By Emmanuel Oluebube, Bureau Chief, United Kingdom

Ofcom is  seeking views following a request from the BBC to reduce the number of hours of news content that are required to be broadcast in peak time on the BBC Scotland channel.

This request forms part of the BBC’s broader plans to adapt and modernise its news and current affairs output in Scotland to meet the changing needs of audiences.

The BBC’s proposals

Specifically, the BBC proposes to replace the channel’s hour-long news programmes, The Nine (Monday to Thursday) and The Seven (on Friday), with a 30-minute news programme to be shown at 7pm. Given this would require a change to the quota in the BBC Operating Licence for peak time news on the BBC Scotland channel from 250 hours to 125 hours per year, it has submitted a request to vary the Licence.

The BBC also plans to expand elements of its news and current affairs offering in Scotland. This includes: an extension of Reporting Scotland on BBC One Scotland from 30 minutes to one hour at multiple times a year; a new Scotland-focused current affairs podcast series available on multiple platforms (BBC One Scotland, BBC Scotland Channel, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer); building capability to deliver more online reporting about Scotland on the BBC News website and the BBC News app; and extending the run of the Debate Night programme during 2024. While these additional plans do not need regulatory approval, they provide important context as part of our consideration of the BBC’s request.

Ofcom’s provisional view

“In considering the BBC’s request,” Ofcom says, “ we have assessed, among other factors, how the proposed changes will affect the BBC’s delivery of its Mission and promotion of the Public Purposes, including ensuring that audiences in Scotland are well-served with regards to news and current affairs content. We have also considered the potential impact of the BBC’s proposed changes on fair and effective competition.

‘Our evidence suggests that audiences in Scotland value news and current affairs content, but the way they consume it continues to change. In Scotland, like the rest of the UK, there has been a gradual decrease in broadcast TV viewing and a growing number of adults accessing news online. The total number of adults watching the BBC Scotland channel has declined since 2019, and The Nine has lost viewers every year since 2020.

“Overall, in light of the changing news consumption habits of audiences in Scotland, with a continual shift to online, we agree that the BBC should be innovating and adapting to engage Scotland’s audiences with its news and current affairs output.

“Our provisional view, therefore, is that the BBC’s proposals for the BBC Scotland Channel would be appropriate for requiring the BBC to fulfil its Mission and promote its Public Purposes, and have the potential to meet the changing needs of audiences in Scotland. We also consider the risk to fair and effective competition is low.

If the proposal is approved, we would expect the BBC to closely monitor the impact of these changes on audience engagement, and would be prepared to step in should concerns about the BBC’s performance arise.

Next steps                                                                  

“We are now seeking views from interested or affected parties on our provisional view in response to the BBC’s request to vary the Operating Licence by 4 June 2024. We will carefully consider all responses to our consultation before making a final decision.”