stv should not be given any public funding, despite any temptation to reduce the number of programmes it makes that could be described as having a public service – according to the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.
The commission – which was set up last year to look at the current state of television in Scotland and help map a strategic future – yesterday issued its final report. And among its 22 recommendations, it believes stv ought to be a robust-enough business model to not require any funding from the public purse.
The commission’s main recommendation, for a new digital TV channel dedicated to the broadcasting of high-quality, original Scottish content – a Scottish Network – is based on receiving public funding (to the tune of between