ALBA ISSUE RED CARD TO STV ON RESCHEDULING OF PARTY BROADCAST

The ALBA Party have issued a red card to STV on the TV station’s unilateral rescheduling of the party’s sole election broadcast.

The broadcaster has decided that too many people might be watching the broadcast if it were shown as scheduled this Friday before or after the football! They have decided to reschedule it to next week, after the first tranche of postal votes have been issued.

Alba Party Leader Alex Salmond said;

“STV got a yellow card over their carve up of the television debates. Now that they have put the boot into election fairness again, the card colour has gone red.

"Since the beginning of party broadcasts, the BBC pick the date and STV put it out at roughly the same time. This has always meant that if one side had a small audience for whatever reason, then the other channel has a a big viewership. That is how balance and fairness is maintained.and that is how it should be this Friday, before the Scotland game is shown.

"Now STV have decided to throw away the rule book. They have decided it would give ALBA an “unfair advantage” to show our broadcast at a time of a big audience before or after the football. This humbug from the TV station which unfairly bans ALBA from TV debates!

"To add insult to injury, their proposed new broadcast date is after the postal votes are out. ALBA get but one broadcast. The establishment parties get multiple opportunities.

"We have given STV until close of play today to restore fair play or we will report them forthwith to the Election Committee at Ofcom."