BBC to trial Scottish Six

Spain and Germany are great examples. Both countries are highly federalised. What we are witnessing on this forum is actually not really a debate about TV, but a debate about the pros and cons of federalisation. The UK is becoming increasingly federalised - in the form of city mayors in England, Assemblies, devolved parliaments, etc. For public broadcasting systems to survive, they MUST evolve and reflect shifting political structures. This is why Tory and Labour MPs - who are 100% against Scottish independence - are pushing for a Scottish 6pm. If you choose to completely ignore federalisation, you simply encourage the people to call for greater autonomy and - ultimately - independence.

It's an interesting point, because I had wondered why those MPs were so keen on this to happen. The potential flipside is that if people are used to being pointed to Glasgow for their news, then some of London's soft power diminishes. But for the sake of a one-hour news programme then immediately followed by a live show from London it's hard to see it having that much effect.

Is an argument though it is more convenient to Scots to have the main Scottish stories at 6.30pm rather than 6pm.

Indeed wouldn't be surprised if rather than a full hour a Scottish Six just saw a delayed and perhaps revised airing of the Six o'clock News at 6.30pm.

One of the options raised is for BBC Scotland to 'top and tail' the show, with London doing the national and international news. Which almost sounds more complicated than just letting Scotland get on with it, to be honest. It's not the worst scenario - presumably it would deal with the England and Wales issue and allow Scotland to raise stories normally relegated to the regional slot to prominence - but it's hard to see it pleasing anyone.

I have to say I'm coming round to the idea - esp given the comparison of Scottish versions of national newspapers, which make sense.

I wonder what formats have been trialled or are being tested? I also wonder if you retain the name 'Reporting Scotland' at all, as they would no longer be just reporting on Scotland, and people will also associate it a lot with what's come before.

Getting into pure imagination, one thought that popped into my head was this London/Glasgow split, and if you could do a Newsday style of dual presentation without it coming across as too confusing or gimmicky, with BBC Scotland having a dedicated presenter somewhere in NBH, and they switch between presenter depending on the type of story. This might even please Scottish MPs who are down there Monday to Thursday, and could be interviewed in person rather than DTLs. Would require significant resources at both ends though, so unlikely.

I just sometimes get this feeling during long opt-outs (IndyRef results, election results, even Sunday Politics and Children in Need) that I'm missing out on something when the network broadcasts one thing and Scotland does another. Maybe that's just me.

I personally believe that the BBC should have had 'National' editions of their News programming for Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland years ago. Of course there would also be National News programming for England. Yes these services will cost serious money but if the BBC wants to stay/become relevant...

What of ITV's services though? In an ever more commercial World are 'National' editions (England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland) possible?. Would Scotland have their own 6pm and 10pm programmes with Regional opt outs? Longer 'National' England programme with shorter sub-Regional opt outs (20 minutes at both 6pm & 10:40)?

Considering ever growing Devolution it's maybe surprising that Local TV isn't being pushed more. Not in it's current form though...which is largely ****.

What's up with the BBC One schedule in Scotland tonight? As they don't have a bank holiday, I thought normally they tried to make their schedule as normal as possible, but this doesn't seem to be happening today... The News at 1 is on time (as per network), but only 20 minutes long, with the local news 10 minutes in duration. The News at 6 is on time in Scotland only (6:30 network), but again only 20 minutes long, with Reporting Scotland 25 minutes long. As a result they're having to show a fifteen minute filler to get them back in step with network at 7pm. Because of the film showing tonight, the News at 10 is later, and also slashed in duration .

This is going to be fun on the BBC News Channel later then since they will have to show the teatime bulletin twice!

In the past such Scotland only nationals have gone out with the NC ticker and clock, IIRC because opting into the News Channel makes subtitles just work, whereas a feed from Studio E would complicate it.

They seem to have unnecessarily complicated things for themselves.


If they'd put 'Flog It!' at 6:30 in Eng/Wal/NI, then everyone could have taken the shorter Six at the same time.

It will look quite disjointed on the NC - but excellent for us, of course.

With cost being a major factor in everything, it would make much more sense to scrap the BBC News at One and BBC News at Six altogether.

Have One national News programme per day like in the US. Make BBC News at Ten that programme.

Allow the regional teams to put together their own News at One and News at Six, drawing on the national and international stories from the New Channel to suit the broadcast and region.

It means they wouldn't need to pay big presentation costs and if people want the core news they always have the News Channel to fall into.

No way would they scrap the Six! Scrapping the One is a little less unlikely but still can't see it happening.

There are I'm sure many people who probably never watch the Ten but always catch the Six.