Last night Rob Woodward, STV’s chief executive, said it plans to broadcast a one hour long news programme between six and seven in the evening, if it can secure extra funds from central government to do so.
The plan resurrects the idea of the so-called “Scottish Six”, a Scottish alternative early evening news bulletin once demanded of, and considered and rejected by, the BBC in Scotland.
The STV plan, which would appear on television screens in late 2010 if funding is secured, would be produced by STV and ITN, could provide a “Scottish perspective on international and UK stories from ITN correspondents across the world and the UK; as well as national Scottish news, and extended local bulletins for the news from their area”.
The new plans would also include 10-minute bulletins from the localities of Scotland, one for the Inverness and Highlands and one for the Borders region, in addition to the existing regional programmes for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen.
However, this could see a controversial end to the current half-hour bulletins in the north of Scotland.
The plan for a Scottish Six idea depends on forces external to STV for its success, with an insider last night saying the final decision was essentially “out of our hands”.
The money to fund an hour-long bulletin would have to come from a central pot of money distributed, on a competitive basis, by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in London -- possibly from money taken, “top-sliced” in media jargon, from the BBC licence fee.
Alan Clements, director of content at STV, told The Herald: “It may be an old idea but it is a new one for STV. It’s an exciting and expansive move, and most importantly it increases consumer choice.
“It will be a very different way of doing news, providing international coverage but also incredibly local coverage from the Highlands to the Borders.
“If it is a competitive fund we are very confident that our 50 years of news gathering and teaming with ITN would make it a very strong case.”
If STV does manage to go ahead with its own Scottish Six it will be a direct challenge to BBC Scotland news, which currently has the half- hour Reporting Scotland news bulletin at 6.30pm. STV currently has a half-hour bulletin from 6pm, leading into the main ITV news at 6.30pm.
An STV statement said: “It is envisaged that an STV news hour would add new layers of editorial content and real viewer choice, further differentiating STV from BBC Scotland.”
Both Ofcom, the industry regulator, and DCMS have recognised the need for public funding for news.
The recent Digital Britain report outlined a proposal for independently-funded news consortia, such as that proposed by STV.
Mr Woodward said: “The media landscape has changed dramatically and it is vital that we innovate, enhance and expand our vision. Our proposal offers viewers something that is new and exciting and, through technological innovation, relevant for a 21st century devolved Scotland.
“Our proposal would ultimately increase consumer choice and would provide a strong alternative to the BBC, increasing the plurality of news provision across Scotland.”
Last night Culture Minister Michael Russell said: “I congratulate STV for its vision on this exciting potential development. High-quality and relevant news programming is of importance to the whole of Scotland.
“In my view, a bulletin which combines Scottish, UK and international news is long overdue.
“I am pleased that STV’s proposal covers the south of Scotland, whose viewers currently receive an inadequate Channel 3 news service from the Tyne Tees studios in Gateshead.”
BBC director of vision Jana Bennett is to step down from the board of the corporation’s commercial arm in a shake-up to prevent potential “conflicts of interest”, it was announced yesterday.
The move comes as part of a series of changes to the way BBC Worldwide is run to ensure confidence in the way the BBC manages its public service and commercial roles.
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