The coverage of Scotland’s election counts by STV, the commercial broadcaster, is anticipated to be significantly disrupted due to impending strike action amid an escalating pay dispute.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the technical union Bectu have targeted STV’s election reporting for their second strike this year, protesting the company’s decision to implement a pay freeze across the board following a notable drop in revenue.
Approximately 120 journalists and broadcasting personnel are expected to participate in the strike scheduled for Friday.
Employees are also expressing anger over STV’s reduction of staff numbers and plans to drastically cut news coverage in northern Scotland—an area formerly served by Grampian TV—as part of cost-saving measures while simultaneously investing in the launch of a new radio station.
The media regulator Ofcom has delayed its decision on the merger of STV Central with STV North until after the Holyrood election but is likely to approve the merger later this month with minor modifications.
Last year, STV reported a 6% decline in revenue, totaling £176.9 million, with advertising revenue dropping by 10% to £89.3 million. The broadcaster attributed this downturn to several “shocks” experienced throughout the year, including an unstable economy, escalating costs, and a challenging advertising landscape.
This situation has resulted in a significant decline in STV’s share price, raising concerns about potential vulnerability to a takeover by Comcast, the American media conglomerate that owns Sky, or ITV, especially after having previously resisted pressure to merge with a larger entity.
Nick McGowan-Lowe, Scotland organizer for the NUJ, stated: “Every NUJ member in the STV newsroom would prefer to be reporting from election counts rather than fighting for fair wages, but the company’s decision to allocate funds towards a new commercial radio station has left them with no alternative.”
He added, “While the company faces financial difficulties, the hardworking staff of STV News, who produce Scotland’s most-watched evening program, are not to blame. We believe a resolution to this dispute is still attainable.”
In a letter addressed to staff on Thursday morning, STV’s CEO Rufus Radcliffe mentioned that the salary freeze was not a decision made lightly. He also indicated that the company had restructured its bank loans, suspended dividend payments to shareholders, and reorganized pension deficit payments.
Radcliffe emphasized, “Our current priorities are job security and achieving financial sustainability. We determined that granting a salary increase in 2026 would be financially imprudent and could necessitate further cost-cutting measures later this year, a situation I am committed to avoiding as we stabilize the business and work towards growth.”
He noted that the diversification efforts through the new radio station and digital investments aim to mitigate reliance on a traditional television station that faces stiff competition from social media and emerging media platforms. “In light of such rapid changes, we must make difficult choices,” he remarked.
An STV representative expressed disappointment over the unions’ decision to strike on a day that will affect their on-air audiences, reaffirming the company’s commitment to ongoing discussions with the joint unions.
