View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
June 16, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 3:45pm

Plans for a ‘Tartan 10.30’ are on hold

By Press Gazette

By Hamish Mackay

Plans for a Scottish edition of ITV’s 10.30pm news bulletin are on
the backburner – despite been given the goahead by broadcasting
regulator Ofcom.

However, both Scottish TV and Grampian TV have been give the green
light to forge ahead with split transmission of their teatime flagship
news programmes to provide more in-depth regional coverage.

The proposal for a “Tartan 10.30” news
bulletin came in January from Bobby Hain, managing director of Scottish
Television. It was part of a package of regional programming ideas
presented to Ofcom by Scottish Media Group, which owns both Scottish
and Grampian.

The Scottish 10.30pm news programme was to have the
same look and feel as the existing UK ITN bulletin, but with editorial
tailored to a local perspective.

The concept has been given
Ofcom’s backing, but Hain said that the broadcasting regulator has
failed to find an appropriate funding mechanism to allow the idea to be
pursued at present.

Hain pointed out: “The programme is not
viable on commercial terms. It would be an additional cost. Ofcom has
said it cannot fund it in the way we have suggested.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Robin Foster, Ofcom’s strategy and development director, has batted the proposal back into the SMG camp.

“It is a matter for SMG to take forward.

We would look favourably on it if it was presented by SMG – we are only concerned about the quality of the programme.”

Ofcom has supported SMG’s submission to split the teatime news bulletins into micro-regions.

It
will mean Scottish Television viewers receiving east-west opt-outs,
while Grampian viewers will get a similar divide on a north-south
basis. The new programmes will be introduced within 18 months.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network