BBC Seen As Crucial to Keeping Cultural Links After 'Yes' Vote

Section: News Edition: 01 Circulation: 399522 Date: 21 December 2013 Source: ABC Apr 2013 Page: 20 BBC seen as crucial to keeping cultural links after ‘yes’ vote Mike Wade essentially an attempt to make the BBC north of the Border more autonomous. The BBC can play a key role in main- Last night Professor Schlesinger said: taining cultural links between an “I suppose the question I’m asking is independent Scotland and the rest of whether a future rUK [rest of the UK] the UK, according to a leading Government, necessarily linked to a commentator. Scottish government by a number of Philip Schlesinger, Professor in Cul- other factors, wants stability north of tural Policy at the University of Glas- the Border, particularly when tele- gow, said the broadcaster, like the vision continues to be a central cultural Crown and the Pound, could be a chan- medium for the public. nel for “continuing soft, ‘UKanian’ cul- “There is a demand for sport, drama tural power” in Scotland, should the and comment north and south of the country vote ‘yes’ in the referendum. Border which will continue, whether “If there is Scottish independence political arrangements change or not.” you want to keep as much cultural com- The White Paper asserts that the SBS monalityaspossible,”hesaid.“Oneway will co-commission, co-produce and of doing this is to ensure there is a com- co-operate with the BBC, delivering a mon broadcasting agenda.” proportionate share of network pro- In last month’s White Paper, the SNP ductions. It would opt in and out of BBC Administration set out its plan for a One and BBC Two schedules, pro- Scottish Broadcasting Service (SBS), gramming its own material for purely funded largely by licence-fee payers in Scottish audiences. The SNP also insis- Scotlandanda“proportionateshare”of ted: “Current programming like East- the BBC’s commercial ventures. The Enders, Doctor Who,andStrictly Come new service looked to many critics like Dancing and channels like CBeebies, a takeover, but Professor Schlesinger will still be available in Scotland.” said the notion of launching the SBS as Professor Schlesinger said: “The BBC a joint venture with the BBC had merit. is a global brand: this is an attempt to “The Scottish government’s ap- get a privileged trading position when proach to this obviously is to make [the SBS] is not formally part of the changes, but not to make them so abso- BBC.” He conceded that the SBS would lute that they completely fracture exist- face opposition in some quarters. ing relationships,” he said. “There is an economic argument that In a blog on the influential Policy says this isn’t going to wash, the rUK Scotland website, Professor Schlesing- licence payer is not going to be interest- er cited Alex Bell, Alex Salmond’s ed in subsidising a Scottish broadcast- former head of policy, who described ing service. The SNP government the position set out in the White Paper would say that will not be the case but as “a continuous BBC service disguised it’s possible to foresee future adverse as a Scottish Broadcasting Service”, trading conditions if others disagree.” Ref: 80493263 This digital cutting has been produced under licence by Press Data Ltd from the NLA. Digital reproduction/forwarding is not permitted. No printing of the Cutting or further copies may be made except under licence from the NLA..

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