STV watering down plans to drop north of Scotland news programme

Broadcaster STV is watering down controversial plans for changes to news programmes.

It had proposed dropping the separate news service for viewers in the northern half of Scotland.

But TV regulator Ofcom is consulting on new proposals which would mean those viewers would still get some local news.

Ofcom said it proposed to accept STV's revised plans but would carry out a consultation which will run until February, with any changes likely by the spring.

The broadcaster currently provides two separate news services - one for the central belt, the other for the northern half of the country.

The original proposals were widely condemned by politicians and business groups in the north of Scotland.

The leaders of the five main political parties at Holyrood - including the First Minister John Swinney - signed a letter criticising the plan.

The new proposals still mean the end of an entirely separate news service for the north - the legacy of the former Grampian Television - and the studio presentation of all news programmes will come from Glasgow.

But they retain some separate provision for northern viewers.

• Most of the main 18:00 news programme would be shown in both central and northern Scotland and include stories from across Scotland of national interest. But about a third of the programme seen by viewers in the north would be different so would focus on local and regional stories. This also means that viewers in the central belt would also continue to see some stories of purely regional interest
• The news bulletins at lunchtime and in the late evening would be shown across central and northern Scotland too.
• The "sub regional opts", which provide separate local news for the Tayside and Edinburgh areas, would end.

Ofcom said: "We believe STV's proposal would ensure that audiences continue to receive high-quality regional news on a sustainable basis."

STV said it welcomed Ofcom's consultation on the revised proposals.

The consultation runs until 9 February with a decision likely soon afterwards.

This could lead the way to the changes on-screen taking place around Easter or early spring.

Chief executive Rufus Radcliffe said: "We have had valuable ongoing dialogue with Ofcom and considered very carefully the changes we need to put in place, and we are pleased the regulator proposes to accept this plan.

"The model presented will enable the continued delivery of high-quality news that we are proud of and will see STV realise its digital news ambitions, serving viewers across Scotland."

Mr Radcliffe added: "Businesses cannot stand still when their industry is changing and when consumers are changing their behaviour fundamentally and at pace.

"Viewing habits have transformed and we must adapt and provide the services that people demand, and ensure that we are a future-facing, commercially sustainable business."

The actual boundary between STV's two news services was the legacy of transmitter coverage areas - not editorial factors or local politics.

This means viewers in Perth and St Andrews currently get a news service from Aberdeen while a programme from Glasgow is broadcast to large parts of the west Highlands.

But there is also the question over finding the correct balance between Scottish national news and purely local and regional stories.

The National Union of Journalists has a mandate for strike action at STV over job cuts and the changes to news programmes. However, no strike dates have been announced.

Only a small number of NUJ members remain at risk of compulsory redundancy but the union remains opposed to STV's plans.

It called the revised scheme "cold comfort " for viewers.

Nick McGowan-Lowe said: "After months of trying to ignore public and political pressure, STV's revised plans finally recognise the importance of the STV North edition of the News at 6.

"But these watered-down proposals will be cold comfort for viewers in the north of Scotland, or for some of STV News' best known faces who are currently facing potential redundancy.

"The NUJ opposes this new plans, which are bad for viewers, bad for advertisers, bad for journalism and bad for the STV brand."

He added: "STV should come clean about what it is really trying to do - which is attempting an ill-judged launch of an expensive commercial radio station, paid for by the jobs of journalists, in the middle of a financial crisis caused by its own mismanagement.

"Senior management need to stop and rethink their plans rather than trying to rip up its public service broadcasting obligations".

Ofcom's consultation highlights falling news ratings and the financial pressures which are making it harder for commercial broadcasters to deliver public service content.

It includes a questionnaire which interested parties can complete.