I hope STV has a disclaimer pointing out that Most of the debate is about English only issues
Why a "disclaimer"? Whoever wins the election will have overall power in the nations regardless of the powers they have devolved to the national assemblies. One of these three people will become Prime Minister of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and therefore their views and opinions should matter to those in the nations.
I hope STV has a disclaimer pointing out that Most of the debate is about English only issues
Why a "disclaimer"? Whoever wins the election will have overall power in the nations regardless of the powers they have devolved to the national assemblies. One of these three people will become Prime Minister of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and therefore their views and opinions should matter to those in the nations.
There have JUST done this, and pointed out that "Law and Crime" Questions will not effect Scotland!
The first Scottish debate takes place tonight at 9pm and as well as being screened on STV is also being screened on ITV1 Border. A few queries for our Borders friends out of interest:
a) Is it being shown throughout the whole region or just the Scotland area?
b) What's happening to the programme it's replacing? Timeshfited or just ditched?
c) Is the region getting the rest of the Scottish political programming during the election period?
BBC sidelining Sky election debate to avoid more Nick Griffin interviews
The BBC is resisting calls to screen tonight's election debate live on BBC1 or BBC2 because executives believe strict impartiality rules would force them to hand more airtime to BNP leader Nick Griffin if it did so.
BBC executives are worried that could prompt a revolt among senior journalists, many of whom are opposed to the amount of coverage the corporation has already devoted to Griffin.
Sky News, which will host the second debate in Bristol, has made the rights available to rival broadcasters, but the BBC has chosen to simulcast it only on BBC News 24. It will also be simulcast on Radio 4 and repeated on BBC2 at 11.30pm.
Surely that's bollocks. If they couldn't show it live to avoid 'impartiality' issues, why can they still show it at 11.30?
Surely it's more to do with Sky having the exclusive "first showing" of it on Sky News, which was part of the agreement between the BBC, ITV and SKY in the first place; and the BBC can simulcast it in the public service interest?
Surely that's ****. If they couldn't show it live to avoid 'impartiality' issues, why can they still show it at 11.30?
Surely it's more to do with Sky having the exclusive "first showing" of it on Sky News, which was part of the agreement between the BBC, ITV and SKY in the first place; and the BBC can simulcast it in the public service interest?
Actually only ITV wished to have live exclusivity, BBC and Sky agreed to offer it as simulcast. Except the BBC have their excuse not to show it live on their main channels, allowing it on BBC News Channel and Radio 4 as "News Content"
Not sure what ITV and Channel 4's excuses are. Remember the more viewers Sky can muster, the more their brand will be "legitimised" in the same role as BBC News and ITN, for terrestrial viewers.
Actually only ITV wished to have live exclusivity, BBC and Sky agreed to offer it as simulcast. Except the BBC have their excuse not to show it live on their main channels, allowing it on BBC News Channel and Radio 4 as "News Content"
Well I suppose there's the risk that some people who don't have digital would be excluded from seeing it, but if it's being repeated then it doesn't matter anyway.
Not sure what ITV and Channel 4's excuses are. Remember the more viewers Sky can muster, the more their brand will be "legitimised" in the same role as BBC News and ITN, for terrestrial viewers.
Perhaps that's their excuse, I hadn't thought of that. If ITV and C4, and indeed the BBC quietly ignore Sky's live broadcast, and then show it later either as a repeat or highlights in their bulletins, then it reduces the proliferation of the sky brand, perhaps.
Adam Boulton seems to be rephrasing the audience member's questions before asking one of the leaders to answer. Did Alistair Stewart do that? Its quite annoying.
Adam Boulton is no Alistair Stewart, that's for sure. So far I preferred the ITV debate, not because of the novelty factor but the studio, atmosphere and the speed Stewart made it go at seemed far more suitable.