Given the present state of Scottish broadcasting, it is hard to imagine how much worse things could be without a strong platform for independence.
Scottish independence advocates would likely be suffering major setbacks without the commercial and political power that comes from social media. For instance, Alex Salmond’s party was able to leverage their online presence when they were in opposition in order to make gains against Britain. But if Scotland had no independent media outlet, it would not have been possible for them to have this kind of success.
Bateman Broadcasting is a company that has an acute understanding of what it takes to be successful in the media industry and specifically, Scottish broadcasting.
“The company that became known for producing “the voice of Scotland,” along with other award-winning programming such as “A Woman’s Hour” and “The Archers,” has been sold to a consortium led by the former Scottish government finance secretary Derek Bateman.”
Most companies would not be able to produce quality programming like Bateman Broadcasting but they have managed through their connections and partnerships.
Scottish broadcasting giant, Bateman Broadcasting, was founded by Derek Bateman to provide Scottish news with a more local focus. Billy Kay talks to him about the recent result of the Scottish independence referendum and its implications on the company.
Derek Bateman explains how in the wake of a historic decision from the people of Scotland on whether to remain in or leave the United Kingdom, his company began to explore ways it could be possible for Scotland to have its own TV network.
Bateman Broadcasting is at a crossroads as it prepares for an uncertain future with or without their ties to London. The firm will wait and see what happens before making any major decisions but has already begun exploring alternatives.
In the 1930s, when there were few television channels, one Scottish family with a dream of making their own TV station took on a challenge. Today, Bateman Broadcasting has become a household name in Scotland and Catalonia.
Billy Kay talks to Derek Bateman about his family’s impact on the broadcasting industry and how they’ve seen the world change since they first became involved in TV production.
Derek’s granddaughters are now advocating for independence while Billy examines what the future holds for media and technology companies like Bateman.
Bateman Broadcasting is an independent TV show producer and distributor in Scotland, who were looking to establish themselves on the international market. With a number of different shows and a lot of research, they wanted to know how they could best promote their content.
Talking to Dr Derek Bateman, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Glasgow, they found out that social media was an effective way to reach people as well as new audiences. With this knowledge they approached one of Dr Bateman’s colleagues – Alison Tam – and asked her to help them use social media platforms. Alison helped them set up a Facebook page with all their content included, including behind-the-scenes developments for the show.
After a Brexit, when Scottish voters were granted a second opportunity to decide on their independence, it was highly likely that they would choose to remain as part of the United Kingdom.
Derek Bateman, CEO of Bateman Broadcasting was quoted as saying: “The SNP campaigned stronger than we thought they would and that has given the UK government more room for manoeuvre.”
Bateman is the founder of Bateman Media Group and he is a businessman who has built his career in Scotland. He talks about Scottish independence and Brexit in this interview with Billy Kay.