ONE of the pilots for BBC Scotland's new 'Scottish Six' news programme would see international coverage broadcast from London and has been branded "patronising", by an MP.
It has emerged that at least one of the of the three three options being considered for the flagship news bulletin, to be trialled by BBC Scotland later this year, will involve a beginning and end section presented from BBC's headquarters in Glasgow with a central section, featuring international and UK news, provided by a studio in London.
The news emerged during a hearing of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of Westminster, which was held at Glasgow's City Chambers, in which Ken MacQuarrie, BBC Scotland director, and Gary Smith, its new head of news and current affairs, were invited to explain why a "winner" of three different pilots for the Scottish Six had not been yet announced.
Read more: Turmoil at BBC Scotland as journalists threaten to block 'Scottish Six'
In a sustained period of questioning, John Nicolson MP, a former BBC newsreader and broadcaster, said he was aware that one of the pilots would involve a split broadcast from London and Glasgow.
"You would have Jackie Bird, as the news anchor in Scotland and she will top and tail and introduce the Scottish stuff, and Reeta Chakrabarti in London doing international news, the 'grown up stuff', and there is a danger that is going to look enormously patronising isn't it?" said Mr Nicolson said.
He added: "Why should the presenter in London, do the network, UK and international stories, and the presenter in Glasgow do the Scottish stories? Won't that perpetuate the ongoing sense that if you want to get the important stuff, you have to go down to London? Won't that be seen as incredibly patronising. Why move across to London to get the international stuff."
Read more: We reveal how the new BBC Scottish Six bulletin will look
The BBC Scotland director denied claimed that corporation managers had been putting "hurdles in the way" of plans to create a new Scottish Six programme, by asking for further pilots.
Neither BBC Scotland executive would not be drawn on which of the three options for Scottish Six would be chosen but the options include: an expanded and beefed up Reporting Scotland, a full hour of Scottish news and the plan to broadcast from both Scottish and London studios.
Gary Smith, BBC Scotland head of news and current affairs, said the "overall shape of the programme" was under consideration and that various formats were being trialled but would not be drawn on which was the preferred option.
"What matters is what the audience gets, and whether they are happy with the format in which it is delivered," he said.
Read more: First Minister says Scottish Six news programme is "an exciting opportunity"
Mr Nicholson MP said it would cost "a small fortune" to run a London studio for the show as a "political sop to those who are hostile to the idea".
Mr Smith said he was under no political pressure to provide any particular format.
Mr Smith re-iterated his plans to end the Scotland 2016 current affairs programme and have a "slightly more serious agenda" for the Reporting Scotland news programme.
He said Scotland 2016 had not only lost out on viewers to STV's Scotland Tonight but to other shows on the BBC, the news on BBC 1 and Question Time.
BBC Scotland is now working on a new weekly current affairs programme.
"It's a difficult slot and audiences have not been great," he said.
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