Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton says the new channel offers a distinct service which can be "edgy and groundbreaking" in its commissioning. 

Ms Hamilton says this is a Scottish channel with 1,000 hours and 750 of those will be original.

She says she has full confidence it will be a success.

Image source, bbc

Mr Macondald says the amendment calls for new investment across news, radio, TV factual content and online.

The Labour MSP says BBC production away from Pacific Quay must be recognised and not put at risk, as should independent production companies.

He says there is more still to be done on BBC Alba production.

SNP MSP Kate Forbes intervenes to commend BBC Alba for producing a Scottish Eight every night.

Mr Macdonald agrees and he moves the amendment in his name.

Sarah Smith
Scotland Editor

Image source, Getty Images

The BBC is very experienced at broadcasting news to as many people as possible.

Traditionally it's always been much less good at keeping secrets.

Journalists have a natural inclination toward gossip.

So, it was highly unusual that BBC bosses had managed to keep the launch of  a whole new BBC Scotland channel  entirely secret until it was announced to staff on Wednesday morning.

Read more from Sarah Smith here.

Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald says public service broadcasting is as important now as ever with journalistic integrity being questioned widely.

Mr Macdonald says for too long there has been a "sterile debate" about Scotland having its own six o'clock news but Tony Hall has "cut through all that."

The Labour MSP says the new channel and 9 o'clock news hour will give viewers a choice they have not had before.

He says the BBC have taken proposals and made them better and "it is now time to get behind the new channel".

Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald welcomes the announcement by the BBC that the creation of a new channel in Scotland which will lead to an additional 80 journalist posts.

Mr Macdonald calls for the new investment and jobs to be distributed equitably across Scotland

The Labour MSP also welcomes the additional funding for BBC Alba.

He calls for appropriate prominence to be given to BBC Alba and the new BBC Scotland, in electronic programme guides across all providers

Here is the Scottish Labour amendment.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Here is the Scottish government amendment.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, PA

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon used social media to react to the news of a new BBC TV channel for Scotland. 

She tweeted: "Lots to welcome in today's announcement. @scotgov has long argued for new BBC Scotland channel. Vital that it is funded well.

"Commitments to new investment and 80 additional jobs for journalists long overdue and very positive."

But she added: "It doesn't deliver everything that everyone wanted - e.g. no Scottish 6 disappointing - but progress and hopefully sign of new thinking."

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop says she must emphasise in closing that the role of the government and parliament has been instrumental in making progress with the BBC.

She says: "But this is only a start."

Ms Hyslop says the BBC as a whole must invest in quality news programmes.

The culture secretary says the BBC must put Scotland on an even footing with the other nations.

She says nothing in the government amendment should cause the Scottish Conservatives difficulty.

Ms Hyslop says the government are establishing a dedicated screen unit and are making progress on studios and production spaces.

Brian Taylor
BBC Scotland Political Editor

There is nothing more disarming than saying yes. Elegant consensus can have a potency all of its own, capable of deflecting the murmurs or indeed growls of discontent that are common in public discourse.

Such would seem to be the case with the BBC's composite announcement today anent the future of broadcasting in Scotland.

The central promise is a new digital channel specialising in Scottish content, with an hour long news programme at its core, made in Scotland and featuring Scottish, UK and global news.

Read more from Brian Taylor here.

Image source, bbc

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop says last week's announcements illustrate that the government is having an effect on the charter.

Ms Hyslop says the increased investment in journalism and production is overdue, but it is welcome. 

The cutlure secretary says Jackson Carlaw called of the licence fee to be abolished in 2013, accusing him of a spectacular U-turn

She says in 2009 the Scottish Broadcasting Commission said a similar chanel would cost £75m, more than double that which is being proposed.

The minister says Lord Hall says the new channel would be able to draw on all BBC resources.

"No Scottish Six is disappointing but I expect the Scottish Nine to deliver."

Mr Carlaw says the the lack of studio and production facilities means Scotland loses out on big budget films.

The Tory MSP says "this is an exciting time for broadcasting in Scotland."

He says it prevents a challenge, for the BBC to make good on its promise and the government to come up with a competative investment model. 

And to "create a Scotland Holywood to compliment Holyrood," he says. 

The key points of the new channel - which will be called BBC Scotland - are:

• A "prominent" slot on the Electronic Programme Guide (the exact slot will be subject to discussions with providers such a Freeview, Sky and Virgin)
• Available in iPlayer in HD in Scotland and across UK
• Broadcast from 7pm to midnight every evening
• £19m in new money and £11m from programmes currently made for BBC Two in Scotland
• Integrated hour-long news programme at 9pm, edited and presented from Scotland
• 80 new posts for journalists

Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw says his party accepts the Labour amendment and while he agrees with the sentiment of the SNP amendment, he says it is churlish.

Mr Carlaw says the new BBC digital channel will create 80 new journalist posts with an international news hour from 9pm.

He says 1,000 hours will be new commissions.

Image source, bbc

The Conservative MSP says there will be some £30m of funding for the channel.

He says the Conservatives believe the BBC will make a success of the channel and he says the funding model must be robust and appropriate 

Mr Carlaw express concern as to whether there is adequate and competitive studio capacity.

"We are simply not yet a thoroughbred at the races."

Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw says Lord hall successfully achieved a feat which no chancellor or finance secretary has manged in making a surprise announcement.

Mr Carlaw says his party were not against the Scottish Six but that it presented difficulties because Scots do enjoy the national six o'clock news.

The Tory MSP says a Scottish Six may well have reduced the number of Scottish items on the national news.

The Scottish Conservative culture spokesman says his party fully support Lord Hall's decision to maintain a national news broadcast at 6pm.

"There will be no second envelope with a different decision," he says. 

A new TV channel for the BBC in Scotland will begin broadcasting in autumn 2018, director-general Tony Hall has announced.

The channel will have a budget of £30m, equivalent to the amount spent on BBC4.

The plans for the channel include a Scottish news hour at 9pm which will broadcast stories from Scotland, the UK and the world.

The director-general also announced an increase of about £20m a year for Scotland to make UK-wide programmes.