Ofcom set to accept new STV news proposals in 'dire decision'
Last week journalists voted for strike action against the proposed cuts
The communications regulator has indicated it will support STV's new proposed changes to its News at 6 programme -which will include some dedicated output for viewers in the north of Scotland.
Ofcom said it “proposes to accept” the plans, which will see around a third of content created specifically in the region, despite the programme being produced and presented in Glasgow.
However, politicians condemned the plans as a “dire decision”.
STV previously announced plans to replace its central belt and north of Scotland news programmes with a single show from Glasgow, as part of a cost savings drive which would cut 60 jobs.
However, the broadcaster said its news-gathering operations will now continue on the ground in all its existing sites, across Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. A total of 60 jobs would still be axed, with around 30 expected to be in the news room. STV said a “significant number” of these had been achieved through voluntary redundancy and redeployment.
A consultation is being held into the proposals, which initially sparked a vote for strike action among journalists, however, Ofcom said it proposes to accept STV’s request to make changes to its licence for the north and central Scotland.
The SNP called for the public to speak out against the plans, which it described as going down “like a lead balloon”.
SNP MP Kirsty Blackman said: “These plans from STV have gone down like a lead balloon and people across Scotland should make their views known loud and clear – STV chiefs must reverse their plot to destroy their regionalised news programme.
“The public outcry has been visceral with communities across the north east united in their condemnation of this dire decision that will cost jobs to the detriment of coverage in such an important part of the country.”
She added: “STV must go back to the drawing board and this consultation should be utilised to full effect by people across Scotland.”
Last month, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) accused STV managing director Bobby Hain of not being “entirely candid” with a House of Commons committee over the viewing figures for the programme.
STV said the changes would “protect [STV] for the future”, pointing to the fact that although STV News at 6 remains the most watched news programme in Scotland, its audience is predicted to continue to decline by another 40 per cent by 2030.
It added that the new plans would permit “greater flexibility” for STV Central and STV North licences to share and co-produce output.
Rufus Radcliffe, chief executive of STV, said: “STV is an iconic Scottish business with a brilliant schedule of programmes for viewers which delivers unrivalled mass reach for advertisers. We’re incredibly proud of what we do, and we have a clear strategy in place to ensure our continued contribution to Scotland’s creative economy.
“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.”
He added: “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.”
The Ofcom consultation will run from today until 9 February.
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