New BBC Scotland channel line-up revealed
It is the channel that will finally meet demands for television viewers north of the Border to get their own “Scottish news hour”.
But BBC Scotland’s new flagship news programme is set to get an unlikely rival when it goes on air early next year.
Bosses have confirmed plans for a “People’s News” broadcast, which will allow ordinary members of the public the chance to give their take on topical events.
Around 20 contributors, including Hebridean fisherman, students in the Highlands, Paisley boxers and Aberdeenshire publicans, could become the nation’s new TV stars if the show takes off.
The “fast-moving and funny” People’s News will offer people from across country the chance to give their take on topical news and events. They will be sent clips of “alternative and mainstream” news to deliver their verdicts on while they are out and about.
The half-hour show has been commissioned for the “outward-looking “channel, which will have talking and laughing as its “two main pillars”.
It has already been announced the hour-long “Scottish Nine” programme will offer a mix of Scottish, UK and world news at 9pm from Monday to Friday, with shorter bulletins at the weekend.
BBC Scotland chiefs have pledged the Scottish Nine programme “will be able to compete with the strongest TV news programmes in scotland and anywhere across the UK”.
Other shows will include a fly-on-the-wall documentary with fashion vlogger Jamie Genevieve, who has notched up 40 million views on Youtube and has more than a million Instagram followers.
Rapper, commentator and Poverty Safari author Darren “Loki” Mcgarvey will have his own show, taking viewers on an “alternative” tour of lesserknown communities around Scotland. A motoring-themed game show, Test Drive, will be fronted by wrestling star and actor Graeme “Grado” Stevely.
BBC Scotland will also be launching episodes of its longrunning drama series River City and its hit comedy Scot Squad on the new channel. Bosses also refused to ruled out unveiling the final series 0 Jamie Genevieve will present a documentary
of Still Game in the same way.
Steve Carson, BBC Scotland’s head of multi-platform commissioning, said: “First and foremost, the channel is about modern Scotland. When I was applying for this job I came across a piece of audience research among viewers in Scotland. They felt television in Scotland did not fully represent contemporary Scotland.
“They didn’t see themselves and their lives on screen the way they’d want to. It felt like there was a gap, but also an opportunity and a challenge.
“We want shows that are packed full of people, their stories and their views. We’ve set out an ambition with producers for innovative programming. The channel is a space to play and try out new things.
“Diversity is very important in terms of ethnicity, gender, age, social background and geography. There will be a real push to go outside Glasgow.
“The channel is about bringing in new voices and perspectives that might otherwise not be heard and creating something that might not otherwise be created. We’re about offering alternatives to what other channels are doing. It is a point of difference and distinction.”
Mr Carson said around 270 hours of programming had been commissioned from 74 different “suppliers” – either independent production companies or in-house producers.
He said: “Ultimately, the new channel is about creating hundreds of hours of additional programming for audiences in Scotland.”