests the BBC would continue in Scotland, but under Scottish control:In its recent manifesto for independence, Your Scotland, Your Future, the SNP suggests the BBC would continue in Scotland, but under Scottish control:
BBC Scotland's services would continue with the same staff and assets, but with a management that would be charged with responsibility for reflecting Scottish life, culture and interests. [But] it wouldn't operate in a vacuum – far from it, in fact.BBC Scotland's services would continue with the same staff and assets, but with a management that would be charged with responsibility for reflecting Scottish life, culture and interests. [But] it wouldn't operate in a vacuum – far from it, in fact.
We will be able to access programmes from around the globe, just as we do now, including the BBC, ITV and the many cable and satellite channels, meaning Scottish viewers will continue to receive popular programmes such as EastEnders, the X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing. These programmes are all available in Ireland, for example.We will be able to access programmes from around the globe, just as we do now, including the BBC, ITV and the many cable and satellite channels, meaning Scottish viewers will continue to receive popular programmes such as EastEnders, the X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing. These programmes are all available in Ireland, for example.
But this raises numerous questions: how would the BBC take on a new role in an independent Scotland? Could it be split up and its Scottish assets given straight over to a new Scottish broadcasting service? How would it be funded? What about Scotland's "share" of UK-level BBC assets and programming outside Scotland? What would happen to the BBC's local coverage and its website? How would Scottish audiences see all the BBC's channels and programmes, such as Strictly, or BBC3, or the Today programme, not made in Scotland?But this raises numerous questions: how would the BBC take on a new role in an independent Scotland? Could it be split up and its Scottish assets given straight over to a new Scottish broadcasting service? How would it be funded? What about Scotland's "share" of UK-level BBC assets and programming outside Scotland? What would happen to the BBC's local coverage and its website? How would Scottish audiences see all the BBC's channels and programmes, such as Strictly, or BBC3, or the Today programme, not made in Scotland?
The Scottish government's current policy is to set up a wholly new Scottish public service broadcaster. It is drafting detailed proposals on all aspects of broadcasting for publication in a white paper on independence in November 2013.The Scottish government's current policy is to set up a wholly new Scottish public service broadcaster. It is drafting detailed proposals on all aspects of broadcasting for publication in a white paper on independence in November 2013.
In 2009, in its National Conversation document on independence, it said:In 2009, in its National Conversation document on independence, it said:
An independent Scotland should not lose the range and quality of broadcasting options received currently... [For] example, Scotland should continue to access BBC and other broadcasters from the United Kingdom and there should be no obstacles to Freeview, satellite and cable services being available in Scotland on a similar basis to now.An independent Scotland should not lose the range and quality of broadcasting options received currently... [For] example, Scotland should continue to access BBC and other broadcasters from the United Kingdom and there should be no obstacles to Freeview, satellite and cable services being available in Scotland on a similar basis to now.
It was more equivocal than the SNP document, saying the new national broadcaster would be based "initially" on BBC Scotland's existing staff and assets. There are several funding options: the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, which in 2008 looked at total devolution of broadcasting to Scotland but not at independence, said a new Scottish digital channel would be not-for-profit but funded with mix of licence fee, advertising and state subsidy.It was more equivocal than the SNP document, saying the new national broadcaster would be based "initially" on BBC Scotland's existing staff and assets. There are several funding options: the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, which in 2008 looked at total devolution of broadcasting to Scotland but not at independence, said a new Scottish digital channel would be not-for-profit but funded with mix of licence fee, advertising and state subsidy.
But so far there has been no agreement between the Scottish and UK governments, or with the BBC, the regulator Ofcom, or the broadcasting unions, on whether these plans for the BBC are feasible or how that would work. The Scottish government says there have been discussions between it and the BBC and Ofcom, but has not provided details.But so far there has been no agreement between the Scottish and UK governments, or with the BBC, the regulator Ofcom, or the broadcasting unions, on whether these plans for the BBC are feasible or how that would work. The Scottish government says there have been discussions between it and the BBC and Ofcom, but has not provided details.
The BBC operates four distinct services in Scotland: it has Scotland-only opt outs for BBC1 and BBC2, which includes programmes such as Reporting Scotland and Newsnight Scotland, River City, Sportscene and Gary: Tank Commander, and Beechgrove Garden, and the BBC Alba, the Gaelic TV channel run in partnership with MG Alba. It has BBC Radio Scotland and the Gaelic radio service Radio nan Gaidheal. In addition, it runs a large BBC Scotland online news and entertainment service on its website.The BBC operates four distinct services in Scotland: it has Scotland-only opt outs for BBC1 and BBC2, which includes programmes such as Reporting Scotland and Newsnight Scotland, River City, Sportscene and Gary: Tank Commander, and Beechgrove Garden, and the BBC Alba, the Gaelic TV channel run in partnership with MG Alba. It has BBC Radio Scotland and the Gaelic radio service Radio nan Gaidheal. In addition, it runs a large BBC Scotland online news and entertainment service on its website.
We asked the BBC for the costs and size of its operations in Scotland. It said its Scotland-only budget is £102m, to be cut to £86m by 2017 because of the licence fee freeze. This covers a staff of 1,000 people and 250 on fixed term or casual contracts. That figure does not include the £70m to £75m of "network business" that it generates from the rest of the corporation or outside it.We asked the BBC for the costs and size of its operations in Scotland. It said its Scotland-only budget is £102m, to be cut to £86m by 2017 because of the licence fee freeze. This covers a staff of 1,000 people and 250 on fixed term or casual contracts. That figure does not include the £70m to £75m of "network business" that it generates from the rest of the corporation or outside it.
The BBC has relocated the soap Waterloo Road to Glasgow, bringing 200 jobs and £20m of general spending, as well as Question Time. It said the "network spend" in Scotland is now 8% of total BBC spending, exceeding a 6.1% interim spending target for 2012 set by BBC director general Mark Thompson, after Scottish government complaints about poor investment in Scotland.The BBC has relocated the soap Waterloo Road to Glasgow, bringing 200 jobs and £20m of general spending, as well as Question Time. It said the "network spend" in Scotland is now 8% of total BBC spending, exceeding a 6.1% interim spending target for 2012 set by BBC director general Mark Thompson, after Scottish government complaints about poor investment in Scotland.
The £102m does not include BBC Scotland's recently built £188m digital broadcasting centre and headquarters at Pacific Quay. It also controls offices across Scotland. Nor does not include the costs of other BBC channels and programmes made outside Scotland, such as general BBC1 programming, BBC3, BBC4 or the main radio stations, and new services like Radio 6Music or 5Live. The BBC is viewed and listened to widely in Scotland, but it did not provide Scottish audience figures for these channels.The £102m does not include BBC Scotland's recently built £188m digital broadcasting centre and headquarters at Pacific Quay. It also controls offices across Scotland. Nor does not include the costs of other BBC channels and programmes made outside Scotland, such as general BBC1 programming, BBC3, BBC4 or the main radio stations, and new services like Radio 6Music or 5Live. The BBC is viewed and listened to widely in Scotland, but it did not provide Scottish audience figures for these channels.
What could the options be?What could the options be?
The most far-reaching would be for an independent Scotland to sever its links to the BBC entirely, and set up a new state broadcasting network. That would mean BBC audiences would have to subscribe to Sky or cable services which included BBC channels in their packages. Scotland would raise its own licence fee, and operate its own spectrum, transmitters and broadcasting authority.The most far-reaching would be for an independent Scotland to sever its links to the BBC entirely, and set up a new state broadcasting network. That would mean BBC audiences would have to subscribe to Sky or cable services which included BBC channels in their packages. Scotland would raise its own licence fee, and operate its own spectrum, transmitters and broadcasting authority.
But the Scottish government says its favoured model would be similar to Ireland's relations with the BBC. In 2010, the UK and Irish government's signed a new memorandum of understanding which agreed that BBC services would be available with Ireland via new digital channels, while the Gaelic Irish TV channel TG4, and RTE channels would be available in Northern Ireland in a not-for-profit joint venture.But the Scottish government says its favoured model would be similar to Ireland's relations with the BBC. In 2010, the UK and Irish government's signed a new memorandum of understanding which agreed that BBC services would be available with Ireland via new digital channels, while the Gaelic Irish TV channel TG4, and RTE channels would be available in Northern Ireland in a not-for-profit joint venture.
However, the BBC has said that BBC services in Ireland are supplied on a commercial basis, and are not free to air:However, the BBC has said that BBC services in Ireland are supplied on a commercial basis, and are not free to air:
We have commercial agreements in place for the distribution of BBC channels in the Republic of Ireland as we do in other countries, but details are confidential as they are commercially sensitive. In order to ensure all licence fee payers can receive BBC services, some element of signal overlap in border areas into the Republic of Ireland
is inevitable.
We have commercial agreements in place for the distribution of BBC channels in the Republic of Ireland as we do in other countries, but details are confidential as they are commercially sensitive. In order to ensure all licence fee payers can receive BBC services, some element of signal overlap in border areas into the Republic of Ireland
is inevitable.
So many of the proposals the Scottish government has made have not been tested or even agreed on by the BBC or the UK government. What is the best way forward, for the BBC and for Scottish voters? Could the BBC continue to be the "national" broadcaster or all parts of Britain after independence?So many of the proposals the Scottish government has made have not been tested or even agreed on by the BBC or the UK government. What is the best way forward, for the BBC and for Scottish voters? Could the BBC continue to be the "national" broadcaster or all parts of Britain after independence?
10.57am: Questions about the BBC's future role or relations with Scotland, as well as the output of a future Scottish broadcasting corporation, must also focus on the increasingly significant importance of iPads, tablets, smart phones and the internet in modern broadcasting.
So any deal by a Scottish corporation (I'll call it the SBC for simplicity for now) with the BBC, either to share BBC services or buy them in, must tackle that question to.
So, in part answer to posts by ArseneKnows and Rclayton, here's the information we have so far:
The BBC says that its iPlayer app is geo-blocked, in other words, audiences outside the UK – including in the Republic of Ireland - have to buy a subscription-only and more limited global iPlayer app. It is currently available in Ireland and 10 other EU countries costing 6.99 euros a month or 64.99 euros a year. In Australia it costs Aus$89.99 for a year and Can$84.99 in Canada.
The BBC said this:
Rather than a seven-day catch-up service, it will offer a showcase of BBC shows, old and new. Examples given include Fawlty towers, Only Fools and Horses, Sherlock and Doctor Who.
The BBC's UK news and entertainment website too is geo-blocked by IP address: passengers on the EastCoast rail service experience this. They get the BBC World news service.
The ITV version of iPlayer blocks Scottish viewers in a different way: iPad users have to enter a postcode to register for it. It will block access to ITV1 programmes if you have a Scottish postcode, because STV is separate to ITV1. It does allow Scottish viewers to see ITV2, ITV3 and CITV programmes.
It seems that STV currently only has iPhone and Android phone apps, STV Live and STV News, with limited programming; it can be used too on iPads but in iPhone format. It allows tablet and computer access to the most popular shows such as Coronation Street and Downton Abbey on its web browser-based player at http://player.stv.tv/ which shows many popular ITV1 shows such as Downton Abbey and Dancing on Ice. I'm confirming the iPad position with STV.