Some of Scotland’s most celebrated artists have showen their support for the Government to fund a Scottish digital TV channel.

An open letter published yesterday in The Sunday Herald, highlight the support of 20 Scottish artists including X-Men actor Alan Cumming, Rab C Smith actress Elain C Smith, comedian Craig Hill and Kick Ass comic book creator Mark Millar, for the establishment of the publicly funded local TV channel.

The plans are part of the Local TV Network being pushed through by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, which would see a number of local TV stations established across the UK.

Other signatories include actors Martin Compston and James Cosmo, as well as the director of the Edinburgh International Festival Jonathan Miller who have said that such a station would create more jobs and develop the country’s creative output.

“Scottish viewers should enjoy the kind of dedicated broadcasting service that is taken for granted in comparable territories all around Europe. There is clear audience demand, there is all-party support in the Scottish Parliament and there is a glaring public service deficit in the current arrangements,” the letter stated.

Despite this, discussions have already taken place as to where funding for the channel would come from, which is reported to cost around £75 million a year. With the BBC currently in a cost-savings drive as a result of the cost of the long term free of the licence, many within Scotland cannot see this being a likely route however.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport have also ruled out considering funding a Scottish Network until 2017-2018 at the earliest.

Scottish Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop has already expressed her thoughts that such a channel should be funded through the Licence Fee.