Proximity television in stateless nations. Comparison of Catalan and Scottish cases

Abstract

Local television is one of the cornerstones in the identity configuration of the stateless nations. Stations which offer local content are a key piece of communicative spaces, to link media with the regional territory. Catalonia and Scotland share two characteristics that serve as a premise for the research: are stateless nations and have their own communication space. From theoretical approaches based on the theories of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) and cultural proximity, we show the situation of local stations in the two cases. Qualitative methodology for case studies and subsequent comparison is based on consultation and unpublished official documents; interviews to providers, regulators and experts from both regions; and non-participant observation in the channels. Catalonia has a historical existence of local channels. Nowadays, eleven public local stations are broadcasting, operated by consortia groups constituted directly by municipal governments, which share content on a regular basis. Traditionally, there is a lack of local television in Scotland, and only two channels (Edinburgh and Glasgow) has recently been adjudicated at the same commercial company, which is reinforcing its role as regional communications business. Comparison of two different national contexts, with starting points in common but with large differences in local communicative sphere, makes evident the multiplicity of possibilities in the configuration of the audiovisual proximity offer, necessary for the construction and consolidation of the layers of identity close to the citizens.