STV today welcomes Ofcom’s consultation into its application for amendments to its Public Service Media (PSM) Channel 3 licences, and the regulator’s proposal to approve STV’s revised request regarding news-sharing, which in their view will ‘ensure audiences continue to be served with high-quality, regional news provision on a sustainable basis for STV’.

STV’s proposal has been developed in response to major and long-term changes in viewing habits and news consumption and the significant growth in online and social media – shifts that are affecting all UK broadcasters.

Through an ongoing dialogue with Ofcom, alongside the regulator’s recognition of the current threat to PSM, STV’s proposal will ensure that its high-quality regional news service remains relevant to viewers across Scotland, is available on multiple platforms where and when people want to consume it, and is financially sustainable.

• STV’s proposal will see the creation of a new STV News at 6 programme, by permitting greater flexibility for STV Central and STV North licences to share and co-produce output.
• The programme will include a shared section broadcast by both licences (70%) featuring contributions from across Scotland, plus separate sections with content specific to each licence (30%).
• This combination of major stories broadcast Scotland-wide and dedicated sections for north and central licence areas will keep viewers up to date across a wide range of topics every weekday.
• Newsgathering will remain on the ground at all existing sites in Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.
• Production and presentation of STV News at 6 will be from Glasgow.
• A wide range of local, regional and national stories will be available on demand across multiple platforms throughout the day via STV’s rapidly expanding digital news operation.
• This plan enables STV News at 6 to retain the distinct regional character of both licences, with delivery of high quality, relevant news across both linear and digital, on a sustainable basis and reflecting the ways in which people now consume news.

STV News at 6 remains the most watched news programme in Scotland, but its audience is predicted to continue to decline by another 40% by 2030 whilst digital news consumption is increasing. Through these changes, STV will rebalance its news resources to ensure that 6pm remains a landmark moment in the schedule every weekday, whilst expanding its digital news service.