STV Launches Extra News Progr

RNS Number : 6463Z

STV Group PLC

18 January 2011

 



18 January 2011

STV confirms launch of extra news programme and more localised bulletins

STV has today announced the introduction of a pilot to deliver more local news services for the west and east of Scotland.   This new locally focused service will make STV News the most local service in the UK.

Commencing later in 2011, STV will pilot a service providing separate editions of STV News at Six on STV's core broadcast channel for east and west central Scotland.  This will increase the number of daily services across Scotland from two to three.

The new service will provide an additional daily, 30-minute dedicated news programme, produced and presented from Edinburgh and tailored to the news requirements of local viewers.   Viewers will see relevant Scottish stories alongside additional local coverage, live reports and more localised sports news and weather forecasts.

The programme produced and presented in Glasgow will also have an increased focus on local stories relevant to west central Scotland.   Viewers in the STV North licence area will continue to enjoy the current programme produced and presented from Aberdeen.

This increased local news output will also be available to audiences through STV's online and mobile service platforms.

This new service will deliver a further enhancement for STV News, delivering a unique mix of Scotland's top stories combined with regional and local material and builds on the success of STV's micro-regional news bulletins which are frequently the most popular part of our news programmes.

STV is committed to delivering a more locally focused news service on a multi-platform basis and this new service will also provide additional support for the launch of STV Local sites in Edinburgh and the Lothians, enabling cross-platform newsgathering and promotion.

Bobby Hain, Director of Channels, said:  "We are excited by the increased focus on local TV services and the opportunities presented by digital technology to deliver this.  Based on the success of our micro-regional news bulletins and the early success of STV Local, we believe this service will enable us to continue to strengthen our relationship with our audiences through providing high quality and locally focused services."

STV press contacts:

Kirsten Blackie, 0141 300 3587 / [e-mail]

Anna Hendry, 0141 300 3830 / [e-mail] 

 

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