Broadcasting remains entirely under the control of the UK Government. Whilst in Scotland many pay a licence fee, the BBC is unaccountable to the Scottish Government. The result is a public broadcaster that strongly represents the UKG Unionist position in its news and current affairs, and provides content very much under the production control of the BBC in England. Compared to the other UK nations, Scotland gets significantly short changed.

Income vs Spend

The BBC gets its income from the licence fee. It spends this income on:

• Network content from across the UK
• Content produced locally in Scotland
• Orchestras and other sponsored ensembles
• Development of its infrastructure
• Distribution of programmes.

In the reporting year 2022/23 the BBC received £42m more from Scottish viewers than it spent here. In Wales and Northern Ireland the reverse was true – the BBC spent more than it received.

Where money is spent

Substantially less is spent in Scotland all areas – 38% less than Wales on network content; 26% less than Norther Ireland on local content; and some 40% less than Wales on Orchestras and other ensembles.

Looking at that last area of spend in more detail, it’s informing to look at reported spend in England as well. More than 3x as much is spent here – £20m in England compared to only £6m in Scotland. In fact the BBC only supports one ensemble in Scotland – the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra – whereas in England it supports five (and even in Wales, it supports two)!

Sources

https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/documents/ara-2022-23.pd