Consultation Responses
Do you think Borders audiences are well served by television broadcasting at the moment?
The responses to this question were
Yes - 23%
No - 70%
Undecided 7%
Behind these figures there were a significant number of comments. Most of these were directed at the lack of local news and programmes because the ITV broadcasts centred on Carlisle, Cumbria and the Isle of Man. Typical of these comments were – “I am really not interested in the council doings in Whitehaven, Carlisle or the Isle of Man, I want to see programmes about the Scottish Borders and what is happening in Hawick, Jedburgh, Galashiels, Peebles and the Scottish Parliament plus our local news” – respondent from Hawick.
The reception of TV signals was also a cause for many complaints. Respondents felt it unfair that they paid a full TV licence yet had to subscribe to Sky to get even the basic channels including BBC1. They felt this was paying double and a penalty. Some complained about being forced to subscribe to a Murdoch company.
Freeview was also a source of comment about limited service. Alongside channel 5 it is not available in many homes which can receive terrestrial TV. Comments were also made that where Freeview was available – in certain areas with a limited number of channels available.
Typical Comments
- We miss out on STV
- TV broadcasting is heavily English – Carlisle based.
- I would not like Borders TV moving any further south
- STV programmes of interest are not shown on Scottish side of borders.
- Borders television is a joke. Who in this area wants to hear what is happening in Carlisle? Connect us to STV as Grampian area has done.
- More about Gala, Selkirk, Hawick not Carlisle and Isle of Man
- The Carlisle based Border Television is centred on Cumbria/South west Scotland are the Borders seems to come a lowly third place.
- Border TV is too English based but will get worse when absorbed into Tyne Tees
- We are informed about a Scottish lottery with results on ITV. Borders TV does not show them – waste of time purchasing when you do not know the result.
Do you think Borders audiences are well served by radio broadcasting at the moment?
The responses to this question were
Yes - 53%
No - 30%
Undecided 17%
Radio Borders is quite well thought of because of the local news content. BBC local radio however came in for severe criticism. Radio reception in the Scottish Borders can be difficult on FM. Some respondents had purchased DAB radio sets only to find they couldn’t receive the transmissions. Respondents could not understand why Radio Scotland is not available on DAB in the Scottish Borders whilst many other channels are. This seems a major omission which some had taken up with various bodies and the answers supplied were less than satisfactory.
Typical Comments
- We are very disappointed on obtaining a DAB radio to find that neither local (borders) or national (BBC Scotland) are available. The service provides digital news from Kabul but not Kelso.
- BBC Radio is poor in the Borders
- Digital Radio coverage is very poor
- Radio Borders is excellent
- Radio Scotland is Glasgow oriented.
- The radio station should be in Scotland not Carlisle.
- Bring back Radio Tweed
- Radio Scotland should be on DAB
- BBC Radio Scotland 5 mins slot for Borders is ridiculous
Do you believe Borders audiences are able to access the news they judge relevant and of interest to them?
The responses to this question were
Yes - 23%
No - 63%
Undecided 14%
Respondents commented that there was a distinct lack of Borders news – especially on Borders Television. Frequent comments noted the absence of rugby reporting – a major sporting and cultural event in the Scottish Borders. School closures, Road closures and diversions are important news in the Scottish Borders where there are few main routes and closures often went unreported.
Respondents also noted they were very concerned to have news of the Scottish Parliament – with many decisions taken affecting them but reporting of this was absent from Borders Television.
Many comments also noted that Dumfries and Galloway – which do have reporting on BBC are not part of the same community as central/eastern Borders which look to Edinburgh for their links. It was felt that on BBC local programmes the content was skewed toward South West Scotland. This bias was also apparent on Ceefax whilst Teletext on ITV missed Scottish Borders information out.
Typical Comments
- Save ‘Lookaround’(Borders)
- TV - It should be called Carlisle News not Border News
- BBC Scotland too central belt orientated.
- Weather and road closures are very important here and could be very much improved
- Diversions in place today (12th March) because A7 closed N of Galashiels. Not mentioned on text travel on either BBC or Borders TV. Fairly normal.
- STV instead of Border/Tyne Tees provided STV have stronger borders input
- Peebles is closer to Edinburgh and Glasgow – I resent ITV news coming from Carlisle.
Do you feel programmes broadcast to audiences in Scotland reflect, debate and challenge the key issues facing people in Scotland?
The responses to this question were
Yes - 23%
No - 58%
Undecided 19%
Many comments highlighted the need for a ‘Scottish 6’ news programme and mentioned that when a major Scottish news story was covered on the UK news it was then repeated in the Scottish segment. Also stories were covered in the UK segment about NHS, Education, Courts etc without making clear these had no relevance to Scotland. Respondents sighted the very recent Newsnight debated interviewing the London Mayoral election candidates which had little interest to the Scotland yet overran into and reduced the Scottish section of Newsnight.
A major disappointment is not being able to watch the Scottish football team’s qualifying matches whilst at the same time the England team’s matches were covered on terrestrial free to view television and was frequently mentioned. ITV in the Borders focussed on English football teams – for example Rangers recent European match was shown on STV but Borders TV viewers could not watch it.
Typical Comments
- TV has not woken up to devolved Scottish Government – still focus on Cumbria
- It is a disgrace that we cannot watch our country’s football team play its qualifying matches.
- After the advent of the Scottish Parliament we need Scottish News – not English centric.
- Disgraceful that main football matches are not televised and we get the English ones instead.
- We need a Scottish 6 and full digital cover for Border area.
- The Scottish National news often repeats the UK National news subjects
- BBC2 12.00 first ministers questions. I am really angry that the programme is cut short during the questions.
- Scottish News to be fully Scottish with relevant National/Regional output – whilst remaining politically independent.
- Scottish News expanded from headlines to wider format.
- Little or no coverage of the Scottish Parliament
- Create a Scottish Six National News more relevant to the people of Scotland.
The Borders switches to digital television commencing this year. Are you well informed?
The responses to this question were
Yes - 54%
No - 37%
Undecided 9%
The majority of respondents felt informed (some mentioning a Scottish Borders Council leaflet as useful), however there were many questions raised about the detail of the transfer, what happens to older equipment, cost of conversion, reception and number of channels, communal aerials etc. A considerable number were from older people who are very concerned about digital conversion and a few had encountered some doubtful sales techniques. There clearly needs to be a lot more help and advice on this subject with protection for the vulnerable and financial assistance.
Many respondents mentioned that they could not receive Freeview at the moment and it would be a waste of money to buy digital equipment only to find they had no reception. Also respondents who were forced to subscribe to Sky to receive any television programmes resented having to pay this subscription plus a full television licence.
The comments in this section are being referred to Digital UK.
Do you think the Scottish Government should have responsibility for Broadcasting in Scotland?
The responses to this question were
Yes - 65%
No - 20%
Undecided 15%
There was a significant majority in favour of the Scottish Government becoming responsible for broadcasting in Scotland. Respondents felt this would improve the local and Scottish content of their programmes. Some had interpreted this question as relating to political control and indicated that no government should have editorial control.
Typical Comments
- All Broadcasting in Scotland should be dealt with here. …the people in BBC and ITV think Scotland is a big town or city not a country on its own. All of Scotland should be dealt with – not just the central belt. – WH, Selkirk
- Thank you for taking the time & effort to ask my opinion. A first for any party. Scottish football matches should be shown instead of English games. If the Scottish Government has the responsibility we may get somewhere.
- Wider encouragement given to Scottish produced/directed programme control.
- Time for a Scottish Broadcasting Co.
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