A survey of 3,235 people across northern Scotland has found overwhelming opposition to the proposed centralisation of STV’s local news programmes.
In-depth polling of residents in Grampian, the Highlands and Tayside showed 83% opposed the shake-up, with just 4% in favour.
Almost two-thirds of respondents (64%) said they ‘strongly oppose’ the overhaul, while a further 19% said they would ‘tend to oppose’.
The extensive survey, designed by Diffley Partnership, polled 3,235 adults from the Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, and Perth & Kinross local authority areas.
It was commissioned by True North Advisors, with the fieldwork conducted between November 17 and 23.
In September, STV announced controversial plans to axe its north of Scotland television news programme, leaving just one programme for Scotland, presented from Glasgow.
The broadcaster recently watered down the proposals, but they would still mean the end of an entirely separate news service for the north, with the studio presentation of all news programmes coming from Glasgow.
The regulator, Ofcom, has said it proposes to accept STV's revised plans but will carry out a consultation which runs until February 9.
Responses to the consultation can be submitted here.
Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “This extraordinary poll should represent a wake-up call for management at STV and Ofcom.
“It is abundantly clear that the loss of local news services is not acceptable to people across the length and breadth of northern Scotland.
“This survey shows northern Scotland is united in opposition to these plans, with the vast majority urging STV to reconsider. Management must now go away and reflect carefully on the findings.
“Everyone who values local news services must also make their views known to Ofcom during its ongoing consultation.”
Calum Ross, Senior Advisor at True North Advisors, said: “This survey is far more extensive than traditional polls, while also being focused entirely on the views of residents across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, the Highlands, Moray, and Perth and Kinross.
“The results could not be clearer – the north of Scotland wants its news programmes to reflect the local communities they are supposed to represent. To do that, they must be researched, produced and presented by journalists who are based in the north of Scotland.
“Having grown up near Inverness and worked in the media in the Highland capital and Aberdeen for many years, I have witnessed the commitment and contribution of STV’s local journalism on countless occasions, and I know it cannot be adequately replicated or replaced by a service run from the Central Belt.”
The survey was designed by Diffley Partnership, with invitations issued online using the ScotPulse panel.