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BBC's Clyde HQ 'heralds new era' BBC chief in pledge to Scotland
(about 2 hours later)
The opening of BBC Scotland's new £180m headquarters in Glasgow heralds a new era for the corporation, according to the chairman of the BBC Trust. The director general of the BBC has told a gathering which included Prime Minister Gordon Brown that Scotland-made programmes "must grow".
Sir Michael Lyons said the BBC was addressing claims that it has been too "London-centric" in the past. At the opening of BBC Scotland's new pacific Quay HQ in Glasgow, Mark Thompson said it was vital to look outside London for new programming.
The chairman said the new state-of-the art building at Pacific Quay was evidence that "things are changing". The announcement came after First Minister Alex Salmond called the BBC "hideously White City".
Sir Michael was speaking ahead of the official opening of Pacific Quay by BBC Director General Mark Thompson. In his address, the prime minister said he was delighted to be at the opening.
Mr Thompson told the hundreds of staff gathered for Thursday's ceremony: "We're already committed to raising network deliveries from the nations to at least 17% of relevant output as part of our wider strategy of shifting the weight of our operations and our investment out of London and the south east of England and towards audiences and talent in the other nations and regions.
We want to go on faithfully telling Scotland's story Mark ThompsonBBC Director General
"Network deliveries from BBC Scotland not only can but must grow to at least its proportion of the UK population - though I regard that as a floor rather than any kind of ceiling."
Mr Thomson said future plans at the new £180m HQ would include:
  • Relaunching a number of existing programme titles at Pacific Quay
  • Commissioning more fresh ideas from Scottish programme-makers
  • More Scottish-based drama
  • Additional network comedy hits like Still Game
  • More entertainment, children's programmes and more specialist factual programmes
  • A boost to network radio and multimedia production.
    • Mr Thompson added: "This building will also be the headquarters of our services to the Scottish public - both existing ones and our new ideas, like our plans to use the web and broadband to transform our coverage of and connections with Scotland's diverse and distinctive regions.
    "Indeed it's going to be the main base for BBC Scotland's journalism as a whole, transformed by technology but still grounded in conviction and expertise and an old-fashioned commitment to qualities like fairness and impartiality.
    "We want to go on faithfully telling Scotland's story. We want to go on being one of the main meeting-places where Scots come together to discuss their future."
    The new Pacific Quay has been officially opened
    Earlier, Sir Michael Lyons of the BBC trust said the new building heralded a new era for the corporation, answering criticisms that the BBC has been too "London-centric".
    He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "This is not a new issue - historically most of the BBC's buildings and infrastructure are in London - but that's changing.He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "This is not a new issue - historically most of the BBC's buildings and infrastructure are in London - but that's changing.
    "This extraordinary building at Pacific Quay is visible evidence of it.""This extraordinary building at Pacific Quay is visible evidence of it."
    Sir Michael said the BBC has set targets to increase the number of programmes that it buys from nations and regions in the UK.Sir Michael said the BBC has set targets to increase the number of programmes that it buys from nations and regions in the UK.
    However, he stressed that programme makers in Scotland must rise to the challenge.However, he stressed that programme makers in Scotland must rise to the challenge.
    First meeting
    "Nobody argues that things are right at the moment," he said."Nobody argues that things are right at the moment," he said.
    Annual budget
    "People have got to perform. But I'm confident that Scotland is capable of producing those ideas.""People have got to perform. But I'm confident that Scotland is capable of producing those ideas."
    A body has been set up by the Scottish Government to examine broadcasting in Scotland amid concerns about a low level of Scottish programmes on network TV.A body has been set up by the Scottish Government to examine broadcasting in Scotland amid concerns about a low level of Scottish programmes on network TV.
    The commission will hold its first meeting next month.The commission will hold its first meeting next month.
    When First Minister Alex Salmond announced its creation, he criticised broadcasters for claiming that an average of 3% of their annual budget was spent on television production in Scotland because of a lack of talent and ideas.When First Minister Alex Salmond announced its creation, he criticised broadcasters for claiming that an average of 3% of their annual budget was spent on television production in Scotland because of a lack of talent and ideas.
    Mr Salmond also called the BBC "hideously White City".
    Sir Michael told BBC Radio Scotland that the move to the £180m building could have "implications for staffing levels".
    "New technology makes having fewer staff possible," he said.