THE SNP has criticised leaders of a major inquiry into the future of public service broadcasting for repeated delays in engaging with Scotland.
The Future for Public Service Television inquiry indicated last month it would hold an event in Scotland to elicit opinion, after the SNP claimed it was "weighted heavily towards southern England". Scotland’s Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop told the Sunday Herald the inquiry should immediately "take account of Scotland's views".
But nothing firm has so far been arranged leading to concerns that Scotland's voice will not be heard when the UK government produces its white paper on BBC charter renewal due in early 2016.
Last month in answer to criticism the inquiry team said they would be delighted to work with and take evidence from, amongst others, the Scottish Culture Secretary. However, Hyslop has still not been contacted.
The inquiry is led by Labour peer and former deputy chairman of Channel 4 and Oscar-winning film producer Lord Puttnam and a team of experts who appear to have little or no experience of Scottish media. It will run parallel to the debate around the future of the BBC.
BBC director general Tony Hall is looking to make savings to meet the £700m cost of free licence fees for the over-75s, taken on by the BBC after its latest funding settlement.
Submissions to the inquiry posted on the A Future for Public Service Television website, so far, have all been from English commentators.
Based at the University of London, the inquiry will examine the challenges facing broadcasters, including budget cuts and the migration of a younger viewers to digital platforms.
The inquiry team say they expect to hold between eight and ten events between now and June 2016.
Des Freedman, professor of media and communication studies at Goldsmiths, University of London who leads the inquiry alongside Lord Puttnam, said that although they plan to hold an event in Scotland, nothing has been arranged yet.
Freedman said: "We agreed at our last Advisory Committee meeting to organise an event that dealt specifically with the issue of television's relationship with all the nations of the UK.
"We are still in discussions with potential hosts and have not yet set a date for such an event which we intend to hold in Scotland. We would not normally approach individuals - such as politicians and broadcasters - until we have had confirmation of hosts and venue but, as we have previously said, we would be delighted to work with a range of Scottish voices on relevant questions and will be contacting Fiona Hyslop as soon as we are in a position to inform her of the details of our event.
"We would also, at that time, be in touch with associated groups and individuals encouraging them to make formal submissions to the Inquiry."
The Advisory Committee - accused of being too 'anglocentric' - was set up to provide guidance on how best to frame the remit of the inquiry, along with a separate Broadcast Panel said to be “composed of leading industry voices”.
Only one member – former executive chairman of the Edinburgh International TV Festival, Tim Hincks – appears to have worked north of the border.
The events are to be held in order to examine “critical issues in the culture, economics, institutions and creative practices of the contemporary television environment”.
Hyslop said she was concerned that inquiry leaders appear to think they have plenty of time to engage with Scotland.
"With the UK Government’s white paper due in early 2016 the inquiry must take account of Scotland’s view on BBC Charter Renewal now," she said. “Scotland is being under-served by the BBC and has the right to expect something truly radical from the charter review process.
“The BBC receives £323 million licence fee income from Scotland but spends under £200 million on BBC Scotland, with only an estimated £35 million spent on indigenous TV production for Scotland. BBC Scotland must have control over a much more representative share of the licence fee collected in Scotland, which could see an additional £100m available for production in Scotland, supporting an estimated 1,500 jobs and contributing around £60 million to the Scottish economy.
“Through the Smith Commission, the Scottish Government has a formal role in the BBC Charter Renewal process for the first time and we are working hard to ensure all our stakeholders’ voices are heard.
"From our discussions with the sector, we know there is support for our proposals and an appetite for positive change. The Future of Public Service Broadcasting inquiry must engage with Scottish opinion, and ensure Scotland is properly represented in its work.”
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