That may all be true but by default I am more represented by Glasgow than I am Aberdeen (we barely get a say in how STV is ran), I will agree regarding Scotland Tonight but their actual opt out programming is poor. I stay in the old Grampian TV area and being honest I do not remember seeing anything political broadcasted whether or not that was networked with STV at time.

I do remember programmes like World In Action/The Cook Report they were the golden days of ITV but Scotland Tonight to me ends up more like a Punch and Judy match whilst presenters look on (STV have highlighted these incidents for the ad for the programme as well)

It still airs about once a month at 11.35pm on a Thursday night. Very tokenistic but not quite scrapped yet

Central lobby used to be on at 2240 in the eighties but now it is has been shunted to a graveyard slot so that itv can show weight loss ward. ITV are really pathetic when it comes to political and regional programming. Thats in my honest opinion

Apologies, what I meant to say is that the recent bulletin I referred to was broadcast in the last month, but that I didn't recognise the presenter as one who was on air when I was up north a couple of years ago. I could be wrong on that though.

So it was? ... this is how confused you got me, being honest I am unaware of us in STV North have ever done a Pan Regional broadcast but this would be a first if this is the case - but if your unfamiliar with presenters up here I can understand that, as I notice at weekends STV can't decide whether STV North broadcasts its 5-10 min bulletins as most weekends its from Clyde and then odd times I see it coming from Aberdeen (I think this is what your on about), wish STV would also make up its damn mind on weekend bulletins as its either as mentioned and it confuses me sometimes as its presenters (I presume are Edinburgh/Glasgow - ie noticed this over christmas/new year don't know woman's name but she was in Glasgow studio at same time she tripped a couple times possibly someone in office shouting mouth off telling her to hurry up)

Aberdeen has done pan-regional broadcasts before. There was a prolonged period of a couple of weeks one Christmas where the north handled all bulletins throughout the week. It was nice to see some old faces from when I worked up there.

All bulletins at weekends now are pan-regional. Most come from Glasgow but some come from other locations, the Aberdeen bulletin of a few weeks ago being an example. STV clearly throw most of their resources into weekdays, which makes sense given they are funded by commercials rather than the licence fee and have less staff.

But technically speaking Grampian aka STV North looks more of a part time network .... all they seem to do is "flick a switch" end of and only put in ads for local area nothing more (unless thats programmed too from the Clyde)

They must do it on a rota then at Christmas/New Year as two bulletins came from the Clyde and rest has been normal.

I do think STV has less resources than what is clearly made out to be as the example with us in the North - impression is the panic stations (weird that since Grampian TV should know how to operate but looking at things clearly don't)

The Pan Regional bulletins should either split then or basically stick to one location don't see the point in seeing faces from West Coast if your not familiar with them compared to your own area.

I did note at Christmas when bulletin came from Clyde they used Chris Harvey (STV North) for sport and being honest I was left more puzzled by what he said until I checked on BBC Scotland regarding the footy at the time and guess who came across better?? BBC (there was no graphics to say score line just basically him rabbling on about the results)

You mentioned STV being "short staffed" then who's fault is that? Can't be down to ads or not having licence fee there. If they probably stop splashing cash on giveaways and shareholders pretty sure STV would be in a far better situation from what I see but I don't see it. Basically spend less on programming whilst your bosses splash out big nights out (thats the view I see of what STV has become)

Care to remember they do run websites as well such as S1Jobs/5pm.co.uk etc (or are they ran by someone else as they do seem to be pretty much on one station alone and that is of course STV - S1Jobs did use to get some airtime on ch4/5 that was it but these sites pop out everywhere so if these sites have anything to do with STV they must be making money there)

I didn't say STV was short-staffed, I said they had fewer staff. There's a difference. Given that STV will almost certainly make a loss in producing news programming versus selling adverts and making cash from it, they do far more than they have to and do it very well (in my opinion, and at least in the central belt - I can't speak for the programmes in the north). The BBC has more staff because it is hugely unionised, has to cover more outlets but predominantly doesn't have to worry about making a profit. Licence fee funded broadcasters the world over can spend more money on news programming.

"If they stop splashing cash on giveaways and shareholders". Let's wheel that back. I imagine they probably make some money out of the giveaways given they are premium rate phone numbers, so pay for themselves at the very least. If they don't give dividends back to their shareholders eventually - and they stopped for some time - then they're not going to have shareholders, the people who fund the company, for much longer, and therefore wouldn't have a business. Commercial reality has to kick in here.

S1 Jobs was set up by STV but sold to Newsquest, owners of STV. STV must be kicking themselves at that as it has gone on to be a success story, and STV has tried to set up subsequent jobs sites with little success. You seem to be criticising them for trying to make money out of spin-off operations though, which is an odd thing to do.

Ultimately, STV does more than it has to in terms of news programming given that it is a commercial broadcaster that exists to make cash. If it wanted to combine its two franchises, north and central, and produce one half hour news programme and one ten minute bulletin at night and call it quits there I'm sure the regulator would allow it to do so. Just look down south. If ITV took it over I'm sure that's what would happen. I get frustrated with it at times but I'd rather it than a straight ITV network feed.

How is there a "difference" to what I say and you say regarding staffing levels? - I have said numerous time the state STV North is in with what I call "short staffed" or basically "fewer" its the same thing, you might not see it as I presume your down south ie Glasgow/Edinburgh way so you probably don't see it often - funny you say they do alot better where you are regarding programming - what was your first clue in this all along? Where does everything broadcast from eh ... Clyde so its obvious things will look greener from where you are!

Well funny enough maybe that is what STV needs a bit of reality don't you think or are they living it now??

How am I criticising them doing spin off websites?? I was only pointing out that they advertised certain sites and I presumed it was ran by them. I do have a bit of knowledge on how websites work I ain't stupid you know hence why I mentioned it (think of their sites being on 1and1.co.uk they will get income made one way or another) - why is it odd?? I am basically asking questions or given my opinion on what I know of STV ie through their own advertising and its far from odd, I presume you must have thought I was not aware of these things but I pretty much up to speed on things (and my opinions are based on what I think and if need be I do use Google when need be)

Regarding the STV News - that may be a good idea but again your eliminating us once more, lets pack our bags and broadcast from Clyde. So basically STV North is being wasted on resources ... good one STV and I thank you for it

If ITV took over who knows what would happen - you lot seem to be the ones given ITV negativity no matter what they do, yet the irony of it all is it was them picking up the mess STV have created and still is on missing programmes but I doubt you see that either....

STV/Grampian's programming (budget wise) - care to tell me what was there budget in the past and compare it to now? As much as I remember there was "local" programming no matter where you were in Scotland but looking since the merge of the companies its either being done for free or is done cheaply (ie firms doing it for STV but use the STV brand) and again programming is coming from Clyde, STV North is barely recognised in anything and on the off chance you will hear it on the news (to me says alot about STV)

Just to make this crystal clear STV North has no programming other than news there is no other programming and as mentioned numerous times it all comes from the Clyde and as mentioned before STV North is more of a part time station and it flicks back to Glasgow after the bulletins, there is hardly anything STV North use to do and does not now ie advertising is coming from the Clyde and you can tell the difference on STV (Grampian) to STV HD (Clyde), so no wonder us up here look more clueless than we should be but hey ho thats the way STV is ran now anyway and they have done it successfully running us into the ground whats next?

It's quite simple. In my opinion it has "fewer staff" - ie fewer staff than one of the world's biggest broadcasters, which doesn't strike me as too surprising. Your implication of "understaffing" suggests there aren't enough staff to do the job, which I disagree with.

With regard to the budget back then and now - it's hardly comparing like with like. Back then STV was a licence to print money, it was the only commercial TV station for advertisers, had a monopoly and as a result had to do more public service broadcasting. Now it's up against more TV channels, radio stations, internet sites that can do local advertising without the hassle of producing local content. There's a reason the restrictions have been reduced on ITV stations throughout the country. STV is actually doing more than it has to.

Worlds biggest broadcasters - thats such a big statement to make and we are in 2014 and I am afraid in my opinion your well off the mark on that one, I think you meant ITV are not STV as they barely make anything now do they and lets get in touch with reality. Where is the dramas after Taggart/Rebus?? hmmm nothing what programming have they got to the ITV Network itself hmmm Catchphrase (so really next to nothing for a big broadcaster) however SKY is and yes they are subscription paid but hell they pull it all off even though I admit sometimes finding quality programming is questionable but they are at least doing something.

as with the "understaffing" we will now use oh by eck there is and you see it especially the quality up North (one point you acknowledge what I say and then your basically contradicting yourself on the same thing) as I have mentioned before why does STV North hit panic stations when faults happen (it shouldn't they been broadcasting for years before the merge but suddenly its panic? ... sorry but there is a shortage of staff and its hitting us more than what is being let on - I believe sometime ago bosses at STV said viewers wouldn't notice - funny that why people mentioned this in this very thread) I see how your twisting my words now - when I say things like "understaffing" or not alot of staff I do mean that (less staff and CUTS is effecting the quality) there is a word i will now use is CUTS - yes and I can see it actually affecting us in the North but again you don't see my view on that you presume its alright (ok then).

You bring in radio now - what the heck has radio got to do with it? I admit I watch and listen to content be on TV or internet so? Such a thing is adapting with the times and so what if they no longer have a monopoly (oh boo hoo), but then again its opened up to more competition - so who is to blame there? I can guess this might have to do with Murdoch/Thatcher back in the 80's/90's (but I like sky/bbc) and the way your saying it is your actually blaming other things for I will say "downfall" really? So anything that goes tits up pass the buck blame someone else - here we go again it sounds like the STV/ITV fiasco....

STV may apppear in doing alot more than what they need to do ... again that is your opinion but we all have different opinions but I am afraid I ain't buying that one. Prove to me that their programming will change and what I mean is actually do more programming other than news to involve our side of Scotland then I maybe swayed but I am far from it


And why not compare "like for like" on budgeting for the areas back then to now?? That surely has something to do with it? Where is the budget that they have and what they spending it on? What areas are being covered ie Aberdeen/Edinburgh/Glasgow (same amount or varying?), its just the same as the people that complain about BBC/SKY with what they spend money on so why not STV?? (this could be the same question at ITV) but lets not pretend and sweep it under the carpet I am just asking in general thats all and from what you call it "one of the worlds biggest broadcaster"

I was referring to the BBC being one of the world's biggest broadcasters, not STV. My point being that STV has "fewer staff" than the BBC, a huge international organisation, not that it is "understaffed". Of course STV isn't one of the world's biggest broadcasters.

My point once again was that in the 1980s and 1990s "golden era" STV had advertising competition from Channel 4, one commercial radio station in each area and a slowly emerging band of satellite and cable channels which most people didn't have yet. Nowadays advertisers have hundreds of TV channels, three or four local radio stations an area plus dozens of national radio stations, plus internet services which can localise their adverts but do not need to provide any local editorial content. STV once had a monopoly, that is no longer the case. Advertisers have more choice and the viewing audience has fractured, so there is less money for local programming.

Sorry but you did not imply that originally - you have now tripped up with me twice now - that maybe true but STV should be on the ball with staffing than cutting it but they don't see that (and again as I say STV North has in my opinion the worst in what I believe is "staffing" issues) well here is an example why does STV have one political editor yet for the size of it you think it would maybe at least 2 or 3 reporters covering each "section" of news?

ok then in going to "advertising" and investment in "local programming" that maybe true that there is more channels and due to the fact of internet but it still needs answered why does it then feel then we in the old Grampian area feel less catered for? If its down to funding fair enough but not all its own "homegrown" (depends on what that is) needs to be from the Clyde does it? Why not have presenters of STV North getting involved in programming or is this the "can not be bothered" approach but by default Clyde is? (as I have mentioned before define "local" programming to me? - as its far from local and I have more of association with Aberdeen than I do Glasgow - so why do we have to put up with output mostly coming from the Clyde? - surely we should have our own set of programmes or better yet STV getting their finger out and doing more where we are "locally") you may count it as "regional" programming fine but "locally" to me its terrible and nothing more (is that all there is to us on the other side of Scotland is news? - yet STV has more of a upper hand than any other network out there this includes the BBC but do they? No (again I have pointed a positive STV can use but falls on deaf ears as usual)

You will be glad to know we don't have "local" TV but the last one we had in Dundee was called Channel 6 (it was a not bad station unsure who operated it but sorry I would not want STV doing it if it happened - be more like an STV2/S2 - repeat of news on a rota)

Really? Is that the way this debate is going now? Aside from the fact I was perfectly clear in my understaffing vs fewer staffing point, you simply picked me up wrong and ran with it. (which is very easy to do, I've done it before)

We're not really going to get anywhere with this. You clearly believe STV should be investing more in local programming. I think it's understandable that isn't the case given the commercial reality we now live in. It may be time to return the thread to regular programming.

Excuse me but I was pointing it out I ain't making a big story about it here

Regarding the staffing debate I know the angle I was speaking about it but you blantly fail to see my point

Hold up thats what they should be doing should it not? Sorry but correct me here but this lot did say that we would not be affected by any changes back when the merge happened and what has exactly happened? Exactly - news output only (nothing else "locally" is there??)

Let me guess we are meant to feel sorry for these networks that their luck has ran out and resorting to cheap programming and using Teleshopping/Gambling/Nightscreen/Nightshift really for income? I understand the Sky channels still operate 24 hours and so does Channel 4 (excluding 4Music which has teleshopping), its just laziness and the real people that are feeling more of the "commercial reality" as you call is people in jobs, everyone is feeling it but its not an excuse for them or any other network to make up loss income, I would say that is actually time they woke up to reality than hide behind the mask.....

and sorry to say but we will just have to mostly disagree to agree on topics but hey ho

Time for another update on the main STV OPT OUTS between now & Fri. 24th:-


WEDNESDAY 15TH:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT, JEREMY KYLE on STV, ITV has The Cube/Gambling/Film - The Affair Of The Necklace/Jeremy Kyle.

THURSDAY 16TH:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT, THE CUBE & THE NIGHTSHIFT on STV, ITV shows Weight Loss Ward/Around The House/Gambling/Tonight/Jeremy Kyle.

FRIDAY 17TH:-
MOVIEJUICE springs up on STV primetime, ITV has The Martin Lewis Money Show. Late night STV trots out THE NIGHTSHIFT, ITV has Gambling/Film - The Pledge/Nightscreen.

SATURDAY 18TH:-
THE NIGHTSHIFT on STV, Gambling/Ladette To Lady/Nightscreen on ITV.

SUNDAY 19TH:-
THE NIGHTSHIFT on STV, The Store/Jeremy Kyle/Nightscreen on ITV.

MONDAY 20TH:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT, WEIGHT LOSS WARD, FILM - THE AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE on STV, Film - Accepted/Gambling/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

TUESDAY 21ST:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT, LADETTE TO LADY, SCOTTISH PASSPORT HIGHLIGHTS on STV, Crocodile Hunter Diaries/Gambling/Loose Women/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

WEDNESDAY 22ND:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT, MURDER SHE WROTE, FILM - THE PLEDGE on STV, Jonathan Ross/Corfu/Gambling/Columbo/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

THURSDAY 23RD:-
JONATHAN ROSS, SCOTLAND TONIGHT BY-ELECTION SPECIAL, THE NIGHTSHIFT on STV, Weight Loss Ward/Strictly Kosher/Gambling/Tonight/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

FRIDAY 24TH:-
MOVIEJUICE airs primetime on STV, Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV. Late night it's THE NIGHTSHIFT on STV, ITV has Gambling/Film - Best In Show/Nightscreen.

Ah by election special comes from Cowdenbeath - expect dodgy camerawork and its in Shunning HD too! ... I think i'll pop over to ITV3 that night "the vice" is on

When is the Martin Lewis Money Show coming to STV? By the time its finished it airing on ITV most info will probably be out of date or are we expecting ITV to pick that tab up for us and air at 4pm in near future?

Moviejuice - why? let me guess coming soon we will have more Scottish Passport - STV out of FRESH ideas here??

Hiya folks, long time reader, first time poster here.

Every time I flick past 'the Nightshift' it has me asking the same question.....why do they broadcast those pishy interviews from yesteryear? Usually conducted by Viv Lumsden and usually involving some D list celeb. Is this really all STV have to offer?

Why don't they delve into their back catalogue a little deeper? Why not show every episode ever made of Take the High Road, or Now You See It, or Scotsport? Whilst you may disagree with the three programmes I've chosen to mention, my point remains.

STV must have a massive archive of programmes they've made (hence surely there's no copyright issues) so why is the Nighshift full of either repetitive chopper flights over random parts of the country, or Viv bloody Lumsden??

Hopefully someone can explain to this layman what it is that results in STV having to show utter drivel during the night???

....so, how was that for a first post then?

Possibly "royalties" I reckon and they don't want to pay it, STV I do believe would have a large archive - collection of both Scottish and Grampian Television programming, I may not agree to an extent on the programmes you mentioned however I do believe you make a valid point, I just think STV is being cheap no matter what it is and as for Nightshift, I find that god awful to watch especially repeating STV News (I have seen it repeat the Dundee news and you think a) switch off the "dancy" beat b) take off the graphics (so you see who they speaking to but they keep it on!)

Regarding the "flyovers" STV+1 seems to have some new ones on repeat, that'll probably why its not shown on "the nightshift"

I have to laugh when STV advertise the STV Player to catch up on the "oldies" such as Taggart/Rebus - go to sky/cable and go to alibi and they are repeated there!! utterly pointless (or drama/true entertainment on freeview/sky/cable for older Taggart)

Forgot to mention regards "the nightshift" - the amount of times they repeat the same people that appeared on "the hour" is another - again I caught the exact same interview repeated within I believe was 3 or 6 month gap (so I would hazard a guess STV is playing "limited" material possibly due to "royalties" or as you have mentioned "copyright" issues) - classic example I remember was when they mentioned "Taio Cruz" (use google in case unsure who I am speaking about) and it was more about a song he brought out in say 2009! (whats 2009 got to do with say 2013? - its an outdated interview which really does not to be aired!)

Cheers Kezo, thanks for gettin back to me.

It's a strange one tho. As you say, the archive at STV must be massive, so I can only assume there's been a conscious decision taken not to utilise it. There seems no logical reason why tho huh?

I've often thought a good idea would be to play shows that we're originally broadcast on the same day as they would be repeated (for example, when the Nightshift kicks in tonight/tomorrow, why not show an episode of ???? originally broadcast on January 17th 1988, then perhaps followed by a Scotsport originally broadcast on January 17th 1975). Almost an 'on this day' celebration of STV and all it's produced over the years? Even showing old news bulletins from this day back in whatever year would be interesting.

I was once told that almost 40% of people in this country don't work regular bog standard '9 to 5' hours. It seems a real shame to think that literally millions of folk may flick past STV at any time during the night and be faced with the crap that's thrown at them. What a waste.

Dear STV, if you insist on sticking pictures of hills on during the night, at least give us Tom Weir educating us on those hills!!!
Last edited by Jambo51 : 16-01-2014 at 23:12

I will actually agree with your points on this one ... and what you suggest - even though I hate the show lol (ok maybe repeats BUT they are using the archives at least), but they don't want to do that and as we both mentioned there will probably down to "issues" whether true or not is another matter

I am sure they have put him on a few times but its only "selected" segments (Tom Weir/Weirs Way), I did and I am sure it was but there was a clip before Christmas last year there was two people up a mountain and someone "narrating" (I presume this is who your on about), but this for night time really is pathetic especially for STV (again ITV are just as bad but sometimes they provide some programming early morning though).

I would assume STV would have to pay to repeat these shows, and given there is no advertising revenue to be made at that time of night it wouldn't be worth their while delving through the contracts to check who is owed what.

You know, it could lead to this sort of trouble that surrounded Weir's Way: http://bagger.typepad.com/index/2004...e_for_tom.html

So I presume it is still OK to continually repeat dated flyovers and dated interviews as I mentioned - you do forget its call "the nightshift" and has a text number - I wonder if that is making up their ad revenue??


One would assume STV can look up or find these contracts before any shows are broadcast? But going the "free" route speaks volumes to me - so is this STV not wishing to "payout"? - if they are refusing to pay anyone (be on repeats then why show them?), this is a station meant to be in profits supposedly yet does not seem to be bothered a) paying royalties b) and as mentioned being cheap no matter the cost, wow STV has sunk lower than I first imagined.

Classic example - STV's "Taggart night" weird I thought Mark McManus MADE what that programme was and was the "original", so you would think air an episode of one of his from 9pm (split between news and resume) but they played an Alex Norton episode (give Alex due respect but Mark was the original so why did STV not air a Mark McManus episode to showing an Alex Norton episode? I am guessing this is down to "contracts" then? - To me beats the whole point trying to dedicate a "franchise" to someone who made it and basically be told to take a hike we will go "cheap") how very odd

Here then are the main STV OPT OUTS for the week ahead (up to & incl. Fri. 31st):-


WEDNESDAY 22ND:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT, MURDER SHE WROTE, FILM - THE PLEDGE on STV, Jonathan Ross/Corfu/Gambling/Columbo/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

THURSDAY 23RD:-
JONATHAN ROSS, SCOTLAND TONIGHT BY-ELECTION SPECIAL, THE NIGHTSHIFT on STV, Weight Loss Ward/Strictly Kosher/Gambling/Tonight/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

FRIDAY 24TH:-
MOVIEJUICE airs primetime on STV, Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV. Late night it's THE NIGHTSHIFT on STV, ITV has Gambling/Film - Best In Show/Nightscreen.

SATURDAY 25TH:-
FILM - JOHNNY ENGLISH & IN SEARCH OF ROBERT BURNS (rpt) air on STV lunchtime/early afternoon, ITV shows live FA Cup football. Late night FILM - ACCEPTED & NIGHTSHIFT on STV, Football Highlights/The Cube/Gambling/Ladette To Lady/Nightscreen on ITV.

SUNDAY 26TH:-
ADE IN BRITAIN (rpt) & MIDSOMER MURDERS (rpt) on STV afternoon, Live FA Cup football on ITV. Late night STV has PIERS MORGAN'S LIFE STORIES, CORFU & NIGHTSHIFT, ITV has Football Highlights/Rugby Union/The Store/Jeremy Kyle USA/Jeremy Kyle.

MONDAY 27TH:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT, WEIGHT LOSS WARD, COLUMBO on STV, Piers Morgan's Life Stories/Unforgettable Sid James/Gambling/Jeremy Kyle USA/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

TUESDAY 28TH:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT, LADETTE TO LADY, SCOTTISH PASSPORT SHORTS on STV, Crocodile Hunter Diaries/Gambling/Loose Women/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

WEDNESDAY 29TH:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT & FILM - BEST IN SHOW on STV, Corfu/Gambling/Columbo/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

THURSDAY 30TH:-
SCOTLAND TONIGHT & NIGHTSHIFT on STV, Strictly Kosher/Gambling/Tonight/Jeremy Kyle on ITV.

FRIDAY 31ST:-
MOVIEJUICE primetime on STV, ITV screens Martin Lewis Money Show. Late night NIGHTSHIFT on STV, Gambling/Film - Captivity/Nightscreen on ITV.

Two things "in search of Robert Burns" surely STV could have put something else on?? (let me guess this will be a "yearly" repeat :yawn: ) and really another round of Scottish Passport Shorts? FFS STV get a grip and scrap these "short" programmes for ONE (if ITV had done this they be uproar about it but STV its quiet why? and how about something actually NEW (not cheaply made??), in search of Robert Burns, nah your ok STV I rather go in search of Moby Dick , coming next year in search of a Glasgow Pub hosted by MEchelle McManus only on STV!!

Coming Soon to STV --- a programme that has been made up North and yet no one understands .... its broadcasts from OHBC News headquarters! .... its OHBC News!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st8uIAAJ368