91Èȱ¬

Broadcasting regulator Ofcom has said the 91Èȱ¬'s plans for a new TV channel for Scotland have the potential to harm "fair and effective" competition.

The before deciding whether to give approval.

The 91Èȱ¬ announced proposals in February 2017 for the new channel, which was expected to begin broadcasting in the autumn of 2018.

Ofcom said it would publish its final decision by 11 July.

The 91Èȱ¬ published plans for the channel, to be called 91Èȱ¬ Scotland, in November. They included:

It is proposed that the new channel will take the place currently occupied by 91Èȱ¬ Four on electronic programme guides in Scotland.

The corporation's own governing board found that the channel passed its Public Interest Test.

However, the regulator described the 91Èȱ¬'s plans as a "material change" in the public services offered.

Ofcom said it had had taken comments from 17 stakeholders, many of whom welcomed the new channel.

But questions were raised about whether or not the channel was adequately funded, with others criticising a "lack of detail" and the potential to "crowd out competition".

Ofcom said: "We consider that the points above raise concerns and issues which are sufficiently significant to justify conducting a BCA (competition assessment).

"Furthermore, we consider the activities proposed by the 91Èȱ¬, taken together, comprise a single proposal to carry out a new UK Public Service.

"We do not consider that the aspects of the 91Èȱ¬'s proposal giving rise to our concerns can be clearly separated from an assessment of the overall proposition."

They added: "The BCA process will involve market research and economic analysis and we will take account of the stakeholders responses we have already received."

The 91Èȱ¬ said it had anticipated a commercial assessment.

A spokesman added: "We welcome Ofcom's decision to scrutinise the proposal for the new channel and we look forward to contributing to the consultation exercise."