STV News: The Evolution of Regional Broadcasting in Scotland
The landscape of regional news in Scotland has undergone significant transformation over the last two decades. From the launch of STV News at Six to the consolidation of regional hubs, STV has continuously adapted its delivery of local and national information to meet changing operational needs and regulatory environments.
The Launch and Expansion of STV News at Six
On Monday 23 March 2009, STV introduced STV News at Six as part of a comprehensive station revamp. This new branding replaced the previous nightly news programmes, which were known as Scotland Today in the STV Central region and North Tonight in the STV North region. Both of these predecessor programmes had already begun incorporating local opt-outs—segments tailored to specific sub-regions—starting in January 2007.
Initially, the Central region utilized a system where viewers in the West and East areas received five-minute bulletins during the main 6 pm broadcast. STV News West, based in the Glasgow studio, covered the area from Tobermory to Falkirk, while STV News East was produced and presented from the Edinburgh studios, covering the region from Anstruther to Dunbar. This structure evolved on Monday 23 May 2011, when full-length, separate STV News at Six programmes were launched for both the East and West areas.
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The Rise and Fall of STV2
In an effort to expand local coverage, STV launched STV Glasgow News on Monday 2 June 2014, followed by a similar service for STV Edinburgh on Monday 12 January. By April 2017, these channels merged with new local services in Aberdeen, Ayr, and Dundee to create STV2.
STV2 served as a platform for national news bulletins throughout the day, featuring half-hour programmes at 1 pm and 10 pm on weekdays. A key addition to this service was STV News Tonight, which launched on Monday 24 April 2017. Presented by Halla Mohieddeen and airing weeknights at 7 pm, this programme combined Scottish, UK, and international coverage, utilizing STV's domestic resources and the international capabilities of ITN (Independent Television News).
Operational Cutbacks and Restructuring
The expansion period ended in May 2018 when STV announced 59 redundancies, including 34 within the news division. This led to the closure of STV2 at the end of June 2018, effectively ending STV News Tonight and the station's dedicated national news service.
The restructuring also impacted the main STV channel. The standalone Edinburgh-based edition of STV News at Six was cancelled and replaced by shorter opt-outs within a Central Scotland programme co-anchored from Glasgow and Edinburgh. While STV North's regional services remained intact, the Aberdeen studios lost nine positions, including three journalists and six technical staff. These cuts led to a vote for strike action by NUJ (National Union of Journalists) members, though immediate action was avoided after the company ruled out compulsory redundancies.
The final broadcast of STV News Tonight aired on Friday 29 June 2018, and the last East edition of STV News at Six aired on Friday 7 September 2018.
Modern Consolidation and the Move to Glasgow
Further changes occurred in October 2024, when the Central Scotland programme returned to a single-anchor format based in Glasgow. This coincided with the closure of the Edinburgh studio, resulting in East opt-outs becoming pre-recorded. Similarly, the Tayside opt-out began being pre-recorded from Aberdeen following the end of studio production in Dundee.
The most significant shift came on 25 September 2025, when STV announced plans to merge its two regional news services and eliminate sub-regional opt-outs. Chief executive Rufus Radcliffe stated the company sought to end the Tayside and Edinburgh opt-outs and replace the separate North and Central programmes with a single pan-regional programme broadcast from Glasgow.
Following approval from Ofcom (the UK's communications regulator) in June 2026, the sub-regional services ended. The final separate editions of STV News at Six aired on Friday 10 July 2026. Currently, weekday bulletins are merged across the North and Central regions, presented from Glasgow with separate 8-minute opt-outs during the 6 pm programme.
Key Facts
- STV News at Six launched on 23 March 2009, replacing Scotland Today and North Tonight.
- STV2 was formed in April 2017 by merging local services from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Ayr, and Dundee.
- STV News Tonight provided a mix of Scottish and international news via ITN until its closure in June 2018.
- Ofcom approved the merger of North and Central regional news services in June 2026.
- Current Format: A pan-regional programme presented from Glasgow with 8-minute regional opt-outs.
| Date | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| March 2009 | Launch of STV News at Six | Rebranded regional nightly news |
| April 2017 | Formation of STV2 | Consolidated local TV services |
| June 2018 | Closure of STV2 | End of STV News Tonight |
| October 2024 | Edinburgh Studio Closure | Shift to pre-recorded East opt-outs |
| July 2026 | Regional Merger | Pan-regional service from Glasgow |
Frequently Asked Questions
What replaced Scotland Today and North Tonight?
They were replaced by STV News at Six on 23 March 2009 as part of a major station revamp.
What was STV News Tonight?
It was a half-hour programme launched on 24 April 2017 on STV2 that combined Scottish, UK, and international news using resources from STV and ITN.
Why did the Edinburgh and Dundee studios close?
As part of a series of cutbacks and restructuring efforts, STV moved toward a more centralized production model in Glasgow and Aberdeen, eventually making several regional studios redundant.
What is the current structure of STV's regional news?
Following Ofcom approval in 2026, STV now operates a pan-regional programme presented from Glasgow, which includes separate 8-minute opt-outs for different areas during the 6 pm broadcast.
Who is the current chief executive mentioned in the restructuring?
The chief executive mentioned in relation to the 2025/2026 merger plans is Rufus Radcliffe.