The Managing Director (M.D.) of Grampian Television is to leave in a few weeks time. Glasgow based Bobby Hain (Broadcasting M.D.) will assume responsibility for the Grampian licence. The matter is of no concern to Ofcom. In other words, you can axe North Tonight and present the news from Glesga. Obviously Grampian no longer requires a M.D. who lives in the region, responsible for the management and maintenance of its licence.
Speculation is rife that there is to be a mass jobs cull in Aberdeen, as the Grampian news budget is seen as a prime candidate for cutting. Perhaps this will explain why last week STV ran local newspaper advertisements in Grampian with the sole face of John MacKay, the current presenter of Scotland Today on Scottish Television. He is a nonentity to Grampian viewers, and scores of people were mystified as to why the current North Tonight lead anchor Norman Macleod, who has been at Grampian for over twenty years, was not featured instead.
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A former member
I dare say the reason for the man in Glasgow taken control is I would say because STV central already does most of the work, and it better to have one person looking after the ONE company as what it is now!
And why cut there budget, especial when STV is advertising's for more people in both areas for a brand new "STV news " hour?
also if there to get put together i dare say Andrea woudl get the promotion
Is Matt Bingham now the Scotland Reporter for ITV News .Just saw him on the ITV Lunchtime News doing a live report he left STV a couple of years ago.
I think he may be freelance. He is a commentator on STV's new show Scotsport Rugby Sunday, and has also reported for Scotland Today once or twice a few weeks ago.
I don't know why you think the rumours are crap. It all makes an awful lot of sense. ITVplc is merging a lot of its operations to save millions and STVs programmes are now completely 'nationwide' other than the regional news. They could save a hell of a lot of cash if they shut down North Tonight and turn it into a small studio with a handful of reporters and a tiny studio. It's inevitable. It WILL happen.
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A former member
most of the people ( and I;am one of them ) on the STV forum do not believe this.
Well if you look on the STV forum you'll see that the rumours of the return of news at ten were denied and branded rubbish. Then around 2 weeks later it was announced that news at ten was returning! Trust me. Within two years (conservative guess) North Tonight will be axed.
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A former member
so why spend the money on blogs?
why spend all that money on a Hugh Office for Aberdeen?
why, these are just a small number but there are more
Blogs?! Get it in perspective. Firstly, the North Tonight blogs aren't even daily. They are done every couple of days when the team get a second to plonk something together. Secondly they cost nothing to make as it's just a camera person and the presenter who can chop it together in mins before pushing it online. And as for the 'huge new office' - I think you'll find it's a small building on a business park. STV could easily sell or lease out the ground floor and keep a scaled down team on the upper floor. Trust me on this one. STV North will eventually be no more. I expect an announcement in the summer.