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BBC chief in pledge to Scotland BBC chief in pledge to Scotland
(about 3 hours later)
The BBC's director general has backed a growth in Scottish programming as he opened its new Pacific Quay HQ.The BBC's director general has backed a growth in Scottish programming as he opened its new Pacific Quay HQ.
Mark Thompson said it was vital to look outside London for fresh ideas as he outlined BBC Scotland's plans for increasing its content.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".
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, watched by hundreds of guests and staff, officially opened the £180m building. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, watched by hundreds of guests and staff, officially opened the £188m building.
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.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.
"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."
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 BrownIt [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.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.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: Mr Thompson said future plans at the new 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. The prime minister also addressed the audience, saying he believed the building would become a design classic.
    "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."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 broadcasting commission has been set up by the Scottish Government to examine the industry in Scotland amid concerns about a low level of Scottish programmes on network TV.
    The commission will hold its first meeting next month. It 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 Mr Salmond announced its creation, he criticised broadcasters for claiming that an average of 3% of their annual budget was spent on programme making in Scotland because of a lack of talent and ideas.
    Mr Salmond said he was "delighted" with Mr Thompson's funding pledge.
    The director general has given a very strong indication that things are going to change for the better First Minister Alex Salmond
    "We established the broadcasting commission to look precisely at this and other key issues," he said.
    "One of the points I made in establishing that body is that we should look upon the proportion of population not as a ceiling but as a floor, in terms of a share of programmes for Scotland.
    "The director general has now repeated these words and has given a very strong indication that things are going to change for the better."
    Mr Salmond said that change was "of vital importance" to the Scottish economy.
    However, he said the commission was still needed to ensure the BBC "lives up to its obligations to the Scottish licence fee payers" and to examine problems in commercial broadcasting.
    The Conservative culture spokesman, Ted Brocklebank MSP, said: "It was clearly unacceptable that Scotland-made programmes had been allowed to slip back to a 3% share of network spend.
    "Hopefully Mr Thompson's assurances will go some way to countering any impression that Scotland doesn't have enough talent or ideas."