The BBC Audience Councils agree joint priorities from the perspective of audiences in their nations. Four joint priorities were proposed to the Trust in 2009/10.

Universality of access

Audience engagement on the issues raised in the Digital Britain report confirmed that there is continuing audience dissatisfaction with accessibility to current BBC services. Many licence fee payers throughout the UK can only access some of the BBC offering, or access it imperfectly, because the core public services are not accessible on all platforms. The issues chiefly concern radio and broadband. In Scotland there are significant shortfalls in universal reception of network radio, including the provision of BBC Radio Scotland along the full length of the A9, and of DAB in a number of areas especially in the North and West.

In parts of the UK where there is poor or no access to broadband, audiences are deprived of content which is only available online. Councils believe that to undertake its public service broadcasting responsibilities as the UK's national broadcaster, the BBC must serve the whole of the UK. The Audience Council for Scotland proposed that the Executive be asked to prepare a plan to achieve universal access to BBC services for audiences in Scotland, bringing forward solutions to individual problems where possible, while developing an overall strategic approach for the longer term.

Delivering the public purposes

Councils consider a wide range of data on how well the BBC is performing in their nations, including surveys by the Trust and Executive, and audience engagement by Councils. Councils can then take a view on the aspects of BBC services which are most important for the communities they serve. One of the most prominent issues across the UK, including in Scotland, concerns audience perceptions that the BBC could offer more fresh and new ideas. This issue is likely to be a central one in the BBC Strategy Review which will conclude in autumn 2010.

Content in the nations and regions

Audiences in Scotland set a high value on the BBC programmes and services made specially for them. Audiences believe that both network and opt-out programmes from the BBC should meet the same standards of quality, range and depth. Council advised that the Trust ask the Executive to develop a robust long-term strategy for television drama for audiences in Scotland to increase production, stimulate creativity, and broaden the range of drama portraying Scotland to audiences there.

Portrayal

During the year, the Trust launched a joint project with the Executive to investigate ways in which the BBC might better portray the full diversity of the UK's nations and communities. The Council believes this work will address audience concerns about a more accurate portrayal of the contemporary UK, and looks forward to concrete progress being achieved in the year ahead.

Other issues

Council will continue to monitor issues raised in previous years such as network television production in Scotland, network news coverage of the devolved nations, editorial standards, and digital switchover. Council will also monitor the implementation of plans to provide richer coverage of Scotland's localities, within the constraints set by the Trust.