In a move that has sent shockwaves through Scotland's media landscape, STV, the country’s leading commercial broadcaster, has announced sweeping changes to its regional news operations. On October 9, 2025, STV bosses confirmed plans to cut £3 million from the company’s budget, resulting in the loss of approximately 60 jobs—about 10% of its workforce—and the axing of its dedicated news programme for the north of Scotland. The proposals, which require approval from media regulator Ofcom, have ignited heated debate among politicians, unions, and viewers, raising questions about the future of regional journalism and the company’s financial stewardship.
Chief executive Rufus Radcliffe addressed the Scottish Parliament’s Culture Committee, painting a stark picture of the challenges facing STV. “We were hoping for an advertising bounce next year but there are no signs of that happening,” Radcliffe told MSPs, as reported by Daily Business Group. He cited a “very difficult macro-economic environment” marked by falling profits and a sharp decline in advertising spend. In the first half of 2025, STV recorded a £200,000 loss, prompting the company to seek £2.5 million in savings by next year. The broadcaster’s share price has also plummeted following a profits warning in July, leaving STV worth just over £50 million and, according to union leaders, vulnerable to a takeover.
Central to the controversy is the decision to end the long-running north of Scotland news programme, produced in Aberdeen, and replace it with a single 6pm bulletin presented from Glasgow. This new format will include regional opt-outs to serve the north, but critics argue it cannot match the depth and local focus of the existing service. The Aberdeen studio, which recently underwent a significant investment, will be relegated to a “back-up” role under the new proposals. As Radcliffe explained, “No one is tuning in at 6pm to see what has happened,” acknowledging that viewers are increasingly turning to online sources for their news—a trend reflected in a 23% drop in audience numbers for STV News At 6 during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
While Radcliffe insists the changes are necessary to “protect regional journalism” and put the business on a sustainable footing, unions and politicians have lambasted the plans as short-sighted and damaging. Nick McGowan-Lowe, the National Union of Journalists’ national organiser for Scotland, did not mince words, calling the move “an act of cultural vandalism” and accusing STV of financial mismanagement. “What they are proposing is going to have a catastrophic effect on local democracy and the culture of the north east, if it is allowed to go through,” McGowan-Lowe told MSPs, as quoted by BBC Scotland News. He described the process as “rushed through, panicked,” and questioned why the company was spending £500,000 on launching a new radio station while cutting core news services.
The decision has also drawn the ire of trade union BECTU. Paul McManus, the union’s negotiations officer for Scotland, questioned the logic of recent financial decisions, noting that STV had spent over £1 million on bonuses for two senior executives earlier in the year and invested £1.5 million in new sets for news programmes. “If they wanted to save money and they were aware of the difficulties coming ahead of them, why spend over £1 million on bonuses for two senior executives earlier this year, why spend £1.5 million on new sets for news programmes?” he asked. McManus also criticized the company’s investment in the radio station, calling it “a complete folly at this point in time.”
STV’s management, however, remains adamant that the changes are both necessary and carefully considered. Radcliffe told the committee, “Our plan is designed to protect regional journalism because it is not financially sustainable in its current form. We’re confident our plan will deliver more stories to more people, wherever and however they want to receive them.” He emphasized that STV receives no public funding and must adapt to survive in an era of changing viewer habits and economic headwinds. Radcliffe also assured MSPs that there would be no bonus payments for senior staff this year, and that the new radio station—set to launch in early 2026 with £500,000 committed so far—would be produced in Scotland and is expected to be profitable by 2027.
The proposals have sparked political outrage across the spectrum. Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr accused the company of “ripping up” its licence and abandoning the north east, telling the committee, “This decision ends north east broadcasting. They are effectively giving up on STV North.” First Minister John Swinney voiced similar concerns, warning that consolidating news programming in Glasgow could undermine the quality and relevance of coverage for the north of Scotland’s 1.3 million residents. Alasdair Allan, another MSP, questioned the timing of the changes, noting that STV had only recently signed a 10-year licence deal for north and central Scotland, which came into force in January 2025. “It was stretching credibility,” he said, to suggest that STV was unaware of its plans at the time of the renewal.
The debate has also touched on the handling of the announcement itself. Some MSPs cited claims that a senior STV executive dialed into the virtual meeting from a holiday villa, a move that reportedly insulted some staff. Radcliffe defended the use of video calls as standard business practice and insisted all senior leaders were present and transparent during the announcement. “Some aspects of the call had been mischaracterised,” he said, adding that supporting colleagues was the company’s priority.
Regulator Ofcom now finds itself at the center of the unfolding drama. The watchdog is preparing to launch a four-week consultation on the proposed changes, with Scottish director Glenn Preston assuring MSPs, “Ofcom is aware of the strength of feeling these proposals have generated and the need for any process to be as swift as possible, not least given the potential impact on people’s jobs.” Ofcom could approve, reject, or seek a compromise on the changes, but does not have the power to save jobs directly or insist on studio presentation continuing in Aberdeen.
As the consultation proceeds, the fate of STV’s regional news—and the livelihoods of dozens of staff—hangs in the balance. The decision to mothball the north east studios as part of a disaster recovery plan has been described by unions as “insulting,” and the company’s plummeting share price has led to concerns about its long-term independence. For now, the debate has united Scotland’s political parties, unions, and many viewers in opposition to the proposals, underscoring the vital role that local news plays in the country’s democratic and cultural life.
With the media landscape evolving at breakneck speed, STV’s gamble on centralization and digital transformation may shape the future of Scottish broadcasting for years to come. All eyes now turn to Ofcom and the outcome of the consultation—a decision that will resonate far beyond the boardrooms of Glasgow.
