BBC’s Scotland plans emerge

Details of the BBC’s multimillion-pound programming boost in Scotland have begun to emerge after it surprised the sector with plans to launch a linear channel in the nation.

The BBC is increasing its investment in Scotland by a total of £40m, which will include up to £9m per year on a daily news show that will employ up to 80 journalists, and a new £11m pot available for commissions for the new BBC Scotland channel.

This boost, in addition to £10m previously allotted to programming for BBC2 opt-out slots in Scotland, gives the linear channel a content budget of £30m. BBC Scotland will be on air between 7pm and midnight from autumn 2018.

The BBC is in negotiations with partners including Freeview and Sky to secure a “prominent” EPG slot.

Separately, the BBC is to spend an extra £20m on programming produced in Scotland for the entire network, building on recent commissions such as Vicky McClure-fronted thriller The Replacement and Mentorn Scotland’s Glasgow-produced Robot Wars.

It is not clear whether the BBC will be required to make savings in other areas to fund the Scottish investment – given that it is facing cuts of £800m over the next charter period.

BBC Scotland is expected to commission local comedies, building on The Comedy Unit’s long-running BBC1 series Still Game, documentaries and culture and lifestyle programming.

It could also feature scripted dramas, although the BBC was unable to clarify whether long-running BBC1 Scotland soap River City will air on the new channel.

The channel’s weekday Scottish news bulletin will be at 9pm, rather than 6pm, when the much-piloted Scottish Six was scheduled to air. This has caused some concerns that it will air against high-profile dramas.

BBC Scotland director Donalda MacKinnon is expected to appoint a dedicated controller for the channel, with commissioning editor Ewan Angus considered a frontrunner for the role.

Scottish indies cautiously welcomed the commissioning plans as MacKinnon and Angus laid them out at an event on Wednesday at Pacific Quay in Glasgow.

Ron Jones, executive chairman of Mentorn owner Tinopolis Group, said the launch of the channel is a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to get the broadcasting remit right for the devolved nations”.

However, he said it is important that it doesn’t become a “television ghetto” stocked with local news and current affairs.

Tangible benefits

David Strachan, managing director of Air Ambulance ER indie Tern TV, said he hopes the investment goes to Scottish indies rather than London-based firms “lifting and shifting” shows north of the border.

“Previous increases in BBC spending, on shows such as Waterloo Road and Question Time, have largely been delivered by the branch offices of London companies,” he said.

“Unlike Scottish firms, these companies take their profits out of Scotland and spend them on growing their head offices in London.”

Nicole Kleeman, founder of C4-backed Glasgow indie Firecrest Films, said the move will expand Scotland’s talent pool but warned that the “devil will be in the detail”.

Katie Lander, co-founder of Inside Dior indie Finestripe Productions, said she hopes it will lead to “ambitious, well-funded programming… not just tartan TV”.

Last week, BBC director general Tony Hall told Scottish MPs on Holyrood’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee that the launch was “a great vote of confidence in the creativity of Scotland”.