BBC Scotland scheduling carnage

River City has always had a Sunday omnibus.

Without going through individual points you have made I have to say I much prefer the portfolio of Scottish programming we enjoy and watch network offerings via Virgin's catch up service. All of the programmes you claim we miss are presented there.

I get the sense that you think Scottish productions are somehow inferior to that which originates from the south.

Would that be a fair statement?

I don't think that all of them are, but the comedies seem to have their own " rep " company of actors. For some reason there comedies have a completely different " laugh " to the UK comedies.

And I've made this point before, but when River City started, BBC Scotland said at the time that if it was " successful " the rest of the UK would start seeing it within a year.

I have no problem with Gaelic, but when it takes a chunk out of a whole week then it becomes an issue.

When BBC Scotland does make good programmes, they are generally shown across the UK, such as their children's programmes.

If BBC Scotland could schedule programmes in the same slot and not disrupt the schedule randomly week on week then I would have less of a problem.

Perhaps the poorest quality programme at the moment ( IMO ) is Reporting Scotland.

There has always been a difference "laugh " in scotland

That's just the way comedy circuits operate, and it isn't new or unique to Scotland. In this case it isn't Cambridge Footlights but its the large circle of talent which came out of Karen Dunbar's show and Chewing the Fat. Effingee Productions and the Comedy Unit have produced some fantastic comedy. It is written by and for a Scottish audience. That may not be to your taste but it is for certainly a majority of the audience. Sure there are some "misses" but there is a greater proportion of "hits", and that's why something like "Dear Green Place" is getting produced. Personally I don't rate it but I'm delighted to see comedy getting every opportunity to succeed.



I don't know where you heard that but that's just not true.



I have nothing negative to say about Children's programming (being a good friend to "Nina" from the programme of the same name), but that isn't the beginning and end to Scotland's programme making skills, and as an adult Scottish viewer your faint praise isn't exactly leaving anything for me to enjoy.



I'm honestly not sure I believe that. I still think you would be happier watching network - and on the plus side you can! Just be happy that you can watch on cable or satellite while Scots like me are also catered for.



That's disappointing. Jackie always speaks so highly of you.

STV news is far better and at half the price!

Probably a lot less than half the price. Never thought I'd say this, but I agree with the above.

Incidentally, I don't think regional differences have anything to do with Karen Dunbar's show. I've never heard anyone laugh at that...

not even the kaba shop in lochgelly?

I seem to remember it being in the Radio Times. And when I've emailed BBC Scotland they have never denied saying it just that " River City is a success for Scotland "

I asked one of the cast directly during one of the "webchat" events they organised (probably a year or so after launch, if memory serves) and she said that it had never really been on the agenda as far as the production unit was concerned.

It *is* a success story for Scotland, and I understand that the large back-lot is being extended to encompass locations for a new daytime soap opera. A network replacement for Neighbours?

Who can say?

I would rather have more local programming as I am Scottish and for a long time I have felt ignored by the so called UK broadcasters.

While I think this is being changed there is still a long way to go. Take England losing the Euro qualifiers, it's all over the news programmes and being shoved down our throats but when Scotland lost, very little time devoted on the national news.

I hope the BBC continue to introduce more programmes that I as a Scottish person can relate to.

What I can't understand is Lisa McLaughlin in one breath on Points of View saying they don't want to schedule What Not To Wear at a late time because it's shown at eight o'clock on the network, yet last night Arrange Me A Marriage ( 8pm in England ) was shown at 1120pm in Scotland.

And what was the replacement? A programme called MacMusical. It almost beggars belief. ( Anyone remember Victoria Wood's McConomy sketch? )

I understand what you mean now:

I think its time that BBC Scotland was given more freedom and just clean broad with the time of programmes, I.e there decide when new Programme runs start.

it may end up that BBC Scotland will be competently different from England and we in Scotland may get some Programmes before and at the same time after england.