Members' Business — S6M-16978 Neil Bibby: BBC Scotland's Decision to End River City and Close its Dumbarton Studios

That the Parliament notes with regret the reported decision by BBC Scotland to end the programme, River City, which it understands is Scotland’s only homegrown soap; believes that this will have a disproportionately negative impact on performers in Scotland, many of whom, it understands, get their first TV job on River City, as well as on the wider Scottish production landscape; considers that the reported £9 million annual budget for the show is excellent value for money, given the hours of programming produced throughout the year for what it sees as a successful show, which, it understands, attracts a regular audience of 500,000 per episode, outperforming other TV series by more than two and a half times; believes that the Glasgow-based show is well loved by Scottish audiences and enjoys strong ratings, with it winning Best Drama at the Royal Television Society Scotland 2023 awards for its 20th anniversary episode; notes what it sees as BBC Scotland’s failure to inform the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee of its reported plans to close the BBC studios in Dumbarton and end River City in its annual report to the Parliament in January 2025; further notes the calls for BBC Scotland to recognise its public broadcasting duty and explain how its current proposals to replace River City will provide the same good jobs, training and apprenticeships currently available at the BBC’s Dumbarton studios to performers and crew in Scotland, and ensure that the reported £9 million budget will be spent on Scottish drama; considers the BBC's Dumbarton studios to be an important asset, which has been used for a number of other productions, including Vigil and Shetland; understands that the owner of the studios site is open to renewing the lease, and notes the calls, in light of this, for BBC Scotland to revisit its reported decision to end River City and close its Dumbarton studios.