BBC regions welcome licence fee proposals

Audiences in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland will benefit directly from enhanced local services as a result of significant investment from the proposed new licence fee settlement, according to BBC regional heads.
Commenting on the BBC's case for an increase based on inflation plus 2.3% a year from 2007, BBC Northern Ireland Controller Anna Carragher said: "The range of BBC services made specifically for local audiences will be extended and enhanced with further investment in journalism, including more localised services and additional high quality programmes, with additional network programmes made by BBC Northern Ireland."
Following the success of the Coleraine Milk Cup broadband experiment earlier this year, more localised news services could be developed in areas including Mid-Ulster and in the South and West.
This continues BBC Northern Ireland's ambition to extend its reach and connection with all the diverse communities it serves.
BBC Wales Controller Menna Richards said that Wales would be one of the principal beneficiaries of a rise in the TV licence fee, with the BBC proposing increased investment in Wales.
Richards said the additional money would support BBC Wales's promises to enhance its services across the board.
An increased licence fee would also enable the BBC to meet its proportion of the costs of making digital terrestrial television (Freeview) available throughout Wales by the end of 2009, and of launching a non-subscription digital satellite service (Freesat), making Wales one of the first regions in the UK to complete the switchover from analogue to digital.
BBC Scotland Controller Ken MacQuarrie said viewers and listeners in Scotland would also benefit significantly from the proposed licence fee settlement.
He said: "Moving to digital switchover is a tremendously exciting time for broadcasters in Scotland and for BBC Scotland in particular.
"In 2007 we move to a new digital headquarters at Pacific Quay in Glasgow, while the Out of London initiative will bring huge Network opportunities for our programme makers in the years ahead.
"We are also looking at plans for expanded regional news services, which we hope to be able to offer to audiences around Scotland, and at how we might be able to support a Gaelic digital service."
(GB)