BBC Scotland head of news Atholl Duncan on the Scottish Digital Network
In the week where BBC Scotland's head of news Atholl Duncan announced that he was to leave the corporation, we publish excerpts of an interview with him. Today he talks about the Scottish Digital Network, which he believes is not likely to see the light of day any time soon.
One gets a sense that in terms of Scotland there are only two media players in the market: the BBC and everyone else. However, there has been talk that a third operation may enter to provide an alternative. The Scottish Digital Network is a Government-backed concept which would aim to produce more Scottish programming. But, according to Atholl Duncan, it faces one significant challenge.
“The problem with the Scottish Digital Network,” he said, “is who is going to pay for it?
“You cannot argue with the aim of having more Scottish programmes. But it has been costed at £75m a year, so it ain't going to happen unless somebody can find the money.
“The latest I heard was that their preferred option was to get money from the BBC licence fee. But when the Department of Media, Culture and Sport recently came to the tough licence fee settlement with the BBC they said they would not make any further calls on it during the settlement period – so any funding from that source is out until 2017/18.
“So at the moment the Digital Network is simply an idea looking for funding.”
Duncan announced this week that he was set to leave the BBC to take up the role of executive director, UK and Global for accountancy body ICAS.
Tomorrow; Atholl Duncan on Question Time and the Scottish Six.
Atholl Duncan on the future of Scottish Newspapers