New licence fee may pay for independent Scots broadcaster
A new Scottish licence fee would be created under plans to shake up the broadcasting landscape in an independent Scotland.
The Scottish Government said its proposed public sector broadcaster would “better reflect and prioritise the specificneedsandinterestsofscottish audiences”.thelicencefeemodel is said to be the “best option” for funding a new TV, radio and online service.
However, the government has admitted its plans will need the backing and co-operation of existing broadcasters such as the BBC and Channel 4 to ensure that audiences in Scotland can continue to access its programmes.
There are no details to date of any proposed amount for a new Scottish licence fee, or exactly how the income would be raised.
The government has raised the prospect of the new Scottish broadcaster buying in programmes on a case-by-case basis in future.
Underthegovernment’splans, keyprioritiesforthenewservice would include ensuring “wider availability” of major sport events, men’s and women’s international qualifiers, and delivering “impartial news and distinctive programming”.
The proposal has emerged in a new blueprintforthefuture oftheculturesectorunder independence, which states it is “vital that audiences in Scotland can access accurate, reliable news and diverse entertainment”. However, the government has pledged it will work with other public sector broadcasters, such as the BBC and Channel 4, to ensure audiences can still access a “wide range” of their programming.
The blueprint states: “In an independent Scotland, this government would commit to respecting the existing BBC Charter with no change to the existing licence fee payable in Scotland at the point of independence. This would mean that at the point of independence, audiences would continue to have access to the BBC without any additional cost. Existing licence fee payment exemptions and concessions would also be maintained.”
The document continues: “Independence would give Scotland the power to set its own future priorities for funding of, and access to, broadcast services. This would include the ability to engage with partners around the UK and beyond to explore continued access to the programming and services that matter to Scottish audiences.
“This may mean, for example, a formal bilateral agreement covering a range of programming on an ongoing basis or buying and selling programming on a case-by-case basis.”
The plan adds: ”This governmentwouldexpectthatalicence fee funding model would likely remain the best option for the broadcaster, subject to consultation with industry and audiences and reflecting the broadcasting landscape at the time.”
Asked whether the new public broadcaster was eventually intended to replace the BBC in Scotland, culture secretary Angus Robertson suggested the government would have to work with the corporation.
He said: “We stand fully behind public service broadcasting and a licence fee model. Those are things that we would wish to see continue. But it will involve significant change.”