THE BBC in Scotland is ready to respond to the need for change in a
robust and positive way, it was emphasised yesterday as the future for
the organisation as a whole was outlined.
The Controller of BBC Scotland, Mr John McCormick, said he is in
charge of the only broadcasting service offering the whole of Scotland
radio and television coverage and this unique service will continue and
be built upon.
He was speaking as the document Extending Choice, a vision for the BBC
after the renewal of the Royal Charter at the end of 1996, was launched.
Mr McCormick stressed the importance of a vigorous debate involving
everyone in Scotland over the future of broadcasting, so that the BBC
can move forward guided by its viewers and listeners.
He said: ''Knowing the Scots as I do, I am in no doubt that the debate
will be both vigorous and wide ranging. That is vitally important
because if, as seems clear, our operation will continue to be funded by
the licence fee we must have input from every household in Scotland as
to what they want.''
The document and summary leaflets in English and Gaelic will be widely
available in Scotland.
While the BBC document should not be seen as a complete response to
Tuesday's Government green paper, its timing is no coincidence and it is
the corporation's first step in stimulating public debate.
Mr McCormick welcomed the broad tenet of the document, particularly in
its references to the fact that it remains the British Broadcasting
Corporation, and not that of London and the South-east.
In response to this he promised Scotland would remain a production
centre of excellence, not just making programmes for Scottish
consumption but for wider use on the network and beyond.
''While it is true that every controller has to fight to get his
programmes on the network, I am confident that we have an organisation
packed with the kind of talent that is capable of taking on and beating
the best in the business. Just watch the network in the coming year to
see my point graphically illustrated,'' he said.
The Scottishness of the BBC was also touched on by its national
governor, Professor Sir Graham Hills, who said: ''It is in the charter
of the BBC that there should be a Broadcasting Council for Scotland and
that is something which will not change. It is also something we should
cherish.''
Mr McCormick stressed that BBC Scotland will respond to the pledge in
the document that there should be more programmes reflecting the things
that make the regions different -- such as politics, arts, and sport --
and that there will be support of creative arts and Gaelic broadcasting.
There is a strong feeling that if, as seems likely, funding of
orchestras must be jointly funded with such as the Scottish Arts Council
then a firm arrangement must be worked out.
BBC Scotland has a budget of #55m to serve its viewers and
listeners -- who watch on average four hours of television a week more
than the UK average.
Mr McCormick said that while jobs may still be lost in this
''dynamic'' industry he promised a bright future for the bulk of the 950
employees, even though the producer choice in the document will lead to
some 25% of non-news output coming from outside agencies by early next
year.
A news conference launching the document was attended by the outgoing
director-general, Sir Michael Checkland, his successor John Birt and
chairman Marmaduke Hussey.
The Government's green paper on the future of broadcasting will not
get ''an overnight response'' from the BBC but reaction can be expected
after a few months, said Mr Birt.
''I welcome some aspects of it. It values the BBC, it is clear the
Government wishes to see the BBC make a contribution and it supports the
licence fee.''
The corporation is planning to modernise ways in which the #80-a-year
licence fee for colour TV households is collected and it is planning to
encourage people to pay monthly as a way of staggering the cost.
Mr Birt, who takes over as director-general after Christmas, said:
''The BBC in the 1990s and beyond will provide a guarantee of value for
money and it will be much more open and accountable to its viewers and
listeners.
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