Radio Scotland is a speech-led service for audiences which covers a wide range of genres and reflects the issues, events, culture and interests of the people of Scotland. In addition to local and national concerns, output also addresses matters of UK and international significance from a Scottish perspective.
Radio Scotland also offers highly targeted local programming and, through its output, supports local communities.
In its support of Scotland's music and arts, Radio Scotland nurtures Scottish creativity and talent across its range of speech and music output. It optimises the use of the FM and MW frequencies in order to provide a rich and varied choice of programme content for listeners. It provides an accurate and independent news service and platforms where local and national issues - from politics to sport - can be debated by listeners and experts. Local opt-outs reflect local needs and interests and the service promotes digital technologies to audiences and uses them to encourage audience interaction.
This year our priorities include:
Priority |
Rationale |
Maintain the service's overall audience reach. |
In an increasingly fragmented media environment, this is an increasingly challenging target. |
Broadcast a minimum of 7,000 hours of live or originated programming across a wide range of genres. |
An ambition to maintain and develop our current range and mix, widening the range of voices heard and opportunities for comments and viewpoints to be expressed. |
Provide substantial reporting and analysis of the Scottish parliamentary and local elections in May, including a Leaders' debate (simulcast on BBC One Scotland) and special election editions of programmes to allow the Scottish audience to question politicians and discuss key issues. |
A core element in delivering an accurate, impartial and independent news and current affairs service for our audiences, providing authoritative analysis and comment and enabling our audiences to hold those in power to account. |
Sustaining citizenship and civil society
Radio Scotland will continue to combine wide-ranging reporting and analysis with individual and community involvement. Factual programmes will provide insights into issues and aspects of contemporary Scotland. News will be scheduled at major junctions in the schedule - Good Morning Scotland will remain the cornerstone of our schedule - with further bulletins broadcast frequently across the day. Political coverage will focus on Scottish affairs but will also cover the Westminster and European parliaments.
- Broadcast at least 2,200 hours of news and current affairs, including for 2007 substantial reporting and analysis for May's Scottish parliamentary and local elections.
Representing the UK's nations, regions and communities
Radio Scotland broadcasts to the whole of Scotland and it reflects the diverse communities of Scotland though its output, including events, ceremonies and anniversaries of national significance. Throughout 2007/2008 we will continue to interact with our audiences through outreach at a local level and encourage them to participate in our programmes through phone-ins and staged debates, giving voice to their concerns. We will use our sites on bbc.co.uk/scotland to extend this work.
This year we will introduce a new radio strand which we will embed within the schedule as a home for topical debate on issues that matter to people in Scotland.
We will work with BBC 7 to offer the best of Radio Scotland, such as The Fred MacAulay Show, to a digital UK-wide audience.
Promoting education and learning
Radio Scotland will continue to provide opportunities for informal learning across a wide range of subjects in our feature, factual and documentary output. We will, as appropriate, participate in pan- BBC social action campaigns in Scotland, adapting them where necessary to enhance their appeal to audiences in Scotland.
Our plans this year include providing multimedia training for schools in the Highlands, with a view to producing broadcast materials (as part of Highland Year of Culture 2007), and working with media students to produce programme input to the 2007 elections.
Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence
Radio Scotland will continue to nurture and build appreciation of traditional and contemporary Scottish culture, and provide a platform for the best of Scottish talent and creativity across the genres. We will offer platforms for Scottish people and passions, seeking new voices and discovering and supporting writing, musical and entertainment talent. We will build on our relations with the community radio sector and contribute to the growth of the creative economy in Scotland by maintaining our position as the main Scottish buyer of independently produced speech radio - we will aim to commission at least 10% of eligible hours from independent producers in 2007/2008.
We will also seek to maintain our position as the country's main broadcast outlet for live music, broadcasting more live music than all of the commercial stations combined. Live music sessions feature in all of our mid-evening and weekend music strands, including Global Gathering, Travelling Folk, The Jazz House and Take the Floor. As part of Scotland's Music '07 we will provide coverage of music festivals such as the Belladrum Festival in Beauly, T in the Park and Celtic Connections. We will also cover the World Pipe Band Championships and work with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra on a range of live music concerts and workshops.
This year we will:- Broadcast weekly specialist music strands, complemented by a range of programmes as part of Scotland's Music '07, covering a diversity of musical genres and reflecting the various influences on Scotland's musical heritage.
- Broadcast at least 200 hours of arts coverage, including repeats of the daily arts show.
Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK
Radio Scotland brings the world to the UK through its regular coverage of international events and issues in its news and current affairs output. It brings Scotland to the world by making Radio Scotland content available on bbc.co.uk, through which it continues to connect with the Scottish diaspora and increasing numbers of listeners across the globe. Our plans for the next 12 months include broadcasting a greater range of programming via the online Listen Again facility and showcasing the best of Scottish talent.
Emerging communications
Radio Scotland output can be found on digital radio and is streamed live on the internet, with a large proportion available on the Listen Again online facility, within a seven-day window. bbc.co.uk/scotland encourages audience interaction and introduces users to related content and services. This year we will further develop our portfolio of user-generated content, exploring the potential for Radio Scotland programmes to offer audio and video support materials via other BBC platforms.
Reach: Radio Scotland should contribute towards the maintenance of combined BBC weekly reach for all BBC services at over 90% by aiming to maintain its own weekly reach.
Quality: Audience perceptions of Radio Scotland as providing high quality and innovative programming. Also, the proportion of originated programmes across all hours (including repeats).
Impact: Audience perceptions of Radio Scotland as engaging and challenging.
Value for money: Radio Scotland's cost per listener hour.