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Digital Britain
16/06/2009
The UK Government today published the final Digital Britain report, which sets out its vision for the digital economy.
Commenting on publication Culture Minister Michael Russell said:
"This is a missed opportunity for the UK Government to declare its support for public service broadcasting in Scotland. The decision not to endorse a digital network is particularly disappointing given the need for a choice of public service broadcasting in Scotland was recognised in both the interim Digital Britain report and in Ofcom's recent Review of Public Service Broadcasting.
"As the independent Scottish Broadcasting Commission identified, a digital network is considered the best option to achieve the choice in public service broadcasting that viewers in Scotland need, value and deserve. That is exactly why the case for such a network was endorsed by every party in the Scottish Parliament in December of last year.
"Since responsibility for broadcasting currently resides at Westminster, responsibility for funding a digital network lies squarely with the UK Government. The money is there; the UK Government just needs to recognise the gravity of the situation.
"I wrote to the new UK Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw last week to highlight the requirement for short-term support for local news provision on channel three, but today's leaked announcement on funding of local news on stv does not address the clear demand from Scottish viewers for more and better public service broadcasting.
"The Scottish Government will continue to press the UK Government on this issue and to secure the deal - a new Scottish digital network - that reflects the importance of this issue to the people of Scotland."
The UK Government currently provides £95 million of support for the S4C channel in Wales, in addition to £25 million of support which is provided from BBC licence fee revenues. In this context, it is very disappointing that the UK Government has not found the funding required to meet Scotland's growing deficit in public service broadcasting provision.
In its extensive consultation, the Scottish Broadcasting Commission found a demand from Scottish viewers for more and better public service broadcasting.