TV sponsorship not unusual

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Scottish Culture minister Fiona Hyslop has defended the Scottish Government's record on funding of television programmes.

As Ofcom launched its investigation into STV's dealings with the Scottish ministers around the "cash for programmes" row, Hyslop said that it was not unusual for governments to sponsor television programmes.

"The UK government does it all the time, this government has spent about half of what Jack McConnell's administration did in sponsorship of television programmes, so it's not unusual.

"We have operated in exactly the same way as previous administrations and the UK government."
Hyslop added that the question was why there had been singling out by the media of this particular run of programmes, commenting: "I think it's more copy for newspapers than substance."

The row blew up after it emerged that the Scottish Government had agreed to spend £150,000 to sponsor a series of programmes on STV to promote last year's Homecoming celebration.

Ofcom Director in Scotland, Vicki Nash confirmed that the watchdog was investigating the matter under schedule nine of the Broadcasting Act which is designed to prevent "unsuitable sponsorship of programmes on radio and television".

Despite Hyslop's defence of the Scottish Government's sponsorship of STV programmes, opposition politicians were quick to criticise.
Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader Murdo Fraser and that Ofcom's involvement underlined the seriousness of the allegation.

"It would be unacceptable if the SNP Government has being trying to use taxpayers' money to undermine the impartiality of STV.

"Mr Salmond's attempts to manipulate the media for his own ends is well known but if he has been using taxpayers' money to buy favour and influence then that would be a serious breach of power."

And Labour leader Iain Gray warned: "There are strict rules about government involvement in the media and Alex Salmond should not cross that line."