The first programme, Television Comes to Scotland, was relayed on the English transmitters, featuring a dedicatory prayer, a vote of thanks from Lord Provost of Edinburgh and a ten-minute dancing segment.

[3] Expansion of the service was first planned in 1954 with the building of a transmitter in Inverness;[4][5] accomplished by the opening of the Rosemarkie transmitting station on 14 August 1957, extending reception to the Highlands.

[7] Colour broadcasts started with the network output in 1969; with the conversion of BBC Scotland's Queen Margaret Drive Studio "A" in Glasgow in 1971, Scottish programming followed suit.

The presentation style fits in with the national BBC One 'Circle' idents, but with the "Scotland" caption added to the network logo.

An HD (high-definition) simulcast of BBC One Scotland launched on 14 January 2013 on Freeview, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.