A new Scottish media network comprising a digital television channel supported by a website, is the key proposal of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, which yesterday published its final report.

Launching a plan to create the most “culturally enriched” television audience in the world, Blair Jenkins, chairman of the commission, said that this objective would be achieved by the creation of the network - financed from a revised funding settlement for British broadcasting - and by a significant improvement in output from existing UK broadcasters.

The cost of the new non-profit making service was estimated at between £50million and £75million. At the lower end of the range, Mr Jenkins said, its output would be news-dominated, but for the higher figure - which “we will argue for” - viewers could expect high-quality, home-grown drama, comedy and documentary programme-making.

“The network will help to fulfil the economic, cultural and democratic imperatives of Scottish broadcasting. It is the missing piece in UK's jigsaw of public service,” he said. “It should be entertaining and informative, ambitious, challenging, risk-taking, contemporary, outward-looking, bold, original and intelligent.”

Though he described a prosperous future, Mr Jenkins painted a gloomy picture of the recent past. Broadcasting in Scotland “had been going backwards”, Mr Jenkins said, and “should be doing much better”. As well as creating an outlet for emerging talent in Scotland, the new television channel would provide “much-needed” competition for the BBC in public service broadcasting.

Alex Salmond, who established the commission last autumn, welcomed its findings as “nothing less than a blueprint for a revolution in Scottish broadcasting”. The First Minister praised the report for highlighting “the long-standing failure of broadcasting institutions to serve Scotland's interests properly”.

“This is a challenge to the Westminster Government and the broadcasters to step up to the plate,” Mr Salmond said.

The commission unearthed widespread public disquiet about the quality of broadcasting in Scotland, with a series of influential witnesses attesting to the poor quality of news and current affairs coverage, and a steep decline in the commissioning of Scottish-made programmes.

In particular, the report reflects criticisms of the BBC and recommends a review of its commissioning policy for Scottish programmes to “address concerns about ambition and range”. It also urges the BBC Trust to ensure better news coverage, and recommends a review of the role, remit and funding of Radio Scotland.

Mr Jenkins, the former head of news at BBC Scotland, was not shy in putting forward other changes. The commission recommends that one of the four BBC national television stations should be relocated to Scotland and says that the BBC's target of achieving 8.6 per cent of commissioning from Scotland should be achieved by 2012, four years ahead of the corporation's timetable.

Mr Jenkins frequently cited S4C, which he said is now “Button 6” on Welsh television sets, as a model for a Scottish digital network. The Welsh language channel receives public funding of £95million and in 2007 reached a weekly aggregate audience of 854,000 people.

In another recommendation, the commission notes that there is scope under the devolution settlement for Scottish ministers to have greater powers, within a UK framework, for broadcasting in Scotland. At present, those accountable for Scottish broadcasting pay their dues at Westminster, but Mr Jenkins envisaged a future in which broadcasters would report frequently to the Scottish Parliament.

David Cairns, the Scotland Office Minister, said he welcomed the report's “underlying principle” that Scottish broadcasting should remain an integral part of UK broadcasting, praising it as a “commonsense” approach.

Mr Cairns said: “Breaking up the BBC, Balkanising Channel 4 and making Scottish broadcasters foreigners in the English and Welsh media markets may be the SNP's desired aim, but it is not in the interests of Scotland.”

The BBC said it had participated fully in the report, adding that a new channel was “worth consideration”.

Key proposals

The creation of a new Scottish digital network, comprising a digital public service television channel and a website

The network should provide high-quality information and entertainment, with news and current

affairs, on Scottish and international issues, and innovative, ambitious cultural content

The Scottish Parliament should take an active role on broadcasting. Scots ministers should be able to intervene, in a UK framework, on broadcasting that directly affects Scotland

Ofcom Scotland should be strengthened, with representation from Scotland on the Ofcom board

Scottish Enterprise should produce an economic development strategy for the broadcasting sector by December 31

Creative Scotland, the Government-backed arts company should take “the leadership role” between broadcasters and production companies, “to ensure a thriving creative content sector”

Broadcasters should review their news output and performance.

The BBC should review its commissioning policy for television, its news coverage and the role, remit and funding of Radio Scotland

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