STV News

Why cant the sky problem not be sorted out any time soon???

I remember something at the back of my mind from the old STV forum or it could have been a blog from North, someone saying that it wouldn't be happening any time in the near future. Plus if they wanted it to be on Sky, they would have put it on when North started the opt outs like what Central did with the old West/East opt outs.

Welcome to the forum Gaz.

I think you are correct about what has been said, but would hope this is not a permanent excuse by Stv.

Sadly, I reluctantly concede that we are the poor relations to Stv Central (now East and West) but there is only so much that is palatable to us Grampian viewers. It must be said that things are better but in some ways worse since Stv invaded Grampian land but they need to ensure there are no glaringly obvious differences with how they approach their news services. I think it would be hard for them to argue that the North continues with the present set up while Glasgow/west and Edinburgh/east get dedicated broadcasts.

For Stv to serve the north of Scotland properly it must invest more when the money is there to do so. North viewers deserve further enhancements/ developments - especially in the Highlands and Islands.

I have faith in Stv - they have done so much and while I sympathise with Barney - have come to accept the pros and cons of the new TV landscape. I genuinely hope Pacific Quay and Craigshaw bosses remember they are meant to serve all corners of the two franchise areas...don't let me/all Northerners down!!!!

I also would like to add that Stv local alone aint enough to pacify us Highlanders IMO.

Well I was always a loyal advocate to the North don't get me wrong, but where I live in Perthshire, it's take your pick of region at the end of the day as Crieff is right on the border for both regions.

And after the Digital Switchover in August last year, a lot of people switched to Blackhill from the Crieff Relay as it has more relevance to have the news from the likes of Stirling and the even Glasgow, as Crieff is closer to Stirling than it is Dundee. And I think STV North sometimes seems to forget that.

And also a new look for North isn't on the cards anytime soon, as I asked Claire Stewart and the reply I got was....@GazMcEwan I don't think it's immanent, but what do I know ;0)

But I do feel that a refresh for the North even if it's not dedicated programmes like Central would have been nice.

Yes, that was quite strange. The Amazon report also has a different DOG to the rest of the programme with stv.tv/news rather than stv.tv/edinburgh. Also I see they have removed the DOG from the titles.

Because currently STV only have four SD streams on Astra 28, STV West, East, and North, and STV West+1.

So, they'd need to find extra narrowbeam t/p space, not easy at the moment. Or if they were happy only to have the service on Sky, and not Freesat, they could possibly find space on 2B, but would then have to pay Sky for encryption. They've obviously decided it's commercially more beneficial to use the fourth stream for West+1 than a North sub region.

http://www.lyngsat.com/astra2d.html

STV Today - thank you and well said!!

I for one would love to see an enhanced service for the North. Maybe not to the extent of a complete split but certainly a sub opt for the Highlands!! How can news closer to me in Aberdeen have any relevance to someone in Thurso, Orkney or Shetland!!?? I too think we are the poor relations up here and it is not on. STV have made a difference since the Grampian days and North Tonight (stv News North) is my first choice for local news but why should it not be improved when the other stv services have been....it is a downright disregard for all North (Grampian) viewers!!

There is a opt Studio built in Inverness office!!!! it was seen on one of the blogs. so there had plans there would not waste all this money for nothing!

Thanks Barney - a sub opt is one option that would be palatable and is certainly better than the current set up.

Thanks to 623058 as well. I never realised a studio was already sorted for a opt out! This means there is bo real excuse now. I really hope that this Inverness opt out studio is put in use very soon. If they have gone to this trouble already then perhaps that is why the North will have a separate revamp? If not then I'd like to know what the heck is causing the hold up. I hope the Inverness studio is not the modern equivalent to the proposed Scottish Parliament at the Royal High School next to Calton Hill.

Maybe you need phone to stv:

Its not a opt studio. Inverness have had a studio, like Dundee, way back to the late 1980's in Grampian days.....it was used for stories from Inverness. Since more and more 'lives' are now done on location that studio is hardly ever used. My own opinion would be to have the main programme as is but have a longer opt from Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness. I can not see that having 3x 30 min shows coming from 3 centres would ever be financialy viable for stv.