Broadcasting
The Government is committed to developing Scotland as a production centre for television, film and new media and is working to ensure that the right conditions exist in Scotland to allow these industries to flourish. As part of the creative industries, the screen industries are a key area for development as set out in the Scottish Government's Economic Strategy. A document setting out the roles and responsibilities of key bodies in supporting the creative industries was published in February 2009.
Scottish Screen is the government-funded development agency for the screen industries. Details of its work is available on the Scottish Screen website.
Scottish Broadcasting Commission
The Scottish Government Response to the Scottish Broadcasting Commission report was published on 18 March 2009. The response was announced by the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution during a statement to the Scottish Parliament. Scottish Enterprise also published Building the Platform for Success; Economic Strategy for Scotland's Broadcast Sector in March 2009 in response to the recommendation of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.
The Broadcasting Commission published its final report, Platform for Success, on 8 September 2008 and has now disbanded. The interim reports, research reports and evidence collected by the Commission are available on its website.
Platform for Success recommended that the Scottish Government report to the Scottish Parliament on overall progress in implementing the report. This would be in September 2009, 2010 and 2011. The first progress report was presented to the Scottish Parliament on 23 September 2009.
The First Minister established the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, during a speech on broadcasting in Scotland on 8 August 2007.
BBC ALBA
The Scottish Government is proud to support MG ALBA, one of the partners in the new Gaelic digital channel BBC ALBA. BBC ALBA launched on 19 September and is currently available on subscription and free satellite services. It will also be available on cable and some content will be available online. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting MG ALBA in securing Freeview carriage for BBC ALBA.
More information is available on the MG ALBA and BBC ALBA websites.
Digital Switchover
The next area in Scotland to undergo digital switchover is Dumfries and Galloway which will switch on 24 June 2009. The Scottish Borders switched to digital television in November 2008. The remainder of Scotland is scheduled to switch to digital during 2010. When each area switches to digital the analogue television that currently broadcasts will be switched off and a digital signal will replace it. According to recent Ofcom figures, almost 90% of homes are already receiving digital television.
The switchover process is being co-managed by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, the Department Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), the Office of Communications (Ofcom) and Digital UK. They have developed the Digital Switchover Programme to co-ordinate activities, together with other key stakeholders, until the process of digital switchover is complete. More information about digital television is available from Digital UK