The BBC has been urged to recognise different Scottish regions in its television broadcasts.

Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North, is calling on the BBC to localise its news, instead of grouping Scotland as one region during bulletins.

BBC Scotland Headquarters (pixelsandpaper/Flickr)

The SNP MSP has written to the BBC Trust suggesting they consider regional opt-outs from the flagship Reporting Scotland or as part of a potential wider news programme.

Mr Adam said:

“As far as the BBC is concerned Scotland is all one region.  The result is that those of us living in the North or the Highlands see very little of our local news on the TV.

“While BBC Radio produces local opt outs and STV broadcasts news for the North, the West and the East of Scotland, much of the BBC TV content is focussed on the central belt.

“The current arrangement that we get for news from the major broadcasters in Scotland simply isn’t satisfactory. The BBC have a duty towards license payers across this country, and they simply aren’t doing them justice.”

“Both STV and the BBC have the facilities in Aberdeen, in Dundee, in Inverness and I’m sure that people in the North East and Highlands would welcome more local reporting, as would others across the country.”

An SNP spokesman said that while Mr Adam’s calls are his own initiative, they are in line with party policy.