All Scottish news programmes on STV are expected to be cancelled on Wednesday as journalists stage a day of strike action in protest over compulsory redundancies and proposed changes to regional news coverage. The walkout is set to remove all locally produced news bulletins from television schedules for the day, with only network programming and advertising continuing as normal.
The industrial action centres on STV’s plans to end its separate news service for the north of Scotland and consolidate output under a single, Scotland-wide format. Journalists, represented by the National Union of Journalists, argue the changes threaten jobs and weaken public service broadcasting commitments to communities outside the central belt.
STV has described the strike as ill-timed, saying discussions with unions are still ongoing and that efforts have been made to reduce compulsory redundancies.
Impact on Broadcast and Digital News
The strike is expected to cancel all Scottish news programmes on STV for the day and significantly reduce updates on the broadcaster’s website. However, network shows and advertising slots will not be affected. STV’s newly launched music radio station, which began broadcasting earlier this week, will remain on air.
NUJ members are planning protests outside STV’s headquarters in Glasgow and at its Aberdeen offices to highlight opposition to the proposals.
Union Warns of Damage to Scottish Journalism
Scottish NUJ organiser Nick McGowan-Lowe said journalists were striking against compulsory redundancies and what he described as an attempt to dismantle long-standing public service broadcasting obligations. He said the plans would harm local journalism and reduce coverage for communities in the north and north-east of Scotland that rely on regional reporting.
He added that viewers, politicians, councils and business groups had all voiced concern about the proposed changes since they were announced last year.
End of Separate Northern News Service
STV currently operates two distinct news services, one serving the central belt and another covering the north of Scotland. The northern service is the final legacy of Grampian Television, which provided dedicated local programming until the early 2000s before being absorbed into STV’s wider operation.
Under the proposed changes, studio presentation would be based entirely in Glasgow, with most news bulletins and the majority of the 6pm programme broadcast across both regions. Only around nine minutes of the flagship evening programme would contain region-specific content.
STV has stressed that it will continue to employ journalists in Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness, with national and regional stories gathered locally even if presentation is centralised.
Ofcom Review and Political Opposition
The plans are subject to consultation by Ofcom, which is assessing whether changes to STV’s licence obligations should be approved. The consultation runs until February, with a decision expected later in the year. Ofcom has no authority over job numbers but can rule on broadcast commitments.
When the proposals were unveiled in September, they were criticised by leaders of all major political parties at Holyrood, along with councils and business organisations including the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.
Financial Pressures on Commercial Broadcasters
STV has argued that falling television audiences and declining advertising revenues have made the current structure unsustainable. While STV News at 6 frequently attracts the largest daily audience in Scotland, the broadcaster says limited advertising around the programme restricts its commercial value.
The company has confirmed that 28 roles across its news operation will be lost under the cost-saving plan, although it says only three journalists remain at risk of compulsory redundancy after voluntary exits and redeployments.
STV Defends Sustainability Plan
In a statement, STV said it remained committed to delivering a high-quality news service and that the proposed changes would allow it to continue meeting its public service obligations without public funding. The broadcaster said it was also expanding its digital news output to reflect changing audience habits.
If approved by Ofcom, the new format for STV’s news programmes could be introduced by the spring.
