River City did not pass value for money test, BBC Scotland boss tells MSPs
Bosses announced plans to cancel the show, which has been running since 2002, next year, claiming viewing patterns had shifted.
The decision has raised concerns about impacts on the screen sector in Scotland.
But, appearing at Holyrood's Culture Committee on Thursday, BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine said: 'I didn't take this lightly and I did think about the consequences for cast, for crew, for people who are impacted by the decision, of course I did.
'However, we have to put our audience's needs first and the audience for River City has declined significantly over the past five years.'
Ms Valentine pointed to a number of new dramas set to be produced by the broadcaster, saying: 'What we'll do with these new dramas, which will absolutely cost more to make, but we'd expect them to deliver much bigger audiences than River City does.
'In terms of value for money for the audience, I'm afraid that River City didn't pass that test for us any longer, and the new dramas, we really hope will.'
The police drama, Shetland, Ms Valentine said, brings in about 700,000 viewers in Scotland and up to eight million elsewhere in the UK, compared to just 200,000 for River City.
Addressing concerns about the future of the sector, she said: 'River City is not the only game in town in terms of access to drama in Scotland, whether you're an actor, whether you're a director, whether you're a producer, whether you're a trainee.
'We offer these opportunities across a really wide range of content, it's not just River City that does that for us.'
Ms Valentine also pointed to budgetary issues at the broadcaster, telling MSPs she doesn't 'have the money to do everything that I want to'.
'There are a million things that I'd like to do that aren't possible.
'So I have to make difficult decisions.
'This decision was made on the basis that the audience figures are not performing for us in the way that we need them to.'
Cast and crew, as well as actors' union Equity, have already appeared before the committee to warn of the impact of the soap's cancellation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
20 hours ago
- Powys County Times
BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett announces cancer diagnosis
BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett has announced that he will be taking a break from his presenting role following a cancer diagnosis. The broadcaster, 59, announced on Thursday that he would be stepping back from his early evening programme Get It On to undergo appendiceal cancer treatment. Speaking on air, he said the tumour was first discovered earlier this year while he was having surgery to remove his appendix. He said: 'Appendix cancer is incredibly rare but the good news is it is treatable, but I do have to have some fairly hefty abdominal surgery next week. 'It's going to mean I am going to be off work for a couple of months and you know how hard I will find that. However, I'm expected to make a full recovery, which is good news, and will be back on air, on the show that I truly love, later in the year. 'Those of you who are regular listeners know that we are such a close team on Get It On, so I also want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to my brilliant producers for all the hand-holding and encouragement they've given me since they found out my news. I'm sure they will let you know how I'm doing over the next few weeks.' In a statement he said his treatment will begin next week and will involve abdominal surgery and chemotherapy. Burnett said: 'I've experienced the most incredible care and kindness from the NHS staff who have been looking after me. 'My surgeon is a Get It On listener so I know I'm in good hands. 'I will really miss the music and the chat when I'm off but our listeners have given me hundreds of great playlists so that will keep me going over the next few months.' Broadcaster Grant Stott will step in to present the show in his absence. Hayley Valentine, director BBC Scotland, said: 'Bryan is one of our most popular broadcasters on Radio Scotland and I know listeners will join us in wishing him well as he embarks on his treatment. 'We look forward to welcoming him back to the Get It On studio once he's recovered.'
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
BBC Radio Scotland broadcaster Bryan Burnett shares cancer diagnosis with Get it On audience and announces break from programme
BBC Radio Scotland broadcaster Bryan Burnett announced that he will be taking a break from his popular early evening programme Get it On, to undergo treatment for appendiceal cancer. In a short statement Bryan explained that a tumour had been discovered during surgery to remove his appendix earlier this year and that, although appendix cancer is incredibly rare, it is treatable and he is expected to make a full recovery. He went on to say that his treatment will begin next week and involves complex abdominal surgery and chemotherapy. He added that Grant Stott would be stepping in to look after the show in his absence and thanked his colleagues for their support and encouragement since he received the news. Bryan said: 'I've experienced the most incredible care and kindness from the NHS staff who have been looking after me. My surgeon is a Get it On listener so I know I'm in good hands. 'I will really miss the music and the chat when I'm off but our listeners have given me hundreds of great playlists so that will keep me going over the next few months.' Hayley Valentine, director BBC Scotland added: 'Bryan is one of our most popular broadcasters on Radio Scotland and I know listeners will join us in wishing him well as he embarks on his treatment. We look forward to welcoming him back to the Get it On studio once he's recovered.' BBC Scotland Press Office
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
BBC Shetland fans told to binge new series following real Scottish island murder
The new documentary on Amazon Prime Video is a must-watch for fans of the BBC's Shetland Viewers who enjoy the BBC crime drama Shetland are advised to watch a forthcoming Amazon Prime Video documentary that delves into the real-life account of a murder in the Scottish islands. The Orkney Assassin: Murder in the Isles, a new feature-length documentary, will premiere on the streaming service later this week. The documentary recounts the shocking tale of a cold-blooded murder in Scotland and follows a family determined to secure their son Michael Ross's release from prison. According to Amazon Prime Video's synopsis: "One summer evening in 1994, a masked man walked calmly into the only Indian restaurant in the remote Orkney Islands and shot a waiter dead before disappearing into the night. "The murder remained unsolved for years, until new evidence emerged, resulting in an unexpected arrest that stunned the local community. "Featuring powerful new testimony, this twist-filled true crime documentary explores one of Scotland's most contentious cases." An exclusive preview shared with Reach hints at what's to come, with a "twist in the tale that nobody saw coming". The footage reveals that Michael Ross made a daring escape attempt from court in dramatic scenes, reports the Express. KC Brian McConnachie remarks: "I've been doing this for 40 years and I have never seen such a dramatic end to a trial." Former journalist Bob Dow adds: "It was so bizarre, it was so surreal, you couldn't make this up. "If you wrote this as a Hollywood movie script, no one would believe you. They would say it was unimaginable." While The Orkney Assassin is based on a real-life case and Shetland is purely fictional, BBC viewers may still find this series appealing due to its familiar themes and Scottish island setting. BBC's Shetland is a crime drama set predominantly on the eponymous archipelago, having first aired in March 2013. The series, adapted by David Kane, is based on the novels of Ann Cleeves and has previously bagged the award for Best TV Drama from BAFTA Scotland. The initial seven series starred Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Pérez, while Ashley Jensen took on the role of DI Ruth Calder from series 8. Whilst a release date for series 10 hasn't been confirmed, Shetland is anticipated to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.
