Salmond’s BBC vision is a vote turn-off

Clearly, when Alex Salmond delivered his speech on the future of Scottish broadcasting (your report, 25 August), he was unaware of the current state of independent local radio in Scotland.

I am an avid day-to-day listener of BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio 2. Unfortunately, I work in an office where I have to suffer Real Radio Scotland and Forth One, both examples of poor broadcasting as far as I am concerned.

I just want good variety, be it from TV or radio. Mr Salmond is once again reaching out to the lowest common denominator by saying that “EastEnders will be safe in an independent Scotland”. Does this also apply to Who Do You Think You Are? and Masterchef?

Even he must enjoy the simple pleasures of life after a long day and that, for a lot of people, is free access to TV and radio available through the licence fee and not a paid-for service. We certainly don’t need a tartan broadcasting service.

Ian Ross

Craigleith Road

Edinburgh

at LAST we have a definite statement from our First Minister on the detail of what we could expect in an independent Scotland.

Never mind the economy, defence commitments, citizenship, international political alliances or other minor issues such as these, Alex Salmond has finally nailed his colours to the mast and assured the Scottish nation that, come independence and his new vision of television broadcasting in Scotland, 
“EastEnders is safe”.

On the independence question, people want to know what would change, not what would remain the same.

Walter J Allan

Colinton Mains Drive

Edinburgh

So NOW the BBC would be broken up along with the UK, according to Alex Salmond’s vision for the future of broadcasting. 

The audacity and sheer conceit of the man who believes that he can dictate which programmes are suitable to be screened here: soap operas are fine, but not “high-brow” arts, drama and documentaries on BBC 4.

It is a strange anomaly to propose a dumbed-down BBC in Scotland at a time when the world has come to Edinburgh for an inspiring, innovative cultural feast of international arts, music, theatre, dance and literature.

I wonder if the Edinburgh International Festival, Fringe and Book Festival are all 
too high-brow for Mr Salmond.

Vivien Devlin

Leslie Place

Edinburgh