FORMER director general of the BBC, Greg Dyke, has been lined up as the keynote speaker at a conference about the Scottish Digital Network – the hoped-for digital TV channel dedicated to Scottish content, recommended two years ago by the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.
The conference is taking place next Tuesday, in Glasgow, and features some of the biggest names in Scottish broadcasting.
The SDN – which would also comprise a significant online presence, were it to happen – is the main ambition of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, which – under the leadership of former BBC Scotland head of news and current affairs, Blair Jenkins – was set up three years ago by First Minister, Alex Salmond, amid concerns Scotland was being ill-served on UK-wide, network television.
Enjoying the backing of the whole of the Scottish Parliament, it is estimated it would cost £75 million a year to operate.
As well as Dyke and Jenkins, also scheduled to speak are Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture and External Affairs at the Scottish Parliament; David Smith, managing director, Matchlight Productions; Andrew Dixon, chief executive, Creative Scotland; Colin Anderson, managing director, Denki; and Vicki Nash, director Scotland, Ofcom.
Also ‘on the bill’ are David Rushton, chair and co-ordinator of the Scottish Local Television Federation; Jim Raeburn, director, Scottish Newspaper Society; and Bobby Hain, director of broadcasting and regulatory affairs at STV.
For ticket information, email sdnpanel@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
