STV to create new commercial radio station
STV said that creating a radio station is a 'natural extension' for the company and will help it create a strong, 'future-proofed' advertising business across digital and audio.
The studio will be based at STV's headquarters in Pacific Quay, Glasgow.
Bobby Hain, managing director audience: news, audio and regulatory at STV, said: 'We already have a strong connection with our audiences who know and trust our brand and radio is a natural extension for us, so we're delighted to be breaking into this market with an exciting new offering for listeners across Scotland.
'We have a clear ambition to be a top three commercial radio station in Scotland by 2030.
'This is a move that will help us grow our audience even further and create exciting new commercial opportunities.
'Together, our broadcast channel, streaming platform and radio station will enable us to offer a powerful cross-platform and affordable advertising proposition with real regional flexibility and local targeting capabilities.'
The radio station will be headed by Graham Bryce, who was previously chief operating officer of Bauer Media UK.
It has been announced as part of a wider strategic update from STV on Wednesday.
The radio station is part of its newly created Audience division, which incorporates the company's broadcast channel STV, streaming service STV Player and the new audio business.
The name of the station and its key presenters will be announced later this year.
Mr Bryce said: 'I'm delighted to be leading this new venture with STV, expanding its offering into the dynamic world of audio.
'Radio listening remains robust and with Scots having a strong appetite for commercial radio I'm confident our new national station will offer something different and exciting to the market.
'This will be a truly national commercial station for Scotland with presenters, news and content focused on the needs and interests of listeners living in Scotland.
'We believe there is a real gap in the market, and I can't wait to get started and shake things up.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Scottish water bosses should not be getting eye-watering bonuses
It is a kick in the teeth that the company's boss Alex Plant has received a boost in his pension pot while we are all paying more for our water. Rewarding failure is never a good look. But that is what the Scottish Government seems to have done with the bosses of Scottish Water. Bills have gone up for Scots by nearly 10 per cent this year, after an 8.8 per cent hike the year before. This has come as other bills have skyrocketed over recent years - with rents, food and council tax all going up. Too many people have been struggling to make ends meet, and water bills have played their part in that. You would expect that we would have a better service by paying more, but Scottish Water has been failing when it comes to dealing with our waste. Its sewage sites breached its licences more than 250 times in three years. Sewage spilled into the environment over 24,000 times last year. In England, private firms have received fines for this kind of performance. But the publicly-owned water firm in Scotland hasn't faced similar measures. It is a kick in the teeth that the company's boss Alex Plant has received a boost in his pension pot while we are all paying more for our water. Other bosses at Scottish Water have also had their salaries and pension pots increased. Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie is right that water rates should be frozen and that bosses should not be receiving such eye-watering sums. They should only be receiving bumper pay rises if they bring bills down and make our water system fit for purpose. If they fail they should have to make do with their existing sky-high salaries. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. JD's Scot us wrong JD Vance is on holiday in Scotland with his family. He claims to have ancestors in our country. But the US Vice President should get his facts right next time he wants to wade in on Scottish politics. Vance suggested Scots could be prosecuted for praying in their own homes as a result of a law that says protests outside abortion clinics must be at least 200m away. Let's be clear - no one is being arrested for praying in their own home. The law protects women from harassment while seeking medical treatment. free speech no longer exists. While he is in Scotland we hope the US Vice President spends more time enjoying the stunning Ayrshire scenery - and less time lecturing us on subjects he knows nothing about.
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Scotland's deficit grew by £5.1bn, Government estimate shows
The latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) figures reported 'overall public finances in Scotland weakening, as expenditure grew faster than revenue'. For 2024-25, Scotland has a net fiscal deficit of minus £26.2 billion – an increase of £5.1 billion from the previous year – with this the representing minus 11.6% of the country's GDP. The UK deficit for 2024-25 was minus 5.1% of GDP, less than half the rate of Scotland. The Scottish Government report said the 'deterioration' between this year and last was in part linked to a fall in North Sea revenue, but it added: 'The difference is primarily explained by movements in non-North Sea revenue and spending, with Scottish revenue growing more slowly and Scottish expenditure growing more quickly than the UK.' Revenue in Scotland grew by 1.5% in 2024-25 to £91.4 billion. Spending increased to £117.6 billion in 2024-25, up from £111.4 billion in 2023-24. 'As a share of GDP, public spending remained at historically high levels in 2024,' the report noted. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the figures show Scots benefit from higher public spending than the UK average – with this £2,669 more per person north of the border. He said this 'means more money for schools, hospitals and policing, if the Scottish Parliament chooses to invest in those areas' – although he also claimed 'people in Scotland will rightly expect to see better outcomes' for these higher spending levels. Mr Murray said: 'These figures underline the collective economic strength of the United Kingdom and how Scotland benefits from the redistribution of wealth inside the UK. 'By sharing resources with each other across the UK, Scots benefit by £2,669 more per head in public spending than the UK average. 'It also means that devolved governments have the financial heft of the wider UK behind them when taking decisions.' Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison said decisions taken by ministers at Holyrood 'are helping support sustainable public finances'. She said: 'For the fourth year in a row, devolved revenues have grown faster than devolved expenditure. 'Scotland's public finances are better than many other parts of the UK, with the third highest revenue per person in the UK, behind only London and the South East.' She also stressed the Gers statistics reflect the current constitutional arrangements, with Scotland part of the UK and 'not an independent Scotland with its own policy, decisions on defence spending and the economy'. Arguing the figures highlight the 'limit' of devolved powers, Ms Robison said while the Scottish Government is responsible for more than 60% of public expenditure north of the border, it only controls 'around 30% of revenue'. The Finance Secretary told journalists: 'As an independent Scotland we would have the powers to make different choices, different budgetary results, to build a stronger economy and enable Scotland to be a fairer, wealthier and greener country.' She pointed to Ireland, saying GDP there had grown 12.5% over the last year, with a budget surplus of 24 billion euros (£20.7 billion) in 2024. Ms Robison hailed that as an example of 'what a small independent country, one of our nearest neighbours, is able to do with the full powers of independence'. She said: 'What we want, through the powers of independence, is to be able to make our own decisions. 'If you look at Ireland and what they have been able to do with the powers they have, it's like night and day compared to the economic conditions of the UK economy or the Scottish economy. 'Independence is the direction we want to take because we believe it will unleash the potential, from day one, to be able to emulate some of the economic performance of many of our neighbours, whether it is Ireland, or some of our Scandinavian neighbours.'
Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Scotland's deficit grew by £5.1bn, Government estimate shows
The latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) figures reported 'overall public finances in Scotland weakening, as expenditure grew faster than revenue'. For 2024-25, Scotland has a net fiscal deficit of minus £26.2 billion – an increase of £5.1 billion from the previous year – with this the representing minus 11.6% of the country's GDP. The UK deficit for 2024-25 was minus 5.1% of GDP, less than half the rate of Scotland. The Scottish Government report said the 'deterioration' between this year and last was in part linked to a fall in North Sea revenue, but it added: 'The difference is primarily explained by movements in non-North Sea revenue and spending, with Scottish revenue growing more slowly and Scottish expenditure growing more quickly than the UK.' Revenue in Scotland grew by 1.5% in 2024-25 to £91.4 billion. Spending increased to £117.6 billion in 2024-25, up from £111.4 billion in 2023-24. 'As a share of GDP, public spending remained at historically high levels in 2024,' the report noted. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the figures show Scots benefit from higher public spending than the UK average – with this £2,669 more per person north of the border. He said this 'means more money for schools, hospitals and policing, if the Scottish Parliament chooses to invest in those areas' – although he also claimed 'people in Scotland will rightly expect to see better outcomes' for these higher spending levels. Mr Murray said: 'These figures underline the collective economic strength of the United Kingdom and how Scotland benefits from the redistribution of wealth inside the UK. 'By sharing resources with each other across the UK, Scots benefit by £2,669 more per head in public spending than the UK average. 'It also means that devolved governments have the financial heft of the wider UK behind them when taking decisions.' Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison said decisions taken by ministers at Holyrood 'are helping support sustainable public finances'. She said: 'For the fourth year in a row, devolved revenues have grown faster than devolved expenditure. 'Scotland's public finances are better than many other parts of the UK, with the third highest revenue per person in the UK, behind only London and the South East.' She also stressed the Gers statistics reflect the current constitutional arrangements, with Scotland part of the UK and 'not an independent Scotland with its own policy, decisions on defence spending and the economy'. Arguing the figures highlight the 'limit' of devolved powers, Ms Robison said while the Scottish Government is responsible for more than 60% of public expenditure north of the border, it only controls 'around 30% of revenue'. The Finance Secretary told journalists: 'As an independent Scotland we would have the powers to make different choices, different budgetary results, to build a stronger economy and enable Scotland to be a fairer, wealthier and greener country.' She pointed to Ireland, saying GDP there had grown 12.5% over the last year, with a budget surplus of 24 billion euros (£20.7 billion) in 2024. Ms Robison hailed that as an example of 'what a small independent country, one of our nearest neighbours, is able to do with the full powers of independence'. She said: 'What we want, through the powers of independence, is to be able to make our own decisions. 'If you look at Ireland and what they have been able to do with the powers they have, it's like night and day compared to the economic conditions of the UK economy or the Scottish economy. 'Independence is the direction we want to take because we believe it will unleash the potential, from day one, to be able to emulate some of the economic performance of many of our neighbours, whether it is Ireland, or some of our Scandinavian neighbours.'
