Debate on ‘public service broadcasting’ to be held in capital

THE debate about the future of television and, specifically ‘public service broadcasting’ (PSB), continues.

And this time in Edinburgh, with journalist andbroadcaster, Sheena McDonald, chairing a panel discussion next week.

Among the panellists is Blair Jenkins, chair of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission – which last month published its recommendations on the future of Scottish television, its main one being the creation of a digital TV channel dedicated to high-quality news and non-news Scottish programming.

Only last week, broadcasting regulators, Ofcom, issued the second of three reviews on public service broadcasting, effectively giving ITV the go-ahead to shrink its regional news operation, and allowing stv to reduce the number of hours of home-grown non-news programming it needs to broadcast each week.

Ofcom’s Stewart Purvis, partner for Content and Standards, is also taking part, as is David Strachan, managing director of Tern Television, and Eileen Gallacher, chief executive of Shed Productions.

The event is taking place next Thursday, at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, between 1pm and 5pm.