CULTURE Secretary Fiona Hyslop has raised concerns over STV’s restructuring plans with broadcasting regulator Ofcom.
In a letter to Ofcom Scotland director Glenn Preston, she expressed her regret over the planned loss of STV News Tonight and the potential impact of the broadcaster’s restructure on local news broadcasting.
She said she was concerned the plans would “diminish the range of voices and perspective available to audiences”, and that the quality of Scottish news coverage could be affected.
The broadcaster announced last Wednesday that it was taking the “difficult decision” to close its STV2 channel as part of a major restructuring of the business.
STV2’s closure will see the loss of 25 paid positions but the company also revealed a further 34 jobs are to be axed from STV News as part of its News 2020 programme, aimed at saving £1 million a year.
STV2, which launched in April last year, features news and entertainment as well as flagship news programme STV News Tonight.
Hyslop said she now wants to know if Ofcom gave prior consent to the transfer of the local TV licenses on which STV2 is based and whether the new holder, That’s Media Group, was an “appropriate” licensee.
In her letter, Hyslop said: “I wish to note regret at the loss, in STV News Tonight, of a distinctive aspect of news provision in Scotland – one which diminishes the range of voices and perspectives available to audiences.
“We are also concerned about the potential effect of these developments on the quality of coverage of Scottish news received by audiences in Scotland.
“The Scottish Government supports Ofcom’s view that plurality matters and an important aspect of achieving this is ensuring a diversity of viewpoints are available and consumed across and within the media. In view of the range of current and anticipated developments, there may be a case for reviewing the plurality and quality of news provision in Scotland at an appropriate point in the near future to ensure that audiences in Scotland have access to a continuing diversity of viewpoints and high-quality programmes.”
She said she would welcome confirmation over whether the prior consent of Ofcom was obtained.
She added: “Secondly, I assume that the commercial terms agreed with That’s Media Group Ltd oblige them to fulfil the commitments in all five local digital television programme service licences in full, including those for local news (and the higher level of local news commitments for Glasgow and Edinburgh), and we would welcome confirmation from Ofcom that the proposed new holder is aware of these terms and that they are an appropriate licensee.”
Nicola Sturgeon said during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday she was “very disappointed” at STV’s decision and urged the broadcaster to listen to concerns.
“This is a time when it is more important than ever that the Scottish perspective on local, national and international news is reflected by our broadcasters,” she stated.
STV chief executive Simon Pitts said: “News is fundamental to the STV brand and we remain committed to offering the best news service in Scotland.
“However, given how quickly news consumption is changing, it is vital that STV evolves to stay competitive, and we are therefore launching a comprehensive change programme – STV News 2020 – that will see us invest in skills, technology and digital as well as delivering cost savings.”
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