This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-scotland-15089557
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
BBC Scotland pledges not to axe River City | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The head of BBC Scotland has told staff that there are no plans to cut its weekly drama show River City. | |
Director Ken MacQuarrie said he could make it "absolutely clear" that there was no proposal to axe the show, which attracts 500,000 viewers. | |
He made the pledge during a question and answer session involving BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten. | |
The corporation has to make 16% savings across its output and there had been rumours that River City would go. | |
But Mr MacQuarrie said: "We have no plans to cut River City, I can make that absolutely clear." | |
Earlier, Lord Patten had told BBC Radio Scotland that newspaper speculation about the show being dropped was "far-fetched". | |
The former Tory MP will be in Scotland for the next two days discussing savings with fellow BBC Trust members. | |
The corporation is having its budget slashed by a fifth over the next four years, partly as a result of the licence fee being frozen. | The corporation is having its budget slashed by a fifth over the next four years, partly as a result of the licence fee being frozen. |
In an interview on Good Morning Scotland, Lord Patten said that programmes made initially for a Scottish audience would be "seen by audiences elsewhere". | |
He added: "I very much hope that we'll see more dramas being made in Scotland." | He added: "I very much hope that we'll see more dramas being made in Scotland." |
Lord Patten told presenter Gary Robertson: "I couldn't have spent any time looking at the papers without realising that River City is extremely popular and the BBC should be very pleased it makes programmes as popular as that. | Lord Patten told presenter Gary Robertson: "I couldn't have spent any time looking at the papers without realising that River City is extremely popular and the BBC should be very pleased it makes programmes as popular as that. |
"I am sure people will have noticed the reaction to some of the slightly far-fetched suggestions about what might happen to it." | "I am sure people will have noticed the reaction to some of the slightly far-fetched suggestions about what might happen to it." |
When asked if he believed newspaper speculation would prove not to be correct, the former governor of Hong Kong said: "I think that is absolutely true." | When asked if he believed newspaper speculation would prove not to be correct, the former governor of Hong Kong said: "I think that is absolutely true." |
River City is broadcast weekly on BBC One Scotland and follows the residents of Shieldinch, a fictional suburb of Glasgow. | River City is broadcast weekly on BBC One Scotland and follows the residents of Shieldinch, a fictional suburb of Glasgow. |
It has been running since September 2002 and attracts an average of 500,000 viewers each week. | It has been running since September 2002 and attracts an average of 500,000 viewers each week. |
The corporation has a budget of £3.2bn and has made a commitment to finding 16% savings. | The corporation has a budget of £3.2bn and has made a commitment to finding 16% savings. |
More details about where the axe will fall will emerge next month and, following a consultation process, further details will emerge at the beginning of 2012. | |
Lord Patten said: "We have to find as many of those savings as possible through efficiencies and I reckon we can find the savings to the tune of perhaps just over half [of savings needed]. | Lord Patten said: "We have to find as many of those savings as possible through efficiencies and I reckon we can find the savings to the tune of perhaps just over half [of savings needed]. |
"But we will have to withdraw from some things - not whole services, but from some areas where we won't be able to spend as much money. We will have to focus on the things we do best." | |
He added: "The BBC is almost certainly the best broadcaster in the world - you only have to talk to people in other countries to learn that." | |
Lord Patten said that the best of the BBC would be retained but "some of the luxuries we had in the past" would go. |