Television in Scotland

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Television in Scotland mostly consists of UK-wide output, with some national variations, the level of which has varied in the past. Though there have been calls for such, Scotland still has no major television channel of its own. In particular, there have been claims that British television news does not cater to Scottish needs; Dr Douglas MacMillan, of the geography and environment department at the University of Aberdeen says he has found that Scottish news was "peripheral" compared with English stories. His six-month study into the BBC showed 34% of all news focused on England while just 2% was dedicated to Scotland, despite having 10% of the population.[1]

Scotland will be the first country of the UK to become totally digital.

Scotland has its own BBC Scotland services. Much of the output of BBC Scotland Television, such as news and current affairs programmes, and the Glasgow-based soap opera, River City, are intended for broadcast within Scotland, whilst others, such as drama and comedy programmes, aim at audiences throughout the UK and further afield. Sports coverage also differs, reflecting the fact that the country has its own football and rugby union leagues and national teams, separate from those of the other United Kingdom constituent nations and other sporting interests unique to Scotland, such as shinty or curling.

Two Independent Television stations (Scottish TV and Border) also broadcast in Scotland. In the early 1960's Grampian TV was created to provide commercial television services serving the Highlands and Islands, but in 2006 it was merged to become part of Scottish Media Group and Grampian Television as an entity was no more. Newsrooms in Glasgow and Aberdeen still provide localised news for their respective regions. "Border" has had a more complex position, as it also has to serve neighbouring areas across the border in England, as well as the Isle of Man, and it now has separate news programmes for each side of the border. Most of the independent television output equates to that transmitted in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the exception of news and current affairs, sport, cultural and Scottish Gaelic language programming.

The Gaelic Digital Service is due to be lanched in March 2008.

Contents

[edit] The Scottish Six

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One of the longest running controversies regarding news broadcasting in Scotland has been over proposals for an early evening, weekday BBC television news programme, containing international, UK and Scottish items, produced and edited in Scotland. This proposed show is referred to as the Scottish Six.[2][3][4]

In May 2006 Mark Thompson, the Director-general of the BBC, ruled out any prospect of a Scottish Six news bulletin to replace that produced in London.[5]

[edit] Personalities

[edit] References

  1. ^ Money, Rachelle. "BBC evening news guilty of English 'bias' Research reignites calls", Sunday Herald, 2005-10-16. Retrieved on 2008-06-05. Archived from the original on 2005-10-16. 
  2. ^ "Dyke: I'll not let Labour politicians block Scottish Six", Sunday Herald, 2002-11-03. Retrieved on 2008-06-05. Archived from the original on 2002-11-03. 
  3. ^ BBC News and the Scottish Six: Scottish Consumers' Views on Value for Money and the Licence Fee (PDF). Scottish Consumer Council (March 2004). Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
  4. ^ "Survey supports BBC Scottish Six", BBC News, 2004-03-09. Retrieved on 2006-09-27. 
  5. ^ Sheppard, Fergus. "'Scottish Six' bulletin ruled out by BBC chief", The Scotsman, 2006-06-29. Retrieved on 2006-09-27. 

[edit] See also

v • d • e
Television in Europe
Sovereign
states

Albania · Andorra · Armenia1 · Austria · Azerbaijan2 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus1 · Czech Republic · Denmark4 · Estonia · Finland · France4, 5, 6 · Georgia2 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Republic of Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan3 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Republic of Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia3 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain6 · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey3 · Ukraine · United Kingdom (England • Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales)
1 Entirely in Southwest Asia.  2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the border definitions.  3 / 4 / 5 / 6 Has part of its territory in Asia / North America / South America / Africa. 
v • d • e
Television in Scotland
BBC Scotland
ITV
Gaelic
Other
Defunct