Issue - meetings

“That this Council:

(1)     notes that STV's revised proposals seek to end production and broadcast of a weekday peak-time news programme from Aberdeen serving the North of Scotland region, so centralising all Scottish television news production in the Central Belt, depriving the North of Scotland region of its own TV news for the first time since the establishment of Channel 3 in the 1960s, and undermining Aberdeen's standing as an independent media centre;

(2)     believes that the case for a weekday peak-time North of Scotland news programme on Channel 3 is as strong now as it was when Ofcom approved the current licence conditions in September 2024, and as it has been since the first elections to the modern Scottish Parliament in 1999, rejecting entirely the notion that devolution has reduced the need for a particular focus on the distinctive economic, cultural, political and other news stories and issues which are specific to the North of Scotland region;

(3)     disagrees with the contention that changes in the way we receive news and opinions mean we have less need of objective, professional journalism informed and delivered by people living in our communities, believing instead that such changes make news programmes like STV News at Six made in and for the North of Scotland even more important; 

(4)     agrees with those who live in Scotland's rural and island communities who believe that STV's revised proposals will materially disadvantage these areas, by depriving them of news programmes made in and for the North of Scotland region of which they are such an important part;

(5)     notes the consultation by Ofcom on STV's revised proposals, which opened on 16 December 2025 and will close on 9 February 2026, which invites representative organisations, individuals and communities to respond directly to three specific questions, providing reasons for such responses; and

(6)     instructs the Chief Executive to respond to this consultation before the closing date of 9 February 2026, stating in answer to question 1 our opposition to the revised STV proposals, and in answer to question 3 our view that these proposals fail to deliver equal treatment to Scotland's rural and island areas, and to the North of Scotland generally, setting out the Council's reasons for these answers in the terms set out in this motion.”

(i)             to approve the notice of motion;

(ii)           to acknowledge Council agreed on 1 October 2025:

That this Council:

1.      Recognises the importance of the North East and North of Scotland regional news services provided by STV North / Grampian TV over 60 years.

2.      Notes the undertakings given by STV, at the time it took over Grampian TV in 1997, that the separate North East and North of Scotland regional news programmes would be maintained.

3.      Deplores the announcement by STV that it intends to end its STV North news programming and the reported loss of 60 jobs associated with this.

4.      Notes that Aberdeen City Council's Employability Team, through Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), is ready to support individuals facing the loss of their jobs.

5.      Agrees that the Council will seek to work with others, including the National Union of Journalists, to make the case for the retention of STV North news programming and, in particular, instructs the Chief Executive to make representations to this effect to STV, Ofcom, the Scottish Government, and UK Government.

(iii)          to note the Chief Executive sent the letters (dated 8 January 2026) to Ofcom, STV, the Scottish Government and UK Government, as attached, following the unanimous instruction of Council on 1 October 2025;

(iv)          to note the Chief Executive’s letter to Ofcom, dated 8 January 2026, reads:

“…Aberdeen City Council will participate fully in Ofcom’s consultation and will submit a formal response.” and

(v)           to instruct the Chief Executive to continue to make representation with the motion agreed unanimously by Council, including completion of their consultation for the avoidance of doubt, and agree this should be done as soon as possible and within the scope of the existing instructions, agreed 1 October 2025.