Ofcom has postponed its decision regarding STV’s controversial plans to discontinue its dedicated news programme for the north of Scotland until after May’s Holyrood election. The regulator had initially planned to announce its ruling before Easter, but cited a significant volume of responses to its public consultation, which concluded in early February, as the reason for the delay.
STV had announced last year its intention to cease the separate north of Scotland service, alongside a broader restructuring that involves 60 job cuts across the company, with approximately 30 roles affected within its news division. The broadcaster proposes to replace the dedicated regional bulletin with a single programme produced from Glasgow, which will incorporate segments specifically tailored for regional news coverage.
An Ofcom spokesperson confirmed the revised timeline, stating: “We are now aiming to publish our decision as soon as practicable after the Scottish parliamentary elections. This will give us time to engage with representations we have received throughout the process.”
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has vocally criticised the delay, describing it as “astonishing”. The union claims that STV staff are currently overstretched, attempting to maintain existing news services while awaiting Ofcom’s determination.
Nick McGowan-Lowe, Scottish organiser for the NUJ, commented on the situation, asserting:
“Either Ofcom choose to stand by their earlier statement that these proposed changes are ‘the best thing for audiences’, or they listen to the 83% of viewers in the north of Scotland, the leaders of the five main political parties and STV’s own journalists. Whichever way they choose to decide, STV’s viewers and journalists deserve to know the decision now and there is no sound reason why this decision should be delayed until after the Scottish elections.”
In addition to the programme changes, STV is currently embroiled in industrial disputes with both the NUJ and the broadcasting union BECTU over a proposed pay freeze, with both unions actively holding strike votes. The NUJ previously conducted a one-day strike in January over the proposed news cuts and the potential for compulsory redundancies.
