A report from the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (Pact), contains new figures detailing "deeply disturbing" falls in the level of independent network television production in Scotland in 2007. The figures  signal that Scottish culture - and that of regional UK - is being blotted out
by a London-centric broadcasting industry.

The Nations and Regions report reveals a picture of broadcasting decline.
It shows only two hours of independently produced drama made in Scotland was broadcast to the whole of the UK during 2007. A network programme is broadcast to the whole of the country, rather than just a particular nation or region.

According to the report, state-owned, but commercially-run broadcaster Channel 4 cut its Scottish output from 50 hours in 2006 to 41 hours in 2007, ITV1's fell from 19 hours to just 9 in that time. BBC One, however, did increase its hours from 55 in 2006 to 101 in 2007.

Producer David Strachan (right)  Pact's Scottish representative, said although overall hours rose from 264 in 2006 to 298 in 2007, this was a fraction of what they should do to properly reflect the UK's population. Across all the major broadcasters, 10,661 hours of programmes were made in London. "This is about culture, it is about all the diverse cultures in Britain being shut out by a metropolitan elite."

He said although the figures pre-date the investigative Scottish Broadcasting Commission, it was important to keep being "forensic about the details".
Stuart Cosgrove, Channel 4's head of nations and regions, refused to recognise Pact's figures. He said: "Contrary to Pact's report, our official figures to the regulator state that we actually increased our Scottish hours from 2006 to 2007 - from 43 to 45 hours. We have been very clear that we are engaged in improving and diversifying production in Scotland." The figures differ because the broadcaster counts  advertising breaks: Pact does not.

A BBC Scotland spokesman said promises already made would lead to a further increase in broadcasting hours.  "The out-of-London strategy will mean significantly more business coming to production centres such as Glasgow. An important part of the recent announcement of the Network Supply Review was the strengthening of the commissioning talent in Pacific Quay and other production centres."

"The BBC has a commitment to develop its partnerships with the independent sector in its ambition of achieving a 17% target of network production from the nations by 2016."

Source:http://www.sundayherald.com/