Scottish Six O Clock News

The Scottish nationalists want Scotland to have its own version of the BBC's Six O Clock News programme. The SNP's media spokesman in Westminster told BBC News:

'It is absurd that in post-devolution Scotland, viewers north of the border are still subject to London-based stories about English health and education issues - which are often misleading for a Scots audience - while Scottish health and education are ignored by the BBC's metropolitan output.'

http://news6.thdo.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/255000/images/_258512_6300.jpg

What do TV Forumers think about this, and should a similar programme be made for Wales and Northern Ireland?

One word Jamez CRAP*!  Scotland Today is on a 6.00pm and it's absolutely awful!  Can't stand the programme, that's why I never watch it!  If it were to be on BBC1, I would be carrying out some serious protesting!  I really can't see it happening!


*Please note that the word CRAP is not directed at you Jamez!


(Edited by Gary at 5:34 pm on Dec. 29, 2001)

Bloody Nationalists! The 6 O Clock News features news from EVERYWHERE!

It's just another excuse to have another jibe at Soctland not being able to control itself!

It's true there is regional news on BBC1 straight afterwards - but what they said is true, a lot of England and Wales political stories and stuff to do with health and education is simply not relevant in Scotland as they have their own system and now their own parliament too - some kind of recognition should be made.

I think perhaps a special McSix O'Clock News should be made. Still from London and still with London-based anchors, but with the irrelevant bits snipped out and replaced. Better political coverage of the Scottish Parliament - I don't know what Reporting Scotland carries about that, but local news is usually kept as cats up trees and crime, politics is supposed to be in the main news.

I would suggest an opt-out, but there is already a local news opt-out and (there should be) sub regions within it as well, another would be silly.

Ah, mixed feelings on this one guys as I do think the regional news at 6:30 is enough as it gives an equal spread from both scotland and england. However I gotta say that then again having a dedicated 6 for scotland would mean a gap at 6:30 and would mean the possibilty of more local, but more boring stories.

As much as I hate to admit it, this is a contininuing example of the whinging Nats. bleating on about froth and 'Nationalistic' nonsense.

It is absolutely true that the BBC still announce English and Welsh matters; be they Health Service, Education or Law; as British matters, despite the Scots having famously independent systems in place. I can get over the faux pas.

The fact is that the issues that affect Scotland are pretty damned similar to those that affect England. The BBC National News focusses on the UK, the closer look is supplemented by the regional, and Nations magazine at 6.30.

I dont need the SNP to spoon feed me 'Hoot's-McNews at Six' as an issue of pride.

I honestly can't see where the SNP get their ideas from! Are they taking a leaf out of the book from Brussels? - Their absurd views sometimes take the biscuit... 'You can't call Cheese Cheddar unless it's made there', 'Problems with the term 'Eccles Cake'' etc etc. I like Sainsburys idea about calling Brussels Sprouts 'English Sprouts'!

At the end of the day, Scotland have their half-hour of glory at 1830 just like the rest of the United Kingdom. They should get down from their high horses I say!

I'm actually more surprised that they haven't called for a seperate channel like Wales have got. As the Scots are so proud of their country I'm sure they'd relish the prospect of a Celtic (language, not football!!) channel!

Actually I think the scots have got a point. A lot of what the six puts out is quite simply irrelevent to anyone north of Carlisle. As far as I know the idea was to have a national Six O'clock news produced from Glasgow, which could talor it's agenda to the country it's broadcasting to. Most days it's running order would be almost identical to the one from London, but when importent matters happened, such as a major change in Education Law in Scotland, then it would be given the position it deserves.

The reason this idea was rejected by the governors, was that the BBC is so London centric.

PLEASE NO! I must speak for loads of people when I say there is TOO MUCH gaelic broadcasting in proportion to the amount who still speak it.

Scottish TV squitter their schedules with gaelic quiz shows and folk music programming. Better suited to Grampian region common sense would say, but their 'traditional language' output was a primary reason Scottish won their franchise battle with a bid of only £2,000.00

Please note: The SNP's ramblings are not representative of all Scotland! If they were, they would have won the election they begged for! And the cost, surely? Wouldn't we be shouting about it if the main programme differed by only a story or two?


(Edited by Gavin Scott at 7:07 pm on Dec. 29, 2001)

Well, the BBC 2W experiment might prove worthwhile and be extended - where Wales get their own tailored BBC2 for certain parts of the evening, perhaps similar things could happen in Scotland - BBC 2S ? BBC TWO has not, traditionally, been the 'regional' channel, and although the Nations have had different continuity, the programming on TWO has never been that different.

I could see a case for a National Six on BBC 2x for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the London Six on BBC ONE.

Oh yes, and about the regional 'Slots' in the Network 'Six', this could be a copy of what's going out on BBC 2x, but with signing and subtitles, to make it different.

That way, a 'complete' overall service can be gained from ONE, and the full regional (and untitled/signed) version on 2x.

Anyone think this idea could be feasible?

That sounds good, especially now the sci-fi/fantasy slot has moved to 6:45! But what would BBC2 England show?

RE: Your second post. Yes, it seems exactly right.

(Edited by moss at 7:09 pm on Dec. 29, 2001)