OFCOM TO STOP BORDERS TV NEWS CHANNEL.

OFCOM TO STOP BORDERS TV NEWS CHANNEL.

DIGITAL CHANNEL WAY FORWARD FOR SCOTLAND.

The SNP has responded to OFCOM’s report on public sector broadcasting with strong criticism of the decision to merge South of Scotland news services with Tyne Tees and concerns over OFCOM’s proposals for public service broadcasting.

Commenting on OFCOM’s support for supplying news to the South of Scotland from Tyne Tees in Gateshead SNP MSP for South of Scotland Christine Grahame said;

“It is clear that people in the Borders don’t want their local news coming from Newcastle and are unhappy with the changes that have been pushed forward by ITV.

“When contracts are reviewed in 2011 I believe there are strong grounds for extending STV’s franchise into what is now the Border Television region. That would allow for content, not just news, to be better tailored to the needs of viewers in the Scottish Borders.

“The changes that have taken place with ITV will lead to a poorer service for viewers in the South of Scotland, but Ministers in London have an opportunity to offset that by investing in a Scottish digital service and separately backing an expansion of STV’s franchise into the current Border TV area in 2011.”

Discussing the wider proposals from OFCOM SNP Culture spokesman Pete Wishart MP said;

“There must be no diminution of broadcast news services across Scotland, indeed, we should be stepping up and extending such programming.

“OFCOM needed to come forward with a clear plan for the future of public service broadcasting – instead we have proposals that will complicate not clarify the vision of public service broadcasting in Scotland.”

"The Broadcasting Commission recommended a Scottish Digital Network and that, alongside devolution of broadcasting controls, is what we should be working toward.

“People in Scotland want to see Scottish made programmes on Scottish television. STV may wish to cut costs but reducing Scottish content will harm the STV brand.

“With the abolition of dedicated news for the Borders proposals for regional broadcasters to share resources with the BBC leave serious questions over the editorial freedom and quality of news coverage that we would see.

“Competition between programmes and reporters enhances our news coverage and it is that high standard of Scottish production that we should maintain.”