PROGRESS ON BROADCASTING ISSUES

September 28, 2010


Minister welcomes continuing shared commitment to broadcasting


Solid foundations have been laid implementing the Scottish Broadcasting
Commission's recommendations and enabling broadcasting to flourish, the
Culture Minister said today.


Fiona Hyslop welcomed the UK Culture Secretary's commitment to
decentralising television services and noted the interim findings from
Nicholas Shott's review of feasibility of local television, commissioned
by the UK Government.


The Minister said:


"The Scottish Broadcasting Commission found an appetite for more local
content among viewers. It recommended that a new Scottish digital
network is the best way to deliver that content and meet the needs of
local communities, at the same time providing a real choice of public
service broadcasting.


"Agreeing a funding model for the new network was always going to be
challenging. That is why, earlier this month, I asked Blair Jenkins to
lead the Scottish Digital Network Panel to examine the options for
establishing and financing the network.


"The Panel's suggestions will enable us to present the distinctive
Scottish perspective to the UK Government when it consults on Nicholas
Shott's recommendations early next year."


Ahead of tomorrow's Ministerial Statement on broadcasting to the
Scottish Parliament, Fiona Hyslop said that broadcast networks and the
Scottish public sector have made good progress on implementing the
Scottish Broadcasting Commission's recommendations - including
increasing Scotland's share of network production.


The Minister also said that this commitment and progress in Scotland
demonstrates the case for transferring more broadcasting-related
responsibility to the Scottish Parliament.


Ms Hyslop said:


"It is two years since Blair Jenkins and the Scottish Broadcasting
Commission presented their blueprint for a revolution in Scottish
broadcasting. We remain committed to implementing their recommendations
in full and are heartened to see more good progress made over the past
12 months.


"It is clear that the major networks are waking up to the reality of the
need to better reflect society in Scotland in their output, and there
have been increases in the percentage of content commissioned from
Scotland.


"I am sure it is no coincidence that levels of audience satisfaction
have shown modest increases since the Scottish Broadcasting Commission
published its report.


"This is welcome progress, but it is vital that the networks stay
focused on the Commission's production targets and look to meet them
sooner rather than later."


Speaking on the same day UK Culture Secretary addressed the Royal
Television Society's international conference, Ms Hyslop added:


"Research shows that there remains strong public support for a Scottish
digital network - the Scottish Broadcasting Commission's flagship
recommendation. The time is right to make the case for the network,
particularly given the review being led by Nicholas Shott.


"With Jeremy Hunt criticising the 'over-centralisation' of
broadcasting, and broadcasters and the public sector in Scotland
continuing to work closely together for the benefit of audiences and the
industry, the case for transferring more responsibility for broadcasting
to the Scottish Parliament strengthens.


"In the meantime, there seems to be consensus on the need for
decentralisation of broadcasting. The UK Government is exploring the
possibility of new local television services across the UK, while the
Scottish Parliament has unanimously backed a digital network which in
the words of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission 'could certainly
accommodate opportunities for more localised broadcasting'.


"These two positions present a genuine desire for more relevant
broadcasting for local audiences. I have made it clear to the UK
Government that I want the work of the Digital Network Panel and the
Shott Review to complement each other and I am optimistic that dramatic
developments for broadcasting in this country could be closer as a
result.


"I will watch with interest what Jeremy Hunt proposes on the lifting of
restrictions on cross-media ownership. Clearly local media outlets can
play an important role in provision of local content, but choice for
viewers is vitally important to democratic life and we must ensure that
multiple media voices can be heard."


Background
Ms Hyslop will make a Ministerial Statement to the Scottish Parliament,
on progress towards implementing the Scottish Broadcasting Commission's
recommendations, at 14.35 on Wednesday September 29, 2010.


The Scottish Broadcasting Commission's report Platform for Success is
available at http://www.scottishbroadcastingcommission.gov.uk/


Levels of network production in Scotland are detailed in Ofcom's
'Communications Market Report' www.ofcom.org.uk/cmr


Public support for a Scottish digital network was demonstrated in the
'Public Attitudes Towards Broadcasting in Scotland 2009' research
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/01/21104933/0