STV is set to cut 60 jobs and axe its north of Scotland television news programme as part of a £2.5m cost-saving drive.
The broadcaster currently provides two regional news services – one from Glasgow and another from Aberdeen.
Under the new plan, coverage will be merged into a single Scotland-wide programme presented from Glasgow, incorporating reports from across the country. The changes require Ofcom approval.
The move follows a £200,000 loss in the first half of 2025 and falling advertising revenues.
Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has written to STV chief executive Rufus Radcliffe, Ofcom, and both the UK and Scottish governments expressing “deep concern and disappointment” at the loss of a dedicated north service.
Chief Executive Russell Borthwick warned the move risks “silencing the voice of the North-east at a critical time” when issues such as energy transition and the future of the North Sea are of national importance.
The National Union of Journalists branded the cuts “devastating”, while First Minister John Swinney said “sustained media engagement” was vital for democracy and confirmed ministers would engage with STV, Ofcom and unions over the plans.
Mr Radcliffe said the changes reflect “rapid and fundamental” shifts in how audiences consume news, with linear viewing in decline and digital consumption rising. He insisted the aim was to protect STV’s news service for the future, although data suggests that the STV North News programme regularly attracts huge audience share, often at 40% or above.
The north programme is the last link to Grampian Television, which provided local bulletins from 1961 until it was acquired by STV in 1997. The cuts come amid wider pressures on commercial broadcasters as advertising revenues fall and streaming competition grows.