Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
02/03/2001

SMG MAKE WHITE PAPER RESPONSE

THE SCOTTISH Media Group (SMG), have released a synopsis of their recent response to the Government’s Communications White Paper.
Regarding ownership regulation, SMG state that cross media ownership regulations should be replaced by competition rules alone, if the vision of making the UK "home to the most dynamic and competitive communications market in the world" is to be realised in the foreseeable future. Existing regulations hamper the growth and development of UK media owners, create instability within the media sector and ultimately threaten choice for viewers, listeners and readers in the UK.
SMG also say that should this move to competition rules be perceived as premature, they propose a transitionary system, based on financial turnover, that would allow for the development of UK media owners across separate media sectors, while ensuring continued plurality of ownership within each regulated sector (television, radio and newspapers).
SMG maintain that this system would also allow for the smooth transition to competition rules based regulation in the future.
Remarking on the proposed formation of a single regulator, OFCOM, SMG express the hope that this will serve to provide consistency in approach to content regulation. However, they also believe that OFCOM should report to only one Government department and that a regional presence should be included in its architecture. SMG recommend that due prominence is given to all media that fall within OFCOM’s remit and that this remit should be extended to include the BBC.
As one of the major television providers for Scotland, SMG also commented extensively on the television proposals contained within the White Paper. On Universality of Access, the company insist that it is imperative that all areas of the country currently receiving an analogue signal are able to receive digital terrestrial television prior to analogue switch-off, as it will be impossible for any commercial organisation to fund the cost of the necessary transmitter conversion. They therefore urge the Government to devise a funding mechanism to ensure this takes place.
SMG support the retention and protection of regional programmes, emphasising the importance of viewers of Scottish Television and Grampian Television having access to programmes that reflect regional and national identities. As regional programmes are an integral part of a diverse, high quality schedule, it is equally important that programmes from the regions form part of Network schedules.
Finally, SMG are in favour of the Gaelic Taskforce's recommendations that Gaelic programmes should be transmitted on a separate digital channel but question the level of funding required, arguing that any levy from ITV must come from the existing levies paid to the Treasury.
While SMG will continue to transmit Gaelic programmes until analogue switch-over, they hold that thereafter any such obligations on commercial organisations should be removed. (GB)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

11/12/2006
UTV In Fresh Merger Talks With SMG
UTV have confirmed that they are back in talks with Scottish Media Group (SMG) over a potential merger. In August SMG, the sixth largest programme pro
31/08/2006
SMG Rejects Merger Proposals With UTV
Scottish Media Group (SMG) has rejected a merger proposal advanced by UTV. UTV, which owns the Ulster ITV licence and radio station TalkSport, made it
25/05/2004
Cross-platform first for Unilever and SMG
SMG and Unilever have announced a landmark £1m+ cross-platform media deal that will see the FMCG giant advertising its products across all of SMG's me
24/05/2002
SMG launch advertising service
Scottish Media Group (SMG), a leading cross-media group, have formalised their cross-media advertising proposition into a new service - branded SMG Ac
23/08/2000
SMG ANNOUNCES SUBSTANTIAL PROFITS BOOST
SMG (Scottish Media Group) has announced pre-tax profits of £30m to June 30, continuing a 400 per cent growth over the last five years. The figures re
14/03/2023
Big Pic Media Helps Build ELMNTL
Big Pic Media has announced its role in helping build London's latest creative studio, ELMNTL. The Shoreditch facility is built around a host of cloud
21/08/2017
IBC2017: At The Core Of Global Media And Digital Industry Trends
With its Digital Tech Hub, Qvest Media is encouraging the exchange of global trends between the media and broadcasting industry at this year's IBC Sho
05/01/2004
Senior management reshuffle announced at SMG
SMG Television, owners of ITV franchises Scottish Television and Grampian Television, are set to expand their collaboration with international program
19/04/2023
Universal Tennis Selects M2A Media's Live IP Transport Product
M2A Media has announced that Universal Tennis has chosen M2A Media's live IP transport product, M2A CONNECT, to automate, optimize, and manage the tra
18/04/2023
TrackIt Achieves AWS Media & Entertainment Competancy Status
TrackIt has announced that it is one of the first partners to achieve the AWS Media & Entertainment Competency status. This latest recognition confirm
18/04/2023
Globecast Partners With Brklyn-Media
Globecast has formed a strategic partnership with New York City-based Brklyn-Media, provider of virtualized media management and infrastructure servic
12/10/2004
SMG plc completes disposal of 25% stake in GMTV
Further to the earlier announcement on May 10 2004, the board of Scottish Media Group plc ("SMG") has announced today that SMG has completed the dispo
10/05/2004
SMG to sell GMTV stake to ITV for £31m
The Scottish Media Group (SMG), owner of the Scottish Television and Grampian Television ITV franchises, has agreed the sale of its 25% share in GMTV
15/03/2002
Can SMG steer itself out of troubled waters?
Scottish Media Group (SMG) have moved to quell speculation that the debt-laden broadcast giant is on the verge of selling off sections of its business
11/09/2003
SMG show profitable interims for half-year
SMG's half-year interim results have shown that all the group's businesses have remained profitable, despite the continuation of the advertising downt