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To: OFCOM

STOP THE BBC SCOTLAND CHANNEL

Ofcom to open a full competition market review of the planned BBC Scotland TV Channel. Over 40% of broadcast news in Scotland comes from the BBC. Ofcom has a duty to protect and promote competition in the market place and to ensure media plurality to prevent any organisation from having to much influence over public opinion and political power.

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Why is this important?

The BBC has announced plans to launch a new 12 hr a day TV Channel. As part of the planned channel the BBC will broadcast a 1 hr nightly Scottish News programme. The BBC already broadcasts UK news and regional news programmes.

In a healthy democracy broadcasting of news and current affairs is an essential part of informing public debate and political decisions. Ofcom now regulates all broadcasters in the UK including the BBC. The BBC accounts for some 40+% of news consumption in Scotland, the largest single provider in the market place. The additional BBC Scotland Channel with it's additional news programmes will increase the influence still further. This will damage media plurality and undermine the democratic process.

Ofcom is required to protect and promote media plurality yet has failed to refer the BBC plans for a full review. If Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox has been found to have to much influence over public opinion and political influence with his smaller market share than the BBC has in Scotland? Then surely the same rules must apply to the BBC. Any organisation with over 25% market share is deemed to have SMP (Significant Market Power) and the BBC has already a 40% market share in news content in Scotland. It is unhealthy and damages democracy when any single broadcaster can dominate the airways.

I ask you to sign this petition to ask that Ofcom halt the BBC plans until a full media plurality review has taken place.

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This petition is being run by a member of the public

How it will be delivered

Will email a list of signatures to Ofcom once Ofcom opens the next review process expected during March/April 2018

Updates

2018-05-21 20:26:49 +0100

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to support this petition. Despite being in Cyprus on holiday visiting my mum, I updated the submission to Ofcom as many of you will know the fear that STV2 might close partly because of the BBC Scotland plans saw the announcement that it will close with the loss of 59 jobs. Now more than ever Scotland needs a impartial independence broadcaster. Watch this space.

Regards
David Henry

2018-03-22 23:40:35 +0000

500 signatures reached

2018-02-13 07:24:28 +0000

100 signatures reached

2018-02-11 13:17:01 +0000

50 signatures reached

2018-02-09 20:56:35 +0000

25 signatures reached

2018-02-09 15:13:40 +0000

10 signatures reached