1.50

In Scotland, the costs of the public service obligations on the ITV licensees are likely to exceed the benefits of public service broadcaster status from around 2010. Even if the other licence requirements were removed, the cost of news alone would exceed the benefits of public service broadcaster status. Yet given the devolved nature of government in Scotland, plurality of television news and current affairs is essential. So new solutions may well need to be found before the licences expire in 2014. The ITV licence boundaries, unlike the BBC’s, do not match the national border, raising issues for provision of public service content for the Border regions of Scotland. Gaelic services are now increasing, supported by direct intervention from the Scottish government.