STV regional programming commitments: Ofcom consultation

Summary

The Scottish Government welcomes the opportunity to respond to Ofcom’s consultation on STV’s request to change regional programming commitments.

The Scottish Government strongly supports public service broadcasting and recognises STV’s vital role in Scotland’s creative economy and democratic life. However, we are unequivocally opposed to these proposals. They represent a serious weakening of public service broadcasting obligations and risk long-term harm to Scotland’s media ecology, democratic accountability, and local representation.

While we respect STV’s independence in decision-making, we remain deeply concerned that the proposals set out in this consultation, despite being revised since the original proposals, would significantly weaken regional news provision, reduce plurality, and erode local representation at a time when Ofcom’s own evidence shows trusted PSB news remains crucial. These proposals represent a rollback of obligations designed to protect plurality and local relevance.

The Channel 3 licences granted by Ofcom carry clear statutory obligations for news, including commitments to regional coverage. It is fundamental that STV’s two licences – STV North and STV Central – continue to meet these regulatory and civic obligations to ensure audiences across both licence areas receive news that meets local needs, reflects distinct communities, and provides representation for people across Scotland. These obligations were agreed when the licences were renewed in 2024, and remain central to public service broadcasting purposes.

We are not persuaded that Ofcom’s provisional assessment and proposed licence changes would safeguard high‑quality, locally relevant news for audiences across Scotland. For the following reasons, we strongly disagree with Ofcom’s provisional assessment or the proposed licence amendments:

• a material decrease in discrete content at 6pm and the removal of sub‑regional “opts” would diminish distinctiveness and accountability of regional news, particularly for communities beyond the Central Belt, resulting in a north-south imbalance and diminishing the depth and diversity of local news coverage across Scotland
• weakening regional and sub‑regional commitments will undermine trust and plurality, which Ofcom’s own reviews identify as essential
• these proposals follow a pattern of wider cuts and consolidation across broadcast and print news, including Ofcom’s approval of reduced peak‑time BBC Scotland news provision. The net effect is a contraction of Scotland‑focused journalism when audiences still highly value Scottish news

While Ofcom notes financial challenges for STV in delivering Public Service Media content, published results from the broadcaster do not indicate a financial crisis (STV, 2025: STV Interim Results and Update on Cost Savings Plan). The Scottish Government considers it vital that STV remains sustainable, protects jobs, and fulfils its public service obligations under both its Channel 3 licences. Decisions on new ventures, such as a new radio service, should not be made at the expense of vital public service conditions and obligations to Scottish audiences already set out in the licences. 

The Scottish Government strongly believes that these proposals would not achieve the vital aim to ensure audiences are well-served with high-quality news across both of STV’s licensed areas. It is vital that high-quality, independent local bulletins are preserved; editorial centres outside Glasgow are maintained; and Scottish-based jobs and equitable news access across Scotland, and in both licence areas, are safeguarded.

Regional news coverage and sub-regional bulletins are essential for:

• democratic accountability and local representation
• maintaining audience trust and engagement
• supporting regional journalism and sustaining jobs
• delivering on PSB obligations to reflect the diversity of Scotland’s communities

We strongly urge Ofcom to consider the long-term implications for plurality, local democracy, and the health of Scotland’s media landscape before removing current public service obligations. Weakening these obligations would set a damaging precedent and accelerate the decline of public interest journalism in Scotland.

Question 1 in the consultation

Do you agree with Ofcom’s provisional assessment and its proposal to amend STV’s licence conditions to allow for:

• Sharing of up to 70% of material in the news programme broadcast at 6pm each weekday  (the STV News at Six) between the STV North and STV Central licences; and
• An extension of the permission to fully share programming currently restricted to the weekend to news programming broadcast outside of peak hours and on bank holidays?

If not, please explain why, providing supporting evidence where possible.

Scottish Government response

No. While the Scottish Government respects the independence of STV, we remain deeply concerned that there would be a negative impact on news provision across Scotland if the proposed licence amendments are made. We therefore do not agree with Ofcom’s provisional assessment and the proposed changes to STV’s licences, and the reasons for that view are provided below.

Erosion of regional news provision and representation

Allowing up to 70% shared content within the flagship 6pm bulletin would meaningfully reduce the scope for region‑specific coverage and editorial judgement tailored to the distinct social, economic and cultural realities of North and Central Scotland. The STV News at Six is a key daily civic touchpoint and remains popular; diluting regional content at that moment undermines PSB purposes focused on reflecting the UK’s nations and regions.

Quality news plays a crucial role in society, helping contribute a great deal to empowering communities, and holding local institutions to account. Ofcom’s report on the future of public service media, published in July 2025, states that audiences’ access to accurate local, national and international news they trust provides the foundation for civic debate and democratic society (Ofcom, 2025: Transmission Critical The future of Public Service Media).

Ofcom’s latest Media Nations: Scotland report, published in July 2025, shows that there continues to be a significant amount of interest in news about Scotland. Just under half of all people aged 16+ in Scotland who follow news claim to be ‘very interested’ in news about Scotland (48%) – this is higher than the equivalent figures for other UK nations and rises to 88% for those who are either ‘very’ or ‘quite’ interested in accessing this content. STV is the most used for news about the nation, with 27% using STV, while 22% use the BBC (Ofcom, 2025: Media Nations 2025 - Scotland).

Ofcom’s Plan of Work each year, including the Proposed Plan published on 5 December 2025, consistently highlights its view on the key role of a plurality of news sources and the regulator’s priority to ensure that audiences can continue to access a variety of broadcast and on-demand media. The Scottish Government strongly supports the continuation of these fundamental principles and the important place of the Channel 3 licencees in maintain plurality and diversity of news coverage, including regionally. 

The proposals also risk depriving a major economic and cultural area of Scotland of  representation. As Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, with the support and signatures from the leaders of Scotland’s five main political parties, set out to Ofcom, replacing dedicated northern coverage with a single pan-Scotland bulletin is of grave concern to businesses, communities and elected representatives across the region.

The north of Scotland is integral to the country’s prosperity. It hosts globally recognised sectors in energy, food and drink, tourism, and technology, and its communities make a significant contribution to Scotland’s economy and cultural life. Ensuring that the region’s issues, successes, and challenges receive fair and consistent coverage is therefore vital.

Reduced reporting capacity

STV’s proposals have come under considerable criticism from many stakeholders across the sector and from viewers. They have triggered industrial action from STV journalists, with the NUJ repeatedly criticising the plans as being bad for viewers, advertisers, and journalism.

Trade unions have been highly critical of the proposals, setting out to the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee that removing programme-making from Aberdeen risks losing technical and creative skills. It cuts off entry points for new talent, especially freelancers who build careers locally. Robert Gordon University’s strong journalism department and industry ties highlight concerns that STV’s potential withdrawal could impact jobs, career opportunities, and the future of journalism in Aberdeen, Inverness, and the wider northeast (Scottish Parliament, 2025: Meeting of the Parliament: CEEAC/09/10/2025 | Scottish Parliament Website).

Public value and trust

Ofcom’s own assessments emphasise the democratic function of PSB news and its high public value and comparatively high trust levels versus online sources. Any reform that reduces local relevance at the primary evening bulletin risks diminishing audience trust, particularly for audiences who rely on broadcast TV.

Ofcom finds that the PSBs remain the most trusted source of news. Under half of those who regularly use social media for news score it highly for accuracy (43%), trustworthiness (44%) and impartiality (44%). In contrast, the PSBs have significantly higher levels of trust in their broadcast news – 68% for regular viewers of STV/ITV (Ofcom, 2025: Transmission Critical The future of Public Service Media).

Local news is also valued for its trust and accuracy. 93% of adults claim to use local news or information sources. TV, radio, printed sources and local newspaper websites were all seen as generally trustworthy and accurate by 80-90% of users (Ofcom, 2025: Transmission Critical The future of Public Service Media).

Ofcom’s analysis finds that users who consume news on social media are less likely to correctly identify important factual information, have less trust in institutions, and are more polarised in their views. There is also a greater chance of encountering misinformation and disinformation. Ofcom highlights that it is not surprising that people have significantly less trust in news on social media than broadcast news services, which are required to provide duly accurate and impartial news (Ofcom, 2025: Transmission Critical The future of Public Service Media).

According to Ofcom research, 43% of UK adults say they had encountered misinformation or deepfake content with 71% of those stating that they had seen it online, compared to 43% on TV and 21% in print newspapers or their associated websites (Ofcom, 2024: Mis and disinformation report).

The sustainability of quality news from reliable sources is crucial in the fight against false or misleading information, and the Scottish Government considers it vital to protect public service media news commitments, including for regional news coverage. 

Public Service Broadcasting principles

Public service broadcasters have a vital role to play in fulfilling the purposes of public service media with regard to delivery of news programming for all parts of the UK, and it is critical that the Channel 3 obligations to deliver regional news programming are retained to ensure plurality of news across Scotland. As Ofcom states in the consultation document, and which the Scottish Government strongly supports, “these obligations are designed to ensure that audiences across the licensed areas have access to relevant and localised news content.”

When Ofcom published the renewed Channel 3 licences for STV, its findings highlighted the importance of the provision of national and regional news through these licences to ensure audiences have access to programming relevant to their region. At the time (September 2024), Ofcom said that regional provision continues to be an important part of their offering to audiences (Ofcom, 2024: Licensing of Channel 3 and Channel 5: A report to the Secretary of State under section 229 of the Communications Act 2003).

The Scottish Government believes that it is fundamental that both licences – STV North and STV Central – maintain the requirements imposed on STV as licenceholder to ensure audiences across both licence areas have news that reflects their region and representation. These obligations were agreed when the licences were renewed in 2024 and came into force in January 2025.

Local Scottish content, particularly news and current affairs, whilst attracting high local audiences will not deliver commercial profit. If news provision is reduced, it is therefore unlikely to be provided in the future. This highlights the risk that any dilution in obligations under licence will have on the fulfilment of vital public service broadcasting criteria.

Editorial centralisation and resilience

STV has indicated a model based on production/presentation from Glasgow, with shared material across both licences. While we acknowledge the stated intention to maintain newsgathering bases, centralising editorial decision‑making and expanding content‑sharing can narrow the agenda and reduce resilience in covering local stories, emergencies, and civic institutions outside the Central Belt. The sector‑wide context – including staff concerns and industrial action – amplifies the risk to on‑the‑ground reporting capacity.

As the First Minister set out to the Scottish Parliament earlier this month, the recent adverse weather in the north of Scotland highlights the need for local information that serves effected communities, and underlines how important it is that we have timeous and reliable public service journalism across Scotland and its diverse communities.

Regional reporting thrives on locally-informed editorial priorities, with STV North reporters on the ground able to respond quickly to unfolding events. A centralised Glasgow production model, with shared bulletins and reduced local teams, would struggle to maintain that area-specific depth, timeliness, and accountability. Regionally-relevant news coverage of issues such as extreme weather, transport disruptions, localised closures, community-specific stories and experiences (including reporting from local voices), coverage of local events and regionally-specific developments across sectors, such as matters related to industry, energy and culture, as well as holding local democratic institutions to account, would not be prioritised in a national bulletin.

As other stakeholders have set out, including BECTU and the NUJ, the two licences (Central Belt and North of Scotland) must reflect views and the cultural diversity of the people within those licence areas. It is important to the people who live within those distinct areas that the programmes tell their stories and are made by people who live in those areas (Scottish Parliament, 2025: Meeting of the Parliament: CEEAC/09/10/2025 | Scottish Parliament Website).

The Scottish Government has consistently championed strong regional broadcasting as critical to local identity and democratic discourse. Centralising production in Glasgow risks marginalising stories most relevant to North Scotland.

While STV argues this move is justified due to declining linear audiences and budget pressures, there is limited evidence that a predominantly shared bulletin would maintain viewer trust, engagement, or news quality across both regions.

Digital expansion is complementary, not substitutive

The Scottish Government supports investment in digital news. However, digital output cannot substitute for the civic function of a regionally distinctive 6pm bulletin that is universally available and easy to find for audiences that continue to rely on broadcast news; broadcast TV viewing in Scotland remains the highest among all UK nations (Ofcom, 2025: Media Nations 2025 - Scotland). Ofcom’s PSM work stresses that regulation should protect discoverability and access to trusted PSB content; weakening the linear backbone in Scotland runs counter to that aim (Ofcom, 2025: Transmission Critical The future of Public Service Media).

STV cites an expanding digital news service as a mitigating factor (STV, 2025: STV Welcomes Ofcom Consultation on Proposed Licence Changes to Protect News Operation). However, such platforms may not be equally accessible to all demographics – especially older viewers or those without robust digital connectivity in rural areas. Linear television remains a key vehicle for reaching these audiences. Relying solely on digital platforms risks excluding less digitally engaged communities. Ofcom’s most recent Media Nations report highlights that individuals aged 65 and over continued to watch the most broadcast television in Scotland, with their average daily viewing increasing by 3% to 5 hours 44 minutes. Adults aged 35-44 recorded the largest percentage increase, with viewing time rising by 7% to 1 hour 44 minutes (Ofcom, 2025: Media Nations 2025 - Scotland).

Cumulative sector impact

STV’s proposals follow wider changes and challenges across the journalism and broadcasting sectors in Scotland. This includes Ofcom’s decision to approve a request by the BBC to reduce the hours of news provision required by the Operating Licence in peak time on the BBC Scotland channel from 250 to 125 hours per calendar year. Following Ofcom approving these changes, the BBC announced plans to reduce the number of editorial and production jobs in the Nations and Regions by 115, including 25 to 30 jobs in Scotland.

Across the wider journalism sector, Reach plc announced in September 2025 a proposed restructure for its editorial function, reducing journalists in Scotland and putting at risk coverage across Scotland. The NUJ says this serves a “devastating body blow” to the publisher's journalists. PA Media also announced proposed job cuts last year, representing a reduction of about 8% of its UK editorial staff. The First Minister wrote to the Editor-in-Chief, setting out the Scottish Government’s concern that this would ultimately lead to a reduction in Scotland-based staff, including Scottish Politics Reporter job titles and a dedicated Scotland Editor.

The decline of public interest journalism, and a lack of structures to support it, has been a focus for the Scottish Government for some time.

That is why the Scottish Government supported the creation of the Scottish Public Interest Journalism Working Group to strengthen local journalism, and why we continue to consistently stress the importance of sustaining high-quality, locally relevant news, in our engagement with broadcasters, Ofcom and other stakeholders. We remain committed to ensuring that Scotland’s media landscape is robust, sustainable, and representative of all communities across Scotland, and we do not agree with Ofcom’s provisional assessment to amend STV’s licences.

Question 2 in the consultation

Do you agree with Ofcom’s provisional assessment and its proposal to remove the obligations in the STV North and Central licences for STV to broadcast 5-minute sub-regional bulletins (‘opts’) as part of the weekday 6pm news programmes?

If not, please explain why, providing appropriate supporting evidence where possible.

Scottish Government response

No. The Scottish Government does not agree with Ofcom’s provisional assessment and its proposal to remove the obligations in the STV North and Central licences for STV to broadcast 5-minute sub-regional bulletins (‘opts’) as part of the weekday 6pm news programmes. The reasons are set out below.

Importance of local representation and democratic accountability

The Scottish Government strongly believes that regional news is essential to a healthy democracy. We value its role in providing scrutiny of local institutions, giving voice to underrepresented communities, and ensuring that important civic information reaches those who need it most.

Local news opt‑outs and production centres in places are critical to ensuring meaningful representation. STV’s proposals would further reduce output, further eroding opportunities for locally relevant journalism and weakening civic engagement in Scottish communities.

Sub-regional bulletins are a vital mechanism for ensuring that communities across Scotland – particularly in areas such as Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, and the Highlands – see their local issues reflected in mainstream news. Removing these opts risks creating a democratic deficit, wherein local voices and concerns are overshadowed by centralised editorial priorities.

The opts provide a guaranteed space for coverage of local councils, health boards, courts, policing, infrastructure and community stories that would otherwise struggle to reach audiences. Removing the obligation would reduce scrutiny of local institutions and weaken audience connection with PSB news. Ofcom’s own PSB framework recognises the need for localised content across the nations and regions; opts are an important, light‑touch mechanism to deliver it.

Public Service Broadcasting principles

As set out previously, public service broadcasters have a vital role to play in fulfilling the purposes of public service broadcasting, particularly in delivering trusted news across all parts of the UK. It is essential that the Channel 3 obligations to deliver regional news programming are retained, and certainly not diluted or removed. Undertaking new commercial initiatives must not come at the expense of core PSB responsibilities, which are essential for plurality, trust, and democratic accountability.

Opt-outs are particularly important to communities to ensure that audiences in different parts of Scotland receive news that is specifically relevant to their local area, an intention that Ofcom has repeatedly stated is important. Removing these obligations would undermine that principle and risk creating a democratic deficit.

Ofcom has said that regional provision continues to be an important part of their offering to audiences (Ofcom, 2024: Licensing of Channel 3 and Channel 5: A report to the Secretary of State under section 229 of the Communications Act 2003). The statutory purpose of PSBs includes reflecting the lives and concerns of people in different parts of the UK. Eliminating sub-regional opts would undermine this principle and weaken the distinctiveness of STV’s public service remit in Scotland.

Audience expectation and trust

As set out in response to question one of the consultation, research consistently shows that audiences in Scotland value locally relevant news and trust broadcasters that maintain strong regional connections. Reducing local content could erode viewer trust and engagement, particularly among older demographics and rural communities who rely on linear TV for news.

Ofcom’s Scotland data shows sustained engagement with broadcast content and interest in Scotland‑specific programming. In a mixed media environment where online news brings discoverability and misinformation challenges, maintaining guaranteed broadcast windows for local content remains vital, especially for older and rural audiences.

Cumulative sector impact

The Scottish Government believes that regional specificity in public service broadcasting is being steadily diluted and these proposals are a further example of the decline of vital news reporting that reaches and reflects all communities across Scotland.

The opts system supports local newsgathering teams and sustains jobs in regional centres. Removing these obligations would accelerate centralisation, reducing editorial diversity and weakening Scotland’s broadcasting ecology – issues already highlighted by recent industrial action and concerns raised by STV journalists.

Given Ofcom’s decision enabling reduced BBC Scotland peak‑time TV news hours and wider newsroom restructurings across the UK, the removal of opts would likely compound a decline in local reporting capacity and plurality in Scotland. Ofcom’s regulatory approach should address this cumulative risk rather than intensify it.

Digital substitution is not a complete solution

As set out in our response to question one of the consultation, while STV has expanded its digital news offering, this does not fully compensate for the loss of broadcast opts. Many rural and older viewers remain dependent on linear television, and digital-only provision risks excluding these audiences.

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