Scotland 'win' in Dyke reforms

More programmes will be "made in Scotland"

The controller of BBC Scotland has welcomed plans for reform announced by director general Greg Dyke saying it would mean more for Scotland.

John McCormick said the proposals for the future of the corporation would mean more "programmes for Scotland and investment in programmes made in Scotland".

Mr Dyke announced the changes in the MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival.

He said there will be new BBC3 and BBC4 channels and that BBC One's Nine O'Clock News will broadcast one hour later.

John McCormick: "Right priorities"

Mr McCormick said: "It means more investment in Scotland and that's great for the creative community and it is good for the expanding production base here in Scotland."

Asked about whether this was the end of the argument about Scotland having its own Six O'Clock News, he said: "No, Greg said this quite clearly. He's kept the issue of news and current affairs on the table.

"I wish there was a wider and better way of discussing that issue without focussing in on one hour.

"The issues about whether and how on television we can do what we do every day on Radio Scotland of bringing international, national, UK and Scottish news together according to the right editorial priorities onto television.

"We do a bit of that on Newsnight Scotland, we do it on Scotland Choice where we have a half hour progamme Newsline Scotland which has an international perspective.

"So as we move through this period we'll be looking at where it is relevant and appropriate to develop that principle of having the world news packaged together within a Scottish news team.

'Win win' situation

"So we want to broaden discussion out from one single programme and look at the whole issue across the whole range of channels we'll be providing.

"Over the next two or three months we'll be talking with Greg and colleagues around the country about the right priorities here in Scotland for the increased investment in programmes made for Scotland.

"Separately to that, Greg made a lot last night of additional money going into BBC1, particularly for drama and quality entertainment.

"Because we in BBC Scotland are one of the main centres for providing drama and entertainment for the network we'll benefit from that increased investment there as well.

"So it is investment in programmes for Scotland and investment in programmes made in Scotland for the UK networks. So it is a win win situation for us."