By Editor,Michael Blackley Scottish
Copyright dailymail
Jobs threatened at STV as the broadcaster announces major cuts plan
Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport
By MICHAEL BLACKLEY SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR
Published: 19:44 BST, 25 September 2025 | Updated: 19:44 BST, 25 September 2025
UP to one in 10 jobs at the broadcaster STV are under threat as part of a £2.5million cuts plan.
The firm has told staff that it is set to cut 60 jobs and remove its dedicated north of Scotland television news programme.
But the cuts are set to be challenged by the Scottish Government, which will make a formal submission to media regulator Ofcom opposing them.
MSPs from across Holyrood’s parties yesterday condemned the cuts to local news coverage, with First Minister John Swinney saying he is ‘concerned’ at the job reductions.
Under the proposal, a single main evening news programme would be broadcast instead of the current separate bulletins for the central belt and northern Scotland.
After MSPs raised concerns about the impact of the proposals at Holyrood yesterday, Mr Swinney said: ‘Local journalism is absolutely important for the scrutiny of public policy at all levels in Scottish society.
‘So I was concerned to hear this morning of the reports about STV and also the news recently about the Daily Record.
‘The Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson has indicated to committee this morning that he will engage with STV, Ofcom and the trade unions to highlight our concerns, and we will give whatever assistance we can in this respect.
‘It is an absolutely vital part of our democracy that we have sustained media engagement and the Government will do all that it can to support those affected. And of course this will be a very worrying time for all of the affected employees and they have my understanding and my support.’
Douglas Lumsden, Conservative MSP for the North East, said it will result in ‘far less local news that is not relevant to the north and north east’.
STV presenters Kelly-Ann Woodward and John MacKay
STV’s flagship building by the River Clyde in Glasgow
EVERY adult in Britain will need a Government-issued ID card
18.3k viewing now
Sinister ‘plot’ to undermine Wills and bring back Harry: RICHARD EDEN
43.1k viewing now
Will I get fined for not having a national ID card?
6.2k viewing now
He asked Mr Swinney: ‘Does the First Minister agree with me that this change is bad news for Scottish viewers, in particular for rural communities, and should be reconsidered as a matter of urgency?’
The First Minister replied: ‘I do share the specific concern that Mr Lumsden puts to me about this issue because I understand that one of the components of the STV proposal is that the Aberdeen news programme would potentially cease broadcasting, and I do acknowledge that there are very different issues that affect communities around the country, and STV are very successful at reflecting those different issues in different parts of the country.’
The broadcaster is seeking to make £2.5million of savings by next year, after it reported a £200,000 loss in the first six months of 2025.
STV acquired Grampian Television in 1997 which was a separate company that provided local news bulletins in the north of Scotland from 1961.
After Labour MSP Neil Bibby highlighted that the proposal to close the Aberdeen programme requires the specific approval of Ofcom and asked if he would be making representations to the regulator on the issue, Mr Swinney said: ‘We will, but there will be a whole range of other issues upon which we will make representations.’
He said the issue ‘has to be considered by Ofcom’ and it will feature in the representations made by Mr Robertson, the Culture Secretary.
It is understood that a significant share of the job cuts are likely to be in relation to news production.
Rufus Radcliffe, STV chief executive, said: ‘I have every confidence that STV will navigate the currently difficult trading environment in both our key markets, successfully implement our FastFwd strategy, and deliver sustainable value to our shareholders.
‘We recognise that our cost savings programme impacts colleagues across the business, and we are committed to supporting people through this change.
Last year’s strike action by STV staff after rejecting the company’s pay offer
‘These steps are necessary to strengthen our financial resilience and position STV for long-term growth.
‘The launch of STV Radio is on track, viewing on the STV Player is at an all-time high, and we are delighted that Army Of Shadows has been commissioned by Channel 4 from Two Cities.’
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘In this era of social media misinformation, people need trusted sources of news, based in communities across Scotland, more than ever.
‘In an election year in particular, it is essential that failing governments are held to account and I believe STV’s journalists can be proud of their work to inform and challenge.’
Nick McGowan-Lowe, organiser for Scotland for the National Union of Journalists, said: ‘While there is no doubt that STV faces financial pressures and a decline of studio productions, none of that can be blamed on the hard-working journalists.
‘These proposed cuts threaten the high quality of local and national journalism produced by STV News staff across Scotland.’
Share or comment on this article:
Jobs threatened at STV as the broadcaster announces major cuts plan
Add comment
