We haven't really discussed what would happen to the telly if they vote Aye next week.
Obviously I understand BBC Scotland becomes SBS, but what about STV and C4/5? Could a Channel 4 or 5 Scotland be set up instead? Will STV remain as part of The ITV Network, for example, will they automatically get the rights to show Coronation Street?
And why should license fee money go on providing BBC programmes to SBS? All the Scottish networks should be able to bid for EastEnders or Holby just like ITV, the BBC and C5 had to bid to show Australian soaps. Effectively, selling The Apprentice to SBS or STV should be like Seven in Oz selling Home and Away to C5?
Surely the setup will not remain as it currently is?
:-(
A former member
STV and UTV created the deal a few years ago to sort out the mess, ie one off fee pays for everything, I think its like TV3 in Ireland. That deals still stands since the only way ITV will get into Scotland would either replace one of its current second channel and that would mean its further down the list.
I cant see much changing between STV and ITV. STV might have to create a few more local programmes.
BBC could still operate. Since its British Broadcasting cop, and Scotland and England are all part of Great Britain, the largest island in the British isles
Question:
What will happen to the BBC in an independent Scotland?
Answer:
BBC TV programmes and services will continue to be available in Scotland, with new additional services provided by a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation.
In its white paper, "Scotland's Future", the Scottish Government proposes that BBC Scotland will be developed into a new public service broadcaster called the Scottish Broadcasting Service (SBS). Just now BBC Scotland is asked to supply 8.6% of eligibile original programming for the BBC network. The Scottish Government therefore proposes that the SBS and BBC come to an agreement so that the SBS continues to supply this original programming to the BBC, in return for ongoing access to BBC services in Scotland.
Alternatively, the Scottish Government would establish a contractual arrangement with BBC Worldwide Ltd in order to secure continued availability of BBC services in Scotland. After all, BBC channels that are available in the UK currently are also already available through different live transmission agreements in the Republi of Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
A public service broadcaster with a focus on Scotland would be better placed to deliver the goals of public service broadcasting in Scotland – to bring Scotland to the world, and the world to Scotland.
Independence can allow us to protect public service broadcasting in Scotland, at a time when some Tory MPs have been arguing for privatisation of the BBC.
And with a Yes vote, public service broadcasting in Scotland can be improved upon. In recent years, the BBC Audience Council has argued that the broadcaster has failed to properly reflect contemporary Scottish society, to provide an appropriate balance between Scottish news stories and England-only stories, and to provide an authentic representation of Scotland through television drama
BBC spending in Scotland is likely to fall to around £175 million by 2016, with significant job losses.
However, license fee revenue in Scotland alone generates around £320 million, and there would be further opportunities to increase total income for a Scottish broadcaster from other sources such as revenue from programme sales to other broadcasters around the world.
A comparison with other public service broadcasters in Europe shows that such a budget would allow a Scottish broadcaster to flourish, with more productions coming from Scotland and more productions being made in Scotland; creating jobs and boosting our economy.
Indeed even the very fact of independence will provide a significantly increased interest in Scottish programmes from abroad - not least among the estimated diaspora of at least 40 million.
The examples of Borgen and the Killing from Denmark, The Bridge from Sweden and Denmark, Lilyhammer from Norway show the possibilities for selling quality content beyond your own shores are real and also highlight the opportunities for co-productions between broadcasters. The popular "Mrs Brown’s boys" is a good example of this, a co-production between the BBC and Ireland’s public service broadcaster RTE.
With control over public sector broadcasting, we can create more opportunities in TV and a better reflection of Scottish culture.
At the same time, Scottish viewers will still be able to see their favourite BBC programmes just like viewers in Ireland are able to. Just look at any Irish TV guide and you’ll see Eastenders, Holby City, Casualty and Waking the Dead as well as numerous children’s TV programmes on the Irish public service broadcaster RTE; and in the same way that the BBC buys in programmes such as Mad Men, Family Guy, American Dad, Wallander, and even the Tudors. (Remember also that many BBC programmes are actually filmed in the Republic of Ireland, including Ripper Street, Vexed and the upcoming Quirke, making it clear that the BBC is happy to film out with the UK).
A Yes means Scotland can build on the best of BBC’s broadcasting traditions but with a clear focus on benefitting of viewers, broadcasters and creative industries of Scotland as a whole.
RS
Rob_Schneider
Surely STV would not take the ITN news programmes though? In fact, I wonder if there is a No vote and Devo Max happens whether STV will do just that and do their own news, with a deal to use ITN packages etc., similar to how Sky News Radio provide national news to commercial radio stations?
The broadcasters have refused to be drawn into discussion on their future in Scotland in order to remain impartial.
However, if Scotland were to leave the UK, this notion about BBC Scotland becoming SBS is a fantasy. The BBC would not be the Scottish Government's to play around with. BBC Worldwide and - more crucially - the many other independent producers that own the rights to BBC programmes would be well within their right to sell them to the highest bidder.
This *should* be the case for ITV as soon as their affiliation contract expires. However, STV still has a contract with Ofcom for 10 years. Would that become null and void?
As with almost everything else to do with this vote, it would just be a mess basically, and no one knows the real answer.
Yes, like so many things the plans laid down by the SNP are just proposals. Any deals with the BBC will be done after a yes vote, and like their plans for the pound they won't get it all their own way.
Also it's all very well saying that all the BBC channels will continue alongside an SBC but where's the bandwidth coming from?
:-(
A former member
And still who say the BBC will be broken up? it could just continue as its now, expect for some enhanced programmes and more Scottish news.
BBC spending in Scotland is likely to fall to around £175 million by 2016, with significant job losses.
However, license fee revenue in Scotland alone generates around £320 million
Negates the fact that those in Scotland get more than just specifically Scottish services. The rest of the income from their license fees gets spent on network programming with they also watch
No, those plans are outlines, and means mud! Also depends on who wins what at each elections etc.
Yes as I said earlier that's what the SNP want but it's not what they are going to get.
But I very much doubt it will be the case where BBC Scotland will carry on as now with just another half hour of Jackie Bird! They will want their own broadcaster. Whether that's a devolved, renamed BBC Scotland or something totally new is all up to the negotiations.
And they will start before the next election, there is the thought that might be delayed by a year if it's a yes
