An independent Scotland will create a new public service broadcaster, founded on the staff and assets of BBC Scotland and funded by the current licence fee, according to the Scottish Government.

It has set out plans to set up the Scottish Broadcasting Service (SBS), offering content for television, radio and online. It states that the licence fee, which currently funds the BBC, will remain unchanged under independence.

BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Place, London. Credit: PA

Viewers and listeners should also continue to have access to all their current channels, its White Paper says. The new SBS will inherit a proportionate share of the BBC's commercial ventures totalling around £13 million as well as receiving licence fee revenue from Scotland to the tune of £320 million.