MSP calls for Scottish digital channel

A member of the Scottish Parliament is calling for the country to get a dedicated digital television channel.

Ted Brocklebank, who represents Mid Scotland and Fife, said it was "logical" to create a channel for Scotland's culture, politics and current affairs.

"It's backward-looking to resurrect the old 'Scottish Six' arguments and I think the Broadcasting Commission should go much further and fight for a brand new Scottish channel," said the former Grampian TV head of news.

"Apart from being a logical move for a country with its own distinctive cultural, political and current affairs agenda, it would also leave the present BBC/ITV/Sky coverage untouched."

The Tory MSP suggested the service could be half-state, half-commercial funded unlike the all-public S4C in Wales. Brocklebank said: "In Ireland the two RTE channels are funded 50% by licence fee and 50% commercial."

He contrasted the idea with plans for a Government-backed Gaelic language digital channel whose public value has been questioned. He said commercial support could avoid this.

It comes as a Scottish Broadcasting Commission, examining creative industries north of the border, continues its investigations.