Britannist

BBC live television coverage of the start of 2008 with the fireworks by the Thames at the London 'Eye' (wheel) was not shown to views in most parts of Scotland it has emerged.

Those tuned to BBC 1 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland saw the fireworks in London after the striking of Big Ben at midnight but viewers of BBC 1 in most of Scotland saw a separate Hogmanay Live programme.

Scotland - unlike Wales, Northern Ireland and England - already has its own version of Newsnight (BBC 2 Television) for the final fifteen minutes of the programme.

More on the BBC Television coverage of the start of 2008 at:

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | 9m view New Year fireworks on BBC

Smidgey

This is actually interesting, since it was UK wide programming, such as the BBC, which altered an ancient part of Scottish culture and tradition. Christmas was never a big holiday in Scotland until the 70's. In fact, it was not even a public holiday until the 60's. Hogmanay has historically been the biggest festival in the Scottish calendar. This is probably beginning to change now, but I would still wager that it is a bigger event up here than Christmas.

I had a great time yesterday watching the fireworks from Edinburgh castle and the massive street party. Of couse, Auld Lang Syne was sung.

Happy New Year!

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mkpdavies

It was good to see countries around the world sticking the finger up to MMGW, by letting off millions of pounds worth of CO2 creating fireworks.

I doubt anyone will worry about putting their T.V. on standby after that.

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Besoeker

So the great majority of people in England didn't watch it either.

Chip

I agree with what you say however what is worse is the fact that the fog created in London was paid for by the Taxpayer!

"Do as I say Not as I do" Hopefully Red Ken's last words.

mkpdavies

Exactly what I said to the people I was with. I actually had to explain to them that the money used was taken from us in the form of taxation. Money that could have been used to feed someone, heat an old folks home or whatever.

I guess an argument could be put, that this will draw people in to see the event, who will spend money at the shops etc. Fine, let them pay for it then!

I think it is a shocking waste of taxpayers cash really, even if it does confirm that none of the scumbags in charge really beleive in MMGW.

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22ANDUK

I think all those fireworks were shocking...

We should have all turned out the lights for the night and celebrated instead with the exhilirating splendour of indoor fireworks.

Poor polar bears. B'astards.

Britannist

It looks like that - 9 million (watching BBC 1 Television at the start of New Year 2008) is roughly one in seven of the total population of the UK. With other channels all getting audiences lower than that at midnight as the New Year started today it seems that the overwhelming majority of the British people are not watching television at all at the start of New Year.

Hartlepool

What was the number of Scots watching Scottish TV?

Britannist

Not much talk, I notice, of alleged global warming in this cold weather with newspapers forecasting ice-cold Siberian winds about to sweep across the British Isles.