We should focus on whether the BBC should be running so many digital channels

I NORMALLY enjoy Alison Rowat’s articles, which are invariably fresh, topical and with a nice touch of humour. Her latest offering was a defence of the BBC from a supposed attack on its independence by the Nicola Sturgeon (“Beeb should beware hand of friendship from Sturgeon”, The Herald, August 28).

Ms Rowat misrepresented the recent Nick Robinson-Alex Salmond spat as being the fault of the ‘’Krakatoa-like’’ former First Minister, when it was clearly the opposite.

However, the sharpest criticism has to be for her failure to adequately address the question of finance , which she raises. Where does the money come from to improve the Scottish arm of the broadcaster?

A fairer share of the existing resources would be a start, as would less duplication of reporting stories from the ‘’regions’’ which invariably see a London reporter sent to cover the same story as a local reporter and fewer ridiculous football-style salaries for the likes of Gary Lineker.

But the elephant in the room is the colossal range of TV/radio stations run by the Beeb.

Does the BBC have to provide nine TV channels (not including their HD equivalents), 10 national radio stations, 48 regional/local radio stations plus BBC World Service?

Like many people I remember when there was only one BBC TV channel and four radio stations, but today with a plethora of digital TV channels and radio stations it is questionable whether the BBC should be using public money in duplicating what is freely available in a very crowded marketplace. That should have been the focus of Ms Rowat’s article rather than an attack on a legitimate questioning of the current broadcasting provision in Scotland. James Mills, 29 Armour Square, Johnstone. SCOTLAND, according to Alison Rowat, said no to independence, “and no, by implication, to an SBS [Scottish Broadcasting Service]”. As non-sequiturs go, that must have a strong claim to rank as the most ridiculous of the year. Derrick McClure, 4 Rosehill Terrace, Aberdeen. BBC Radio Scotland hit a new low this morning (August 28). The 8am news bulletin lasted for only seven minutes, which is the shortest yet. What used to be a 10-minute bulletin of news, sport, weather and travel has recently been running for only eight minutes.

It would be interesting to know whether these cutbacks are due to reductions in the number of journalists, or changes in editorial or scheduling policies? Whichever it is, listeners are being more poorly served than formerly.

Another change has occurred at weekends with the withdrawal of the time-honoured 1pm and 6pm news bulletins. Surely these could still be broadcast on either medium wave or FM? I would suggest that the listening audience for news is greatest at mealtimes. What kind of world do the BBC Scotland schedulers inhabit? RJ Ardern, 26A Southside Road, Inverness.