This week’s announcement of a new BBC Scotland TV channel marks a significant shift in the thinking of the corporation, it was only 12 months ago that it was dismissing the proposal.

We’ve long advocated the creation of a new channel, and as the First Minister said to the Edinburgh TV Festival 18 months ago: “It is essential that we look at television services for Scotland…we believe that a distinct BBC Scotland TV channel should be created – empowering BBC Scotland as never before. It would help to secure the sustainability of the independent production sector in Scotland, it would see more of the licence fee spent in Scotland, but more importantly, it would by some distance, be the best way of making a wider and richer range of content available to Scottish viewers.”

Through the discussions on BBC charter renewal I’ve regularly met with BBC Director General Tony Hall, reinforcing the compelling case for BBC Scotland, and its talented and ambitious staff, to take full control over commissioning and editorial decisions, enabling it to take a long-term, strategic approach to delivering high-quality programmes that would benefit audiences, the global market, and the creative sector.

The announcement from Tony Hall this week that our call for a new channel was to be answered was very welcome, and is the clearest indication yet that the BBC is listening to Scotland and wants to deliver.

In welcoming the new channel we must ensure that we continue to press for it to have the funding it needs to match the ambitions that BBC Scotland staff have for it. Eight years ago the Scottish Broadcasting Commission estimated a similar channel would cost around £75 million a year – more than double what has been proposed this week. In order for it to genuinely work, and to deliver the high-quality content the BBC is renowned for, we expect this new channel to be properly resourced and not run on a shoe-string.

This is not an unreasonable expectation. The people of Scotland have invested in the BBC each time they have paid their licence fee. This week’s announcements will increase the proportion of the licence fee raised in Scotland that is spent in Scotland, but still falls well short of the proportionate share that is currently spent in Northern Ireland and Wales. The BBC must deliver parity with other devolved nations.

When we consider the broadcasting landscape in Scotland that will be delivered in the next 18 months it’s clear that progress is being made. STV are to be applauded for they will soon be launching their own second channel, including delivering their own nightly news programme for issues at home and around the globe.

In the 18 months before the new BBC Scotland channel, and its nightly news programme covering both international and domestic issues, the wider BBC network need to ensure that views and perspectives of and from Scotland are properly reflected in BBC news, across all outputs. As we move through Brexit and the triggering of Article 50, and beyond, the BBC network news needs to ensure Scotland is properly reflected in its coverage.

The BBC is to invest in at least 80 new BBC Scotland journalists, as well as a further 20 to report from across the country as part of the measures to support local democracy, will ensure a greater depth of perspective for our news content. It must be properly recognised that this substantial commitment comes at a challenging time for investment in journalism more broadly. I very much welcome these new jobs and fully expect further posts to be created to build top-quality Scottish output as the BBC fulfils its responsibility to build and grow our creative industry sector.

It clear that the calls of many people that the BBC in Scotland has the talent to produce a nightly news programme with news from home and around the world have been vindicated. The announcement from Tony Hall is an overdue vote of confidence in Scotland’s journalistic skills and talent. I look forward to seeing the fruits of their labour.

I welcome the additional £20m for Scotland to make BBC network programmes, which will strengthen growth in our vibrant creative industries. This investment must continue to increase so that content from Scotland on the wider BBC network is not side-lined.

At a Holyrood committee this week Donalda MacKinnon, the Director of BBC Scotland, outlined the opportunities she saw in delivering high-quality drama for Scottish audiences, as well as audiences in wider world. I echo her strong belief that Scotland has one of the best creative communities in the world, and there are enormous opportunities for our fantastic creative industries across all platforms.

The BBC should be recognised for acknowledging and acting on the need for positive change, but it’s not the end of the story. The corporation needs to ensure that the investment to make the new channel a success is delivered, after all, Scotland will be watching.