BBC Scotland Annual Review 2004/2005 Purpose, vision and values Our purpose Our purpose is to enrich people’s lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain Our vision Our vision is to be the most creative organisation in the world Our values Trust is the foundation of the BBC: we are independent, impartial and honest Audiences are at the heart of everything we do We take pride in delivering quality and value for money Creativity is the lifeblood of our organisation We respect each other and celebrate our diversity so that everyone can give their best We are one BBC: great things happen when we work together Environment Policy The BBC supports maximum energy efficiency, the reduction of waste and the use of recycled materials and the control of pollutants including vehicle and ozone emissions. The paper used in the production of this document is from sustainable forests. The inks used in the printing process are biodegradable and not harmful to the environment. Front cover image: Cast from River City pictured in front of The Tall Ship. Photograph features left to right: Sam Heughan as Andrew Murray, Carmen Pieraccini as Kelly Marie, Allison McKenzie as Joanne Rossi, Jade Lezar as Alanna and Stephen Purdon as Shellsuit Bob Contents 2 18 National Governor’s Controller’s overview introduction 19 3 Television Broadcasting Council for Scotland 23 Radio Scotland 4 The work of the 26 Broadcasting Council News and current for Scotland 2004/2005 affairs 5 28 Advisory Gaelic committees 30 6 Gàidhlig Connecting with audiences 32 Interactive 7 Progress against 33 objectives 2004/2005 Children in Need 16 34 BBC Scotland BBC Scottish Symphony objectives 2005/2006 Orchestra 17 35 Listening to audiences Finance 36 Transmission 36 Awards 37 Getting in touch BBC Scotland Annual Review 2004/2005 1 National Governor Jeremy Peat It was a great privilege to take There can be no doubt that BBC I also believe that something closely over as National Governor Scotland has performed extremely akin to the Broadcasting Council will for Scotland. Having long been well over the past twelve months. be required. Indeed given the The evidence for this statement is appropriate emphasis in the Green an admirer of the BBC, I was to be found throughout this document. Paper on accountability, I anticipate absolutely delighted to be given Nevertheless there is always more that a requirement for more contacts, this opportunity to be involved can be achieved. As set out in the by more innovative means, with licence at such a crucial time for the Broadcasting Council for Scotland’s fee payers across Scotland. Corporation. I am exceptionally objectives for BBC Scotland for the year grateful to Ken MacQuarrie ahead, we must look for better ways The future for BBC Scotland is full of engaging with audiences in political of challenge. Pacific Quay – to be and all of his colleagues at BBC issues; the development of localised occupied from 2007 – will bring huge Scotland for their guidance as on-demand services across Scotland; opportunities, as will the new home I advanced up a very steep progress towards a Gaelic digital channel; for the Scottish Symphony Orchestra learning curve; and also hugely and an increase in the range and number in Glasgow City Halls from the turn grateful to my colleagues on the of network programmes from Scotland. of 2006. Digital switchover is approaching Broadcasting Council for Scotland fast. We now know that the Borders For everyone in the BBC, the publication transmission area will be one of the first for their support and assistance. of the Government’s Green Paper in to move, in less than three years’ time. March was a critical event. I welcome If BBC Scotland is to take full account the proposal that the Charter should be of these opportunities, as well as the renewed for ten years from 1st January network delivery opportunities available 2007 and that the licence fee should as the quotas for the Nations are continue as the principal funding increased and more commissioners mechanism. I also welcome the proposals move out of London, then the emphasis for changes in the governance structure, on cultural and business transformation with the Board of Governors to be must continue. replaced by ‘Trustees’ and enhanced separation between Governors/Trustees It is understandable that so much change and the BBC’s Executive Board. To my in such a short timescale has raised mind this works with the grain of the uncertainties and concerns. As National changes that had already been set Governor, I am committed to keeping in train, in the post-Hutton era, closely in touch with the implications by Michael Grade. of these developments and working to ensure that quality of output is never While the Green Paper makes no placed at risk. As Chair of the commitment so far as national Broadcasting Council for Scotland, I shall representation on the Trustees is strive with colleagues to ensure that concerned, I see it as inconceivable in BBC Scotland continues to deliver public this time of devolved administrations value services across all platforms, that there will not be a Trustee to speak engaging increasingly with our key up for and safeguard Scottish interests. interest group, licence fee payers. 2 BBC Scotland Annual Review 2004/2005 Broadcasting Council for Scotland Members of the Broadcasting Council for Scotland pictured in front of the new BBC Scotland headquarters at Pacific Quay, Glasgow The building is due to open its doors in 2007. Back left to right: Alexandra Miller (Director of Development and Marketing, National Library of Scotland), Dr Anne Marie McKirdy (Consultant Radiologist Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow), Andrew Muirhead (Chief Executive, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland), Bill Matthews (Managing Director, Invint Limited) Middle left to right: Ann Auchterlonie (Director Scotland, Afasic and Education Consultant), Mark Dames (Strategy & Evolution Manager, BT Global Services), Graham Houston (Director, Craigton Coaching and Consultancy), Namasiku Liandu (Lecturer in Accounting and Finance, University of Abertay, Dundee), Alan MacDonald (Student of Law and Politics, Glasgow University) Front: Jeremy Peat (BBC National Governor for Scotland). BCS members not pictured: Prof. Hugh Pennington (Professor (Emeritus) of Bacteriology, University of Aberdeen) and Prof. Vicki Bruce (Vice Principal and Head of College, University of Edinburgh) BBC Scotland Annual Review 2004/2005 3 The work of the Broadcasting Council for Scotland 2004/2005 BBC Scotland/Royal Society of Arts Charter event at The Hub, Edinburgh In addition to consideration of detailed members of the Arts and Business The Broadcasting Council for Scotland, and regular reports on BBC Scotland communities and with MSPs. Public established under the BBC’s Royal programme and service policies, meetings were held in Edinburgh, Charter, exists to ensure that the strategies and output, the Broadcasting Dumbarton and Grangemouth. Members interests of the licence fee payers Council this year examined issues across also attended Charter seminars which in Scotland are properly represented. a wide range of subject matter and were aligned with the work of BBC The Council also acts as the primary considered reports on BBC network Scotland’s advisory committees. These television; the future transfer of BBC sought to collect and record the views of adviser to the Board of Governors Scotland headquarters to Pacific Quay members of Scotland’s faith communities on issues affecting Scotland. and the Scottish Symphony Orchestra (in Dunblane in November 2004), to City Halls, Glasgow; the work of the the education community (in Glasgow The Council is chaired by the BBC Television Licence Unit; the publication in January 2005), the rural, agricultural National Governor for Scotland. of the BBC’s Building Public Value and environmental community (in Jeremy Peat, former Chief Economist document (discussed with the BBC Chair, Birnam, Perthshire, in February 2005) Michael Grade, and the Director General, and of members of the Gaelic with the Royal Bank of Scotland, Mark Thompson); risk management; community (in Inverness in June 2005). replaced Sir Robert Smith as BBC governance at the BBC and the BBC National Governor for Scotland Reviews. A member of the Council also Charter Review in January 2005. reported back from the Edinburgh The Commons Culture, Media and Sport International Television Festival. Select Committee held its fifth evidence Members of the Council meet with inquiry into the BBC Charter Review in Research Glasgow in July 2004. The BBC National senior BBC Scotland management In 2004, the Council commissioned research Governor for Scotland, Sir Robert Smith, once a month to debate and discuss on disability with a view to providing BBC BBC Scotland Controller Ken MacQuarrie programme and corporate issues. Scotland programme-makers with detailed and Director of BBC Nations and Regions They also advise the Board on setting analysis of audience views on issues relating Pat Loughrey answered questions on the annual objectives for BBC Scotland to on-air portrayal. Led by a member of the autonomy of BBC Scotland, future and monitor progress on these Council, the research sought responses investment and production outside to detailed questions put to representatives of London, changes in BBC governance throughout the year. of the key organisations in Scotland involved and the local role of the BBC. in a wide range of disability matters. A final The Council is itself advised by groups report was produced in May 2005 with a Response to the Green Paper which monitor and provide feedback view to key messages being shared across The Broadcasting Council also on education, religion, Gaelic and rural the BBC. constructed its response to the affairs and agricultural broadcasting Government’s Green Paper on the Accountability BBC, which was submitted, along with output. Audience responses are In addition to attendance at monthly the BBC’s response to the document, reported monthly in the form meetings, members of the Council to the Department of Culture, Media of dedicated research and through participated in over 20 events across the and Sport in May 2005.