New research into public attitudes to television programmes and news broadcasting in Scotland gives fresh insight into audience views and wishes, the Chair of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission Blair Jenkins said today.

The survey of public opinion, part of the independent investigation into television production and broadcasting, found that demand for more Scottish coverage in TV programmes was greatest for history/heritage programmes at 56 per cent and other factual/documentary programmes at 51 per cent. 

The respondents were the most supportive of the current amount of Scottish coverage in news programmes – 65 per cent claimed to be happy with this; only 25 per cent claimed there was too little coverage and 8 per cent too much. However, 54 per cent of respondents said that they "sometimes" or "rarely" found it clear in UK news programmes whether or not a news item applied to Scotland

Respondents were also presented with a choice between two options for early evening television news programmes: one being a one-hour programme produced and presented from Scotland which covers both the main news from Scotland as well as the main UK and international news edited to reflect a Scottish perspective; the other being two half-hour programmes, one based on the UK and international news presented from London and the other a Scottish news programme produced and presented in Scotland for Scotland.  53 per cent favoured the first option and 36 per cent favoured the second, with 10 per cent expressing no preference.

Chair of the Commission, Blair Jenkins said: “Our investigation is the most extensive consultation ever conducted into what Scotland needs and wants from broadcasting. As part of that, the research findings published today provide us with the most up to date insights into what people in Scotland think about broadcasting now and into the future.

“We are very clear that our work and final recommendations must take account of what people want to see and hear. This is vital in addition to the many hours of formal evidence taken from dozens of organisations and individuals.
 
“We want to thank everyone who has taken part already. Our investigation is certainly the richer and stronger for the input it has received from the many people across Scotland who have had their say.”

The research is part of the independent investigation into television production and broadcasting. The Commission's final report to the Scottish Government is due to be completed by the end of the summer.

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