BBC Scotland to launch new channel

Agree with all that you've written, but my concern is that a BBC Scotland channel doesn't actually solve that problem - the main teatime bulletin will still have loads of stories that are irrelevant to Scotland; there'll just be a new channel with a new bulletin at a time when people are arguably less inclined to watch news.

They'll have to work hard for it not to be a fringe channel (Sky Scottish, anyone?).

In my opinion this just seems doomed to fail. Even though it would have been costly maybe the other Home Nations of Scotland/Wales and Northern Ireland should have got their own Breakfast programmes/13:00/18:00 and 22:00 bulletins on BBC1?

As for the English Regions, it would just be nice to see some more programming made in the Midlands for a National audience before Regional TV is looked at...the current situation is a joke.

Indeed, over the last year or so, the DG has rather effectively taken the wind out of many sails of opposition to how the BBC operates - whether you agree with the practicalities of these decisions or not.

The issue of it not becoming a fringe channel is a huge one. The channel number will contribute hugely to that, but also what BBC Scotland chooses to show there. BBC Alba has a clever tactic of using sport to get people there who otherwise probably wouldn't ever go near a Gaelic channel, and presumably simulcasting this with commentary in English would help this new channel. If they don't put the few big hitters they already have, like Still Game, in there as well they're mad.

There is a bit of a quirk in terms of how Scotland is at the moment that some people who are unionists with a capital U will not be willing to give it any goodwill. I reckon they are in the minority, but were they to be more substantial than I reckon then the station starts by losing a chunk of the viewership by default. (dare I say it, football may be the way round that again...)

I would hope there would be an element of common sense in how it's used. Opt-outs should continue on BBC One when BBC Scotland has a genuinely huge event on. This should be an addition to Scottish broadcasting, not a marginalisation of it.

Personally, I would have preferred a Scottish Six to a 9pm news hour, but the prospect of a new channel potentially is a far bigger deal. It's been a huge bugbear for me that production beyond London shouldn't just be news, as it's a waste of talent elsewhere in the UK. In theory, this presents a real opportunity for programming that could work its way up to BBC Two Scotland, BBC One Scotland, and on to network. I am aware, however, that BBC Scotland already has a ton of good stuff which has got nowhere near network, to the points where the producers have given up and have started selling stuff to Netflix, so I won't hold my breath.

I'd be interested to know where the money for all these new journalists is coming from. The cynic in me expects a further roll out of the useless "BBC Local Live" concept, freeing up the budget...

The thing for me is that I can understand the calls for a Scottish Six, but not the need for all this different programming. What's so bad about Scottish produced programmes that they can't be broadcast on network?



Why should the Midlands be prioritised over any other area of England?

Just? 55% seems a pretty good number to me.

The Midlands/Eastern England pay the most Licence Fee monies and yet gain the least from it...the Midlands should be the first English Region to be looked at.

If the BBC was flush with cash, like the days when they launched the digital radio stations, then I'd say it's an ok development.

But with the backdrop of massive cuts to core BBC services, the news channel decimated, they can't even afford to run a travel news website, it is a ridiculous decision. Where has £20m suddenly appeared from?

In reality nobody will watch the new channel. The Scottish Nine will be up against major programming on BBC1/STV so will probably get the same sort of audience as Newsnight does in Scotland which is probably no more than 100k. Any worthy Scottish documentaries or Scottish scripted content will look good in the annual report but will get tiny audiences against EastEnders etc.

Well, there's a case for programming created within a nation which is only ever going to be of interest to that nation - I point to BBC Northern Ireland's excellent political panel show The Blame Game, made by NI for NI and tackling stuff in comedy that would never trouble Have I Got News For You. And then there's programming which speaks to a particular area, and the danger is that the appeal to that country is diluted by the need to get it on network. Having said that, BBC Scotland's Still Game managed to make the transfer, albeit it is still disproportionately popular in Scotland.

However, there are other shows which could easily transfer. Limmy has a huge cult appeal across the UK, and while Burnistoun is patchy it has enough funny stuff in there to have a broader appeal. In my view the BBC should be looking more closely at programming produced within the nations - ideally within English regions as well - to see if there's anything that could go on network. After all, the BBC News Channel is sneaking on earlier and earlier these days.

They can afford to run a travel news website, it's being closed because it's supposedly treading on commercial toes.

Have mixed feelings overall about this one. The positive would be ( IMO ) if this takes away all the opt outs on BBC One / Two. However, I can't help feeling they're just playing towards the Nationalists agenda, even if they're not getting a Scottish Six.
I think Scotland 2014 etc shows that the Scottish public at large aren't that interested in another national ( as in Scottish ) news programme.
As for Scottish programmes on the network, some of BBC Scotland's output is so inward looking, or poorly made, that's probably why they don't get networked. Although not my taste, I can appreciate why Still Game is now networked ( and indeed why River City is not ).
I also agree with the earlier post that it seems a bit bizarre for Scotland to now get its fourth BBC television channel.

...and why couldn't they have spent that on a decent look for BBC 1?