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Independence for Scots may close off BBC, says Gordon Brown Independence for Scots may close off BBC, says Gordon Brown
(about 17 hours later)
Gordon Brown has warned that Scottish families face losing their favourite BBC programmes or paying far more for watching EastEnders or Strictly Come Dancing if Scotland becomes independent.Gordon Brown has warned that Scottish families face losing their favourite BBC programmes or paying far more for watching EastEnders or Strictly Come Dancing if Scotland becomes independent.
The former prime minister said Scottish households were able to share in the BBC television shows, radio and news services that cost nearly £4bn to produce each year, while paying little more than £300m in licence fees.The former prime minister said Scottish households were able to share in the BBC television shows, radio and news services that cost nearly £4bn to produce each year, while paying little more than £300m in licence fees.
In a renewed attack on the economics of independence, Brown estimated the BBC's six most popular shows, including Match of the Day, cost more than £160m a year to make – which would be nearly half the likely budget of an independent Scottish broadcasting corporation.In a renewed attack on the economics of independence, Brown estimated the BBC's six most popular shows, including Match of the Day, cost more than £160m a year to make – which would be nearly half the likely budget of an independent Scottish broadcasting corporation.
"The truth is that the BBC is one of many areas – from pensions and healthcare to jobs and defence – where we benefit from the wider pool of funds that allows us to do more and to offer greater benefits than a smaller population base gives us," he is due to tell an audience Thursday evening."The truth is that the BBC is one of many areas – from pensions and healthcare to jobs and defence – where we benefit from the wider pool of funds that allows us to do more and to offer greater benefits than a smaller population base gives us," he is due to tell an audience Thursday evening.
The Voice talent show cost £22m a year to produce, EastEnders £30m and Strictly Come Dancing £10m – figures derived from official reports and the media. Quality dramas cost £1m per hour. Match of the Day, a show with more Scottish viewers than Sportscene, the BBC Scotland alternative, cost about £60m in broadcasting rights alone, excluding production costs.The Voice talent show cost £22m a year to produce, EastEnders £30m and Strictly Come Dancing £10m – figures derived from official reports and the media. Quality dramas cost £1m per hour. Match of the Day, a show with more Scottish viewers than Sportscene, the BBC Scotland alternative, cost about £60m in broadcasting rights alone, excluding production costs.
Brown's aides estimated the cost of the top six shows was equivalent to only £7 a year for all 25m British households. BBC1 cost £900m a year – three times the proceeds of the Scottish licence fee and nearly three times the £345m budget proposed for a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation set up after independence.Brown's aides estimated the cost of the top six shows was equivalent to only £7 a year for all 25m British households. BBC1 cost £900m a year – three times the proceeds of the Scottish licence fee and nearly three times the £345m budget proposed for a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation set up after independence.
The BBC spent £200m in Scotland , implying that Scottish licence payers contributed only £100m into the corporation's pan-UK programming.The BBC spent £200m in Scotland , implying that Scottish licence payers contributed only £100m into the corporation's pan-UK programming.
Ministers believe that the fate of the BBC is one of the most sensitive subjects in the independence referendum: the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey found 86% of voters wanted to keep the BBC intact after independence.Ministers believe that the fate of the BBC is one of the most sensitive subjects in the independence referendum: the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey found 86% of voters wanted to keep the BBC intact after independence.
The corporation was specifically mentioned in a Scotland Office information booklet supporting the UK, What staying in the United Kingdom means for Scotland, which is being sent to all 2.5m Scottish households this month.The corporation was specifically mentioned in a Scotland Office information booklet supporting the UK, What staying in the United Kingdom means for Scotland, which is being sent to all 2.5m Scottish households this month.
The BBC has refused to publish budgets, programme costs or viewing figures, insisting it is commercially confidential and subject to a freedom of information act exemption. The corporation also refuses to discuss the implications of independence on its future in Scotland, arguing that is a matter for UK and Scottish ministers.The BBC has refused to publish budgets, programme costs or viewing figures, insisting it is commercially confidential and subject to a freedom of information act exemption. The corporation also refuses to discuss the implications of independence on its future in Scotland, arguing that is a matter for UK and Scottish ministers.
Brown's analysis also preempts an official report on the impact of independence and broadcasting from the UK government, which has been substantially delayed by the resignation of the culture secretary Maria Miller.Brown's analysis also preempts an official report on the impact of independence and broadcasting from the UK government, which has been substantially delayed by the resignation of the culture secretary Maria Miller.
Sajid Khan, her replacement at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has dropped that programme of work leading to a planned UK government report on numerous pan-UK institutions, such as the BBC and the National Lottery, being scrapped. Sajid Javid, her replacement at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has dropped that programme of work leading to a planned UK government report on numerous pan-UK institutions, such as the BBC and the National Lottery, being scrapped.
The Scotland Office is now planning to publish smaller papers on the BBC and lottery in coming weeks.The Scotland Office is now planning to publish smaller papers on the BBC and lottery in coming weeks.
Brown said that, in the advent of independence, a Scottish state broadcaster would either have to raise the licence fee, raise extra money via advertising or get a hefty subsidy to broadcast significant programming.Brown said that, in the advent of independence, a Scottish state broadcaster would either have to raise the licence fee, raise extra money via advertising or get a hefty subsidy to broadcast significant programming.
Ireland's deal to screen some BBC programmes only allowed Irish viewers to see a limited number of shows on iPlayer for €7.99 a month. Studies by the company Enders Analysis and Atholl Duncan, a former BBC Scotland executive, suggested the SBC's proposed £345m budget was far too low.Ireland's deal to screen some BBC programmes only allowed Irish viewers to see a limited number of shows on iPlayer for €7.99 a month. Studies by the company Enders Analysis and Atholl Duncan, a former BBC Scotland executive, suggested the SBC's proposed £345m budget was far too low.
"If a separate Scottish broadcasting service – such as that proposed by the SNP under independence – tried to both preserve existing Scottish content and produce new popular programmes it would quickly exceed the £300m licence fee income," Brown said. "This would inevitably result in either a significantly higher licence fee, such as that in some northern European countries, the need for broadcast advertising on the state broadcaster as in Ireland, or in the government having to subsidise the Scottish broadcasting service."A spokesman for the Scottish government said: "Given that the no campaign has already been criticised for making the ridiculous claim that we wouldn't be able to watch Doctor Who in an independent Scotland – at the very same time as the latest episode was being shown in dozens of countries around the world – it seems ill-advised for them to return to this theme."If a separate Scottish broadcasting service – such as that proposed by the SNP under independence – tried to both preserve existing Scottish content and produce new popular programmes it would quickly exceed the £300m licence fee income," Brown said. "This would inevitably result in either a significantly higher licence fee, such as that in some northern European countries, the need for broadcast advertising on the state broadcaster as in Ireland, or in the government having to subsidise the Scottish broadcasting service."A spokesman for the Scottish government said: "Given that the no campaign has already been criticised for making the ridiculous claim that we wouldn't be able to watch Doctor Who in an independent Scotland – at the very same time as the latest episode was being shown in dozens of countries around the world – it seems ill-advised for them to return to this theme.
"Currently £320m in licence fees are raised annually in Scotland, but continued cuts to BBC Scotland by the UK government mean that it plans to spend only around £174m in 2016/17."Currently £320m in licence fees are raised annually in Scotland, but continued cuts to BBC Scotland by the UK government mean that it plans to spend only around £174m in 2016/17.
"With independence, all of that money could be spent on programmes Scottish viewers want to watch. Scottish viewers and listeners would continue to have access to all their current channels and all their current favourite programmes, from Strictly to EastEnders, with no additional costs.""With independence, all of that money could be spent on programmes Scottish viewers want to watch. Scottish viewers and listeners would continue to have access to all their current channels and all their current favourite programmes, from Strictly to EastEnders, with no additional costs."
• This article was amended on 13 June 2014. The earlier version misnamed Sajid Javid as Sajid Khan.