STV to cut 60 jobs and axe north Scotland news programme
Glasgow-based broadcaster to consolidate regional coverage into a single program from Glasgow; Ofcom permission required as it seeks £2.5 million in savings after half-year loss and declining ad revenue.
STV said Thursday it will cut about 60 jobs and axe its north of Scotland television news programme, consolidating two regional bulletins into a single Glasgow-based show with regional inserts. The move, which would also replace the separate central belt and Aberdeen-based broadcasts with a single programme from Glasgow, requires permission from regulator Ofcom and will begin with a formal consultation.
The broadcaster said it is aiming to deliver roughly £2.5 million in savings by next year as part of the restructuring. It reported a £0.2 million loss for the first six months of 2025. Advertising revenue during the period fell to £45 million from £50 million in the same period a year earlier. In July, STV’s shares dropped about one-third after it warned that profits would be lower than previously expected. The company said it was seeking an additional £750,000 in savings beyond those already anticipated.
Under the proposed changes, the two existing news services — the central belt-based programme in Glasgow and the Aberdeen-based north programme — would be replaced by a single Glasgow-originated programme with regional sections.
STV Group PLC’s broader business includes STV Studios, which produces programmes for a range of broadcasters and streaming services. The group has also signaled plans for a new digital radio station and ongoing development of its streaming service, STV Player. STV Radio is slated to broadcast digitally and online in the coming months.
The move comes as broader pressures bear on commercial broadcasters in the UK, with audiences increasingly turning away from traditional broadcast TV and advertisers reining in spend amid wider economic headwinds. The industry context helps explain why STV has prioritized cost cuts and a consolidation of regional output. PA Media reported that STV journalists went on strike over pay last year, underscoring the ongoing labor and financial challenges facing regional broadcasters as they adapt to a rapidly changing media landscape. 