Scotland’s new television channel, BBC Scotland, launched in February 2019 and is available to watch from anywhere live on BBC TV or on catchup with free streaming on BBC iPlayer.
BBC Scotland is a Scottish English-language television station under the BBC Scotland division of the BBC. It airs a nightly lineup dedicated entirely to Scottish-originated programming. During daytime broadcast hours, the channel broadcasts a simulcast of BBC Two, but may opt out for news and sports events outside of its formal broadcast hours.
BBC Scotland is available for viewers throughout the UK on BBC iPlayer and at the following EPG positions:-
- SKY: 457 (HD & SD; HD receivers will also have SD on 876)
- Freesat: 108 (HD & SD; HD receivers will also have SD on 174)
- Virgin Media: 162 (HD)
It’s not a surprise to see what might be called softer, (and cheaper) documentaries – an Asian wedding, Scottish punk rock and aspiring young dancers. However, the impressive old-school documentary Nae Pasaran, about the refusal of Scots Rolls Royce workers to service jet engines for the Chilean Pinochet dictatorship in 1974, shone on opening night.
Some of this kind of programming, interesting as it is, may well be over extended in order to fill the schedule and meet the Ofcom quota of 75% “original material” in peak time. There was also some (tried and tested) comedy, but there will not be much drama – the costliest form of television – and reshowing a much-loved classic such as John Byrne’s Tutti Frutti, may only serve to emphasise that fact.
The nightly news programme, The Nine, has played to mixed reviews and does have the look and feel of a breakfast show. However after a first edition which scarcely mentioned the world beyond Scotland, things have improved, with more foreign reports from recently hired journalists and existing BBC staffers. But there hasn’t been too much UK news – Brexit apart – never mind news from the other constituent parts of the UK, including England.
How to watch the BBC Scotland channel on BBC iPlayer from anywhere…
The new BBC Scotland TV channel is available to watch on the various BBC iPlayer and BBC TV apps on iPhone, iPad, Android, Smart TV, Now TV, FireTV etc.
When you load BBC iPlayer in the USA, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Dubai, Canada etc. you will get an error message.
BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only.
This is basically because their streaming services are geoblocked based on the IP address being used to access it. You must be a UK domestic web user to access BBC live tv streaming and catchup with BBC iPlayer.
- Get a UK IP address.
- If you just want to watch on your PC, Mac or iPad. Then you can get a UK Proxy or VPN from Liberty Shield, FREE for 48 hours and then from only £8.99 per month..
- Prefer to watch on supported media streaming devices like Now TV, Smart TVs, Apple TV, Xbox, PS4, Amazon Fire TV, Roku etc? You’ll need a UK configured VPN Router setup as British, available from only £12.99 with Worldwide Shipping available.
Furthermore BBC iPlayer isn’t the only geographically-censored streaming services a VPN or Proxy will allow you to access. Other UK services like BBC Sport, ITV Hub, All 4, Sky Go and Now TV are available. Plus with the option to switch to our USA service whenever you like, you can access Hulu, HBO GO, Netflix and Pandora. Essentially you can access international content from virtually anywhere!
