Ooh, the vitriol on this thread has really ramped up, hasn't it? God, I remain the good old days when this just used to be complaining about network programming not being shown in Scotland. Now most of that's been fixed, we're now complaining about everything.
Personally speaking I think STV's news is superior to BBC Scotland and punches well above its weight given its far smaller resources. Plus it's been able to provide local news programmes for Glasgow, Edinburgh and the north, and opt-outs in the former Grampian regions. I know it's a slightly better deal in the central belt, but more people live down there, and it's more than the Beeb is doing, surely? Or how about you compare it to ITV PLC? If they took over tomorrow, I'm quite sure you'd find a single Scottish news programme is the best you would get. ITV would lobby on the basis that that is all the BBC provides and get it. Careful what you wish for.
On the question of international football, are England games really as good value for STV as they are for the ITV PLC regions? Also, they often clash with the live showing of Scottish games, which means STV would get about five people watching. You could argue that would be the case with some of the stuff they replace it with, but at least that doesn't cost as much.
Trashy commissions? Well yes, but they are a commercial company. They exist to make money. What do you want them to do? If that's where the demand exists (and by demand I mean 'what people want to see') then that's what they have to provide. It's like all these people who complain about the tabloids and then buy them in their droves. STV is again providing way more than it has to in terms of intelligent programming through its news coverage, both with bulletins and with Scotland Tonight, which is far better than I expected. Again, there is no obligation on them to do so.
The Nightshift show may not be fantastic, but again it's more than ITV stations down south provide. If you want QVC instead then be my guest. Also, as far as I understood it there were at least two regional versions, maybe more, at one point. This may have changed though.
Anyway, I understand some of the frustrations, I really do. However I've heard so many complaints about ITV stations all being exactly the same, with the same idents and programmes, and when one station breaks away it gets slated. I don't think they're doing too badly.
Personally speaking I think STV's news is superior to BBC Scotland and punches well above its weight given its far smaller resources. Plus it's been able to provide local news programmes for Glasgow, Edinburgh and the north, and opt-outs in the former Grampian regions. I know it's a slightly better deal in the central belt, but more people live down there, and it's more than the Beeb is doing, surely? Or how about you compare it to ITV PLC? If they took over tomorrow, I'm quite sure you'd find a single Scottish news programme is the best you would get. ITV would lobby on the basis that that is all the BBC provides and get it. Careful what you wish for.
On the question of international football, are England games really as good value for STV as they are for the ITV PLC regions? Also, they often clash with the live showing of Scottish games, which means STV would get about five people watching. You could argue that would be the case with some of the stuff they replace it with, but at least that doesn't cost as much.
Trashy commissions? Well yes, but they are a commercial company. They exist to make money. What do you want them to do? If that's where the demand exists (and by demand I mean 'what people want to see') then that's what they have to provide. It's like all these people who complain about the tabloids and then buy them in their droves. STV is again providing way more than it has to in terms of intelligent programming through its news coverage, both with bulletins and with Scotland Tonight, which is far better than I expected. Again, there is no obligation on them to do so.
The Nightshift show may not be fantastic, but again it's more than ITV stations down south provide. If you want QVC instead then be my guest. Also, as far as I understood it there were at least two regional versions, maybe more, at one point. This may have changed though.
Anyway, I understand some of the frustrations, I really do. However I've heard so many complaints about ITV stations all being exactly the same, with the same idents and programmes, and when one station breaks away it gets slated. I don't think they're doing too badly.






I am sure Aunt Bessie drops by every so often 
