Category: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ;
Scotland
Date: 13.07.2005
Printable version
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland boosted its annual income by more than
Β£9m this year, largely thanks to increasing the number of higher quality
Network programmes such as Still Game,
Shoebox Zoo, Monarch
of the Glen and Balamory.
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The corporation's annual Scottish review, published
yesterday (Tuesday), reveals it generated record income of Β£169.6million
from its programme output.
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Increasing its income on the previous year by 5.7 per
cent - amounting to an extra Β£9.2m - on slightly reduced hours of output
reflected an ability to win higher quality programming.
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The reduced hours were largely due to loss of SPL football
rights on TV, although TV's loss was radio's gain with exclusive SPL
commentary rights for Radio Scotland contributing to an overall increase
in originated output by 534 hours.
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Controller, Ken MacQuarrie, in his first year in the
top job, described the last 12 months as a year of "real change".
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New premises in Selkirk and real progress on new headquarters
at Pacific Quay in Glasgow's south side, said Mr MacQuarrie, offered
a fitting conclusion to Sir Robert Smith's tenure as National Governor.
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"He championed the needs of our audiences and helped
to make Pacific Quay a reality.
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"The input of the new National Governor, Jeremy
Peat, and that of the Broadcasting Council for Scotland, will be crucial
in helping to ensure that Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland delivers against the changing
needs of our audiences as we continue on a journey to a fully digital
world," he concluded.
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Mr Peat said he had no doubt Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland had performed
extremely well over the last 12 months.
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"Nevertheless," he said, "there is always more that
can be achieved."
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Objectives he outlined for the year ahead include finding
better ways of engaging with audiences in political issues; developing
localised on-demand services across Scotland; progressing towards a
Gaelic digital channel; and increasing the range and number of Network
programmes made from Scotland.
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A copy of the full report is available online at bbc.co.uk/scotland/aboutus.
