Scotland's first minister says he intends to create a new public service broadcaster if voters back independence in 2014

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, has outlined plans to replace BBC Scotland with a new public service broadcaster – potentially partly funded by advertising – if Scottish voters back independence.

Salmond said the public service broadcaster would be built on the assets and staff of BBC Scotland and funded mainly by licence fee payers.

However, the Scottish National party leader refused to rule out the prospect of the network carrying advertising alongside its public funding.

Salmond told the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival on Friday that Scottish viewers had been "short-changed" by 50 years of broadcasting policy dictated from Westminster.

"Scotland's contribution to broadcasting is unparalleled. Television was invented by John Logie Baird and the very concept of public service broadcasting was shaped by Lord Reith," Salmond said. "But Scottish viewers and TV production talent are today being short-changed."

"Viewers are clearly voting with their remote controls for more Scottish content. Yet we do not have an English-language public service broadcasting channel of our own," he said.

Pressed on how the network would be funded, Salmond said it would rely on the existing £320m licence fee fund but that commercial avenues were "not necessarily a problem in principle".

He declined to rule out the prospect of the channel carrying advertising, likening the proposed public service broadcaster to Ireland's RTE network, which is partially funded by the public and by advertisers.

Salmond said popular BBC shows, including EastEnders and Top Gear, would still be available to Scottish viewers, alongside programmes more tailored to news and events in the country.

Salmond said the proposals were "in the thick of" his top priorities for Scotland if voters back independence in the October 2014 referendum.

His plans, however, were quickly criticised by the shadow secretary of state for Scotland, Margaret Curran MP.

She said: "Today Alex Salmond told us that he's going to break up the BBC with no details about how he would do it or what it means for Scottish viewers or the people whose jobs rely on our TV industry."