I find it very odd to launch any more channels. There's definitely not enough content to fill the amount of channels we have nationally never mind locally. Whenever you turn on the TV it's a struggle to find anything decent and not a repeat.
BBC Scotland seem to lack imagination when it comes to programmes. I totally appreciate the landscape and scenery, but don’t need someone pontificating on it every so often. I’d hate to see a Scottish six - there is no need whilst we are part of the United Kingdom. The comedy is dire and very Glasgow / Central Belt centric.
The only advantage of the channel is less ( no ) disruption to the BBC Two schedule. What would annoy me would be programmes being repeated from the new channel on BBC One.
I also agree that they need to put an end to River City and invest the money elsewhere. When it started we were told that if it was a success it would be broadcast in the UK after a year. How long has it been on now?
I find it very odd to launch any more channels. There's definitely not enough content to fill the amount of channels we have nationally never mind locally. Whenever you turn on the TV it's a struggle to find anything decent and not a repeat.
I think it a bit of smoke and mirrors. Launching a channel which is uniquely Scottish will pacify some in Scotland who think the BBC is too English.
Last edited by Richard on 18 October 2018 4:40pm
JM
JamesM0984
With the savings the BBC need to make, spending money on a channel where a fierce campaign for independence from the Union rages on (or more accurately, be a puppet state of Brussels rather than Westminster) is just baffling.
In the case of River City - with the way BBC Two struggles to even fill a schedule these days, surely even a daytime outing on the network (even if X amount of time behind Scotland a la Aussie soaps) wouldn't hurt?
Why not have a Scottish Six? If Wales and NI want them too, let them. Then whack on a repeat at 6.30pm that England can opt out of for the regional news.
Finally, if BBC Two Scotland is to be no more, what happens when BBC One Scotland needs to opt out of network, which in the past has usually involved showing the displaced network shows on BBC Two Scotland?
Finally, if BBC Two Scotland is to be no more, what happens when BBC One Scotland needs to opt out of network, which in the past has usually involved showing the displaced network shows on BBC Two Scotland?
Most likely that BBC One would stick with network and they would just use BBC Scotland to show the local 'opt' instead.
The creation of this new BBC Scotland channel reminds me of how S4C became a standalone channel, separating S4C Digidol from its parent S4C/C4 hybrid analogue mess.
Allowing the full BBC Two primetime schedule to go out unmolested is surely a net benefit to the people of Scotland. I've read on these boards many times over the years that the phrase 'except for viewers in Scotland' is a regular annoyance.
This seems like a worthwhile endeavour to fix the BBC Two network vs nation scheduling conflict while preserving and even growing Scottish content. I wish the English regions (and the other nations) could have the same attention.
It would be good if we could continue discussing matters like this without bringing snarky political comments into things. There's a time and a place to impose your political views about Brexit, and it's called Digital Spy. (that isn't directed at any particular poster, I've just seen it in various posts on different threads)
I agree there's an element of smoke and mirrors here if you compare what the BBC is offering versus what it currently provides. The new channel will basically offer the Scottish Six at a different time on a different channel (because of political/logistical reasons), some shows that otherwise would presumably have been on BBC Two Scotland, a few first-look shows (River City will be premiered on it) and presumably a few other low-budget shows.
It's good Scotland's getting it but I don't think it's going to be a cause of huge jealousy to most of the country. And I worry quite how successful BBC Scotland will be in getting people to make the switch, especially when the flagship news show will be on at a time when the country is used to top-level drama. It's been scheduled there because it's when network doesn't need access to correspondents rather than it being the best time for viewers.
I've read on these boards many times over the years that the phrase 'except for viewers in Scotland' is a regular annoyance.
Ironically, however, the current set up allows BBC 1 and 2 Scotland continuity to promote programmes on the other channel correctly.
With the loss of BBC 2 Scotland, BBC 2 Network
would
have to use the phrase “Not for viewers in Scotland” or similar when promoting a BBC 1 programme not showing north of the border.
This seems like a worthwhile endeavour to fix the BBC Two network vs nation scheduling conflict while preserving and even growing Scottish content. I wish the English regions (and the other nations) could have the same attention.
It is an entirely unsexy and expensive area to tackle, but with commercial broadcasting becoming ever more networked it strikes me that the BBC has an opportunity to make sure the whole UK is represented and invest more in non-London broadcasting. Whether that be local programming which is of particular interest to that area, or actually finding gems from across the country which could work nationally. Because there will be shows that could work across the UK which are being missed: was there not one found by a TV critic from BBC Wales/S4C recently?
This seems like a worthwhile endeavour to fix the BBC Two network vs nation scheduling conflict while preserving and even growing Scottish content. I wish the English regions (and the other nations) could have the same attention.
It is an entirely unsexy and expensive area to tackle, but with commercial broadcasting becoming ever more networked it strikes me that the BBC has an opportunity to make sure the whole UK is represented and invest more in non-London broadcasting. Whether that be local programming which is of particular interest to that area, or actually finding gems from across the country which could work nationally. Because there will be shows that could work across the UK which are being missed: was there not one found by a TV critic from BBC Wales/S4C recently?
I always thought investing the money spent on the move to Salford to produce more network and non-news regional programming in the existing regional centres would have resulted in the BBC representing the whole country far better and would have helped counter ITV’s centralisation.
But that ship’s sailed (probably up the Manchester Ship Canal).
The creation of this new BBC Scotland channel reminds me of how S4C became a standalone channel, separating S4C Digidol from its parent S4C/C4 hybrid analogue mess.
Allowing the full BBC Two primetime schedule to go out unmolested is surely a net benefit to the people of Scotland. I've read on these boards many times over the years that the phrase 'except for viewers in Scotland' is a regular annoyance.
This seems like a worthwhile endeavour to fix the BBC Two network vs nation scheduling conflict while preserving and even growing Scottish content. I wish the English regions (and the other nations) could have the same attention.
I see where you're coming from but here in Wales genuinely do think most of the time the local opt outs on BBC1 Wales (apart from the rugby on Fridays and Sundays there isn't a huge amount on BBC2 now) more interesting than the network programmes. That said though BBC Wales seems relatively strong of late programming wise. - not so sure the same can be said of Scotland
The creation of this new BBC Scotland channel reminds me of how S4C became a standalone channel, separating S4C Digidol from its parent S4C/C4 hybrid analogue mess.
Allowing the full BBC Two primetime schedule to go out unmolested is surely a net benefit to the people of Scotland. I've read on these boards many times over the years that the phrase 'except for viewers in Scotland' is a regular annoyance.
This seems like a worthwhile endeavour to fix the BBC Two network vs nation scheduling conflict while preserving and even growing Scottish content. I wish the English regions (and the other nations) could have the same attention.
I see where you're coming from but here in Wales genuinely do think most of the time the local opt outs on BBC1 Wales (apart from the rugby on Fridays and Sundays there isn't a huge amount on BBC2 now) more interesting than the network programmes. That said though BBC Wales seems relatively strong of late programming wise. - not so sure the same can be said of Scotland
No, the same can definitely not be said of BBC Scotland. In regards to the schedule, I agree it will be a massive bonus not to have a look where programmes have been punted to by BBC Scotland. Thursday nights have always been an issue since the days of Gaelic programmes, and now they completely spoil the runs of Great British Menu / Family Cooking Showdown.
I’ve said previously it’s a bit insulting to Reporting Scotland to call the new news programme the “ flagship “ programme. In agreement with others earlier in this thread, I can’t see who’s going to flick over from the other channels to see this news. Newsnight Scotland was just an annoyance and Scotland 2014 / 2015 disappeared with good reason. The main one being nobody really watched.