THE state of television broadcasting in Scotland and Wales is to be the subject of a conference in Edinburgh on Friday – the first such event following the UK Government’s Spending Review and announcement of the new licence fee settlement.
The 19th Annual Voice of the Listener and Viewer Scottish Conference is to bring together the chair of the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C, John Walter Jones, the chair of the Scottish Digital Network panel, Blair Jenkins, as well as key senior executives from MG Alba, BBC Scotland, STV and the Scottish Local TV Federation.
The Scottish director of VLV, the University of Stirling’s Dr Matthew Hibberd, is quoted in a statement issued by the organisers, as saying: “The conference could not be better timed given the recent announcement of cuts in the new BBC and S4C funding settlement and also the establishment, under the aegis of the Scottish Government, of the new Scottish Digital Network panel.
“Clearly, there are major worries that the general economic climate and financial cuts contained in the funding settlement will have a very negative impact on the range and quality of programmes in Wales and Scotland.
“The conference will debate these matters but will also examine more positive scenarios for the future of broadcasting in the devolved nations and gives ordinary listeners and viewers the chance to debate directly with our leading broadcasters.”
Also appearing are Bobby Hain, MD, Broadcasting & Regulatory Affairs, STV; Donald Campbell, chief executive, MG Alba; Ian Small, head of Public Policy, BBC Scotland; and Julie Craik, Fife Screen & Tay Screen Scotland.
Tickets: VLV Members £12; Corporate £25; Voluntary Organisations/Academics £12; Students/unwaged £5.. For more information, contact Linda Forbes in the VLV office on 01474 338711 or linda.forbes@vlv.org.uk or Dr Matthew Hibberd, Department of Film, Media & Journalism at the University of Stirling at m.j.hibberd@stir.ac.uk
