SNP's Salmond to snub the BBC, ITV

Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond will reportedly give the cold shoulder to the BBC and ITV over his party's exclusion from the televised prime ministerial debates.

During a visit today to Sky's call centre in Livingstone, Salmond confirmed that he will take part in the satellite broadcaster's 90-minute debate programme between the main party leaders in Scotland, which runs in Edinburgh on April 25.

However, he will not appear on similar debates being planned by the BBC and ITV licence holder in Scotland STV. According to The Scotsman, the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson will take his place instead.

Salmond has been very vocal in his anger about the SNP's lack of involvement in the main leader's debates between Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

He even refused to rule out legal action against the BBC on grounds that the corporation has a duty to maintain political balance under its Royal Charter remit.

In February, it emerged that Salmond was close to agreeing a deal with Sky to take a bigger role in the satellite broadcaster's planned debate coverage.

During the visit today, Salmond claimed that Sky has "engaged properly" with the SNP on the debates, while the BBC and ITV have failed to do likewise.

"Scotland has been largely cut out of the picture when it comes to these election debates and Scots viewers are being denied a fair reflection of the major issues, but Sky have been the most accommodating of all the broadcasters and have shown themselves willing to engage with the SNP from the start," said Salmond.

"I'm delighted to be taking part in Sky's Scottish election debate, where I will be taking the SNP's message offering voters an alternative to the cuts agenda of the Tories and Labour."

Under the agreed format, ITV will host the opening prime ministerial debate on April 15, followed by Sky's programme on April 22 and the BBC's closing debate on April 29.