29.07.02
Record Investment in BBC Scotland |
(London, July, 2002) - A record investment of £143 million - the biggest single editorial expansion in the history of BBC Scotland creating 150 new jobs - has brought a wider range of programmes and services on TV, Radio and Online to Scottish audiences than ever before.
BBC Scotland's Annual Review (published 17 July) reveals that investment increased from £120 million to £143 million in the last 12 months, bringing a significant boost to both BBC Scotland and the broadcasting industry in Scotland.
Income for programmes for Scottish audiences included the first tranche of the £14 million new investment announced last year and which also will be spread across the next 12 months - and resulted in an additional 57 hours of TV across all genres, but with an emphasis on entertainment such as Chewin' the Fat, Scotland on Film and Live Floor Show.
In addition, the development of the Scottish Soap - due on our screens in the autumn - got underway with funds invested in the new Dumbarton studio and the required infrastructure.
News and political programming continued to receive praise and during the year Reporting Scotland established itself as the nation's most watched news programme.
A wide variety of sport was also on offer, including memorable live coverage of the Olympic Women's Curling final broadcast to an audience of millions.
The delivery of programmes for network audiences across the UK also brought significant growth in income for BBC Scotland.
In total, £44.5 million worth of business and 245 hours of programmes reflected a 27% increase on the previous year (up from £35.1 million and 206 hours, which, in itself, represented a 35% increase on 1999/2000).
Children's, Drama and Entertainment were key to this success, particularly with programmes such as Stacey Stone, Rockface and Bombay Blush.
Increases were also recorded in programmes made for network radio, to 530 hours in total in the past year, including dramas like Rob Roy and Adam Bede for BBC Radio Four.
Radio Scotland continued to develop in a competitive market place to secure its position as the nation's most listened to station, with more than a million people now tuning in every week, while online services continued to expand through several new sites throughout the year with Scotland on Film making a tremendous impact.
The last 12 months proved a landmark year for Gaelic broadcasting with a rolling programme of extensions to the Radio nan Gaidheal transmission area and acclaimed success for the Crowdie and Cream adaptation Gruth is Uachdar, which achieved an 8% audience share on BBC TWO Scotland, unprecedented for a Gaelic drama.
It also proved a successful period for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, which won a number of awards in its final year under Chief Conductor Osmo Vanska, including the Royal Philharmonic Society&';s Music and Conductor Awards.
Some orchestra members also undertook an unforgettable trip to Los Angeles after being short-listed for a Grammy.
Significant progress took place on property issues over the year with the Board of Governors approving plans for a new headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow and the move for Edinburgh-based staff from Queen Street to new premises close to the new Holyrood Parliament building taking place.
"This year has seen the biggest single editorial expansion in the history of BBC Scotland," said Controller John McCormick.
"As a result, the range and quality of programmes offered by BBC Scotland to Scottish and UK audiences is now greater than ever before.
"In recent years we have moved fast to adapt to the challenges of a devolved Scotland in the digital age.
"The impact of regulatory change in the media sector lies ahead and BBC Scotland remains committed to meeting the needs of Scottish audiences with lively, innovativ
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