Alex Salmond has launched a blistering attack on the BBC and STV for not being included in the leaders' debate during the Holyrood election.
The former First Minister, who only launched his new Alba Party last month, has demanded the big TV companies include him in the debates between the main party leaders in Scotland.
In a statement he has also taken aim at both broadcasters for what he claims is a general lack of coverage on his new party.
Alba was set up by the former SNP leader to attempt to create a 'super-majority' for independence in the Scottish Parliament following the election on May 6.
The second TV leaders' debate will take place later today on STV, however Salmond has been excluded. He was also ignored for the BBC debate two weeks ago.
Nicola Sturgeon (SNP), Douglas Ross (Tories), Anas Sarwar (Labour), Willie Rennie (Lib Dems) and Patrick Harvie (Greens) will take part in the hour and a half programme tonight.
Salmond says STV and BBC act as if his new party doesn't exist.
He said: "In little more than two weeks, ALBA has become the story of this election campaign. Indeed HALF of the entire press coverage of the election in the written media has featured stories about the ALBA party or referenced ALBA.
"And yet the BBC and STV operate as if they were in a self-isolated political bubble in which the initiative that everyone else is talking about doesn’t even appear on their radar.
"Not only does that involve excluding ALBA from election debates but also dictates the daily mentions on all the main news bulletins. These organisations, unlike others, are effectively censoring ALBA.
"The launch of our Lothian campaign is a case in point. There were over FORTY photographers and journalists in attendance, including three broadcasting journalists for radio and television. However, BBC Scotland and STV were nowhere to be seen. They are simply failing in their democratic duty.
"We have asked both BBC and STV repeatedly for an explanation of their undemocratic behaviour but have not yet even received the courtesy of full detail of their proposed election coverage over the next three weeks.
"In two weeks ALBA have secured a membership greater than the Liberal Democrats and more MPs than the Labour Party.
"On news interest, we are clearly the story of the election and yet the doleful duo of Scottish broadcasting pretends we don’t exist.
"It is long past time for BBC Scotland and STV to mend their ways and to stop distorting the democratic process in Scotland.”
An STV spokesperson said: “STV’s election coverage has been, and will continue to be, balanced and fully in accordance with strict Ofcom guidelines.
“Alex Salmond has not been invited to participate in the STV Leaders’ Debate.
"We have offered the Alba Party the opportunity for Alex Salmond to take part in a one-to-one interview with Colin Mackay as part of our series of Scotland Tonight specials.”
A BBC spokesperson said: "In our coverage of the election campaign, we are mindful of our regulatory and legal obligations and will continue to follow both our own BBC guidelines, and Ofcom’s guidance."
