The chief executive of broadcaster STV has warned that any potential boost in funding and services for the BBC in Scotland must not crowd out commercial rivals.
Rob Woodward, the chief executive of Scottish ITV licence holder STV, welcomed in principle the potential concept of a new federal structure for the BBC proposed by first minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Sturgeon, speaking at the Guardian Edinburgh International TV Festival on Thursday, said that the new structure could include new dedicated TV and radio services and a bigger chunk of the licence fee for Scotland.
“We are all for a strong BBC,” said Woodward. “You need to look at the scope of the BBC’s services. They need to ensure they don’t crowd out the commercial market. In particular, our focus around local, and local provision. There needs to be a careful eye [kept] to make sure that position is maintained.”
He pointed to the BBC Trust’s decision to stop the corporation’s local expansion when it rejected plans for a £68m local online video network in 2008.
“Providing media services to local markets is a particularly important part of our strategy,” said Woodward. “This debate comes at every charter renewal process. The first minster’s new idea of a federal structure today will be thrown into the discussion pot.”
Sturgeon’s ideas include the BBC launching a standalone English-language Scottish TV channel on Freeview, and a second English-language radio service.
The SNP’s party manifesto said that Scotland should receive an extra £100m in BBC funding, a view echoed by Scottish Labour.
Woodward said that a strengthening of the BBC in Scotland would need to be closely monitored to make sure the funds were spent on services that were actually required.
“Ultimately a strong BBC reflecting the nations and regions is a good thing,” said Woodward. “What is being proposed is an ability for the BBC in Scotland to be as relevant as possible. That is not necessarily through producing large scale, popular programming. Making the BBC relevant is reflecting life in contemporary Scotland, including politics and current affairs.”
