Broadcast views WHAT IS SCOTTISH BROADCASTING'S FUTURE? WHAT IS

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Aug 5, 2007 | by JULIA FIELDS

Stuart Cosgrove, director of nations and regions, Channel 4 "Scottish broadcasting is at a crossroad and faces substantial choices. Challenges exist all along the chain of production and distribution.

There are no easy solutions.

"The first question is what our broadcasting is for? Is it to talk to ourselves or to communicate globally? Is it to strengthen Scotland's economic performance as a creative industry, or is it a focal point for cultural representation?

Is the purpose to bolster the major institutions of broadcasting such as the BBC, or be a catalyst for new emergent and independent production?

"A mixture of woolly thinking and political timidity has meant that these choices have often been fudged. It is glib and dishonest to say we want them all and in equal measure, without either new investment or a radical rethinking of priorities. An obvious faultline is the development of indigenous TV companies. It is no longer a priority for Scottish Enterprise and the new organisation tasked with these responsibilities, Creative Scotland, does not formally exist. When it does, it will have to balance the twin- demands of creativity and business growth.

"So against the backdrop of a significant threat to indigenous production in Scotland there is no robust strategy, with the exception of a vague and instinctive loathing for London-based broadcasters, there are no flagship policies around which the industry can unite.

"Broadcasting is an industry that is critical to the success of devolution and should be a top-tier priority for politicians irrespective of which party they represent."

Ken MacQuarrie, controller of BBC Scotland "As a public service broadcaster funded by the licence fee, we believe strongly that audiences and users of our content are at the heart of everything we do. That's why the completion of the world's first integrated end- to-end digital broadcast facility at Pacific Quay in Glasgow will be used to show audiences what we can do for them in the next decade and beyond.

"Our ambition was to build a facility that would benefit all of Scotland - that ambition will only be fully realised if we use our new facility to bring the very best content offerings to audiences in Scotland and across the UK.

"Network business has been frequently cyclical and the signs are promising that BBC Scotland is on the verge of another up, with new commissions having been confirmed for the coming year. We are already on target to build on our network output over the past 12 months with programmes which will feature a wide range of talent, while our offering on TV, radio and online to audiences in Scotland remains as strong as ever.

"A healthy BBC Scotland means a healthy overall Scottish broadcasting industry, benefiting both our in-house teams and the independent sector."

Bobby Hain, head of broadcasting, STV "Technology is evolving faster than ever, viewer choice has exploded, as has competition for advertising revenues. STV is changing too new studios and a new brand for Scotland, with reinvigorated Scotland Today and North Tonight news programmes growing their audiences amid increasing competition. We're working on new regional programmes for Scotland and playing a leading role in increasing the volume of network commissions - more Taggart, more Rebus, more factual, more drama.

"The progression from regional to network is logical and we need to work hard as an industry to offer talent an alternative to having to move south to make great programmes."

Jack Irvine, executive chairman of PR firm Media House International "The appalling standards of our TV and radio broadcasting suggests that regulation from London isn't working. I would strongly support the appointment of a Scottish regulator.

"At the moment we have certain commercial radio stations failing to cover major Scottish news stories because their English parent company is slashing budgets to compensate for gross mismanagement and overstaffing south of the Border.

"Also it's a very sorry day when Scottish Television can't be bothered to properly cover the Holyrood election.

What's the point of Ofcom if these appalling standards are becoming the norm? It's in our politicians' interests to stand up and be counted on this erosion of broadcasting standards.

"As a free marketeer, I would resist restrictions being placed on who owns Scottish-based stations. However, these owners must be made aware that Scotland has its own identity and that needs to be reflected in content. That would be a condition of them retaining the licence. Ignoring something as important as an election would gain them the equivalent of a red card.

"As regards to a Scottish Six and the existing Tartan Newsnight, let's wake up and accept that the local journalistic expertise available for such TV programmes doesn't exist and I certainly don't want news shows with all the editorial rigour of The Sunday Post. To equal national standards would take money and, bluntly, that's not going to be forthcoming. For now I'll stick to Radio 4 and leave kailyard broadcasting to others less discerning."