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BBC chief in pledge to Scotland BBC chief in pledge to Scotland
(40 minutes later)
The director general of the BBC has told a gathering which included Prime Minister Gordon Brown that Scotland-made programmes "must grow". The BBC's director general has backed a growth in Scottish programming as he opened its new Pacific Quay HQ.
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. Mark Thompson said it was vital to look outside London for fresh ideas as he outlined BBC Scotland's plans for increasing its content.
The announcement came after First Minister Alex Salmond called the BBC "hideously White City".The announcement came after First Minister Alex Salmond called the BBC "hideously White City".
In his address, the prime minister said he was delighted to be at the opening. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, watched by hundreds of guests and staff, officially opened the £180m building.
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. Mr Thompson told those 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.""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: It [Pacific Quay] is one of the world's leading digital centres and I am for one very proud that this is happening here in Glasgow Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Currently, just over 3%, or approximately £38m, of the BBC's annual budget is spent on programme making in Scotland.
Based on Mr Thompson's pledge that would rise to 9% a year - representing about £90m, which is a growth of just over £50m.
Mr Thompson said future plans at the new £180m HQ would include:
  • Relaunching a number of existing programme titles at Pacific Quay
  • Relaunching a number of existing programme titles at Pacific Quay
  • Commissioning more fresh ideas from Scottish programme-makers
  • Commissioning more fresh ideas from Scottish programme-makers
  • More Scottish-based drama
  • More Scottish-based drama
  • Additional network comedy hits like Still Game
  • Additional network comedy hits like Still Game
  • More entertainment, children's programmes and more specialist factual programmes
  • More entertainment, children's programmes and more specialist factual programmes
  • A boost to network radio and multimedia production.
  • 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.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."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.""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 prime minister addressed the audience after Mr Thompson's speech, saying he believed the building would become a design classic.
    Mr Brown added: "It [Pacific Quay] is one of the world's leading digital centres and I am for one very proud that this is happening here in Glasgow."
    The new Pacific Quay has been officially openedThe 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".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.
    "Nobody argues that things are right at the moment," he said."Nobody argues that things are right at the moment," he said.
    Annual budgetAnnual 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.