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STV loses news bulletin contract STV loses news bulletin contract
(41 minutes later)
A group of Scottish newspaper publishers has been named as the preferred bidder to run the news service on STV.A group of Scottish newspaper publishers has been named as the preferred bidder to run the news service on STV.
The Scottish News Consortium had been competing with STV for the contract to provide the publicly-funded service.The Scottish News Consortium had been competing with STV for the contract to provide the publicly-funded service.
The consortium is made up of DC Thomson, the Herald and Times Group, Johnston Press and Tinopolis.The consortium is made up of DC Thomson, the Herald and Times Group, Johnston Press and Tinopolis.
The UK government invited bids after commercial stations said they could no longer afford to make local bulletins.The UK government invited bids after commercial stations said they could no longer afford to make local bulletins.
The government described the newspaper group's proposals for news services in central and northern Scotland as "imaginative and innovative".The government described the newspaper group's proposals for news services in central and northern Scotland as "imaginative and innovative".
Nobody from STV, which will still be responsible for non-news programmes in the two regions, was immediately available for comment.Nobody from STV, which will still be responsible for non-news programmes in the two regions, was immediately available for comment.
We asked for innovation and were not disappointed Richard HooperHead of selection panel
STV had made a bid for the contract as part of the Scottish News Network, which also included ITN and Bauer Radio.
The News 3 consortium, which brings together Trinity Mirror, the Press Association and independent TV production company Ten Alps, has been named as the preferred bidder for the Tyne Tees/Borders region. Wales Live is the preferred bidder in Wales.
The total value of the three contracts is some £47m over two years.
The winning consortia are being tasked with delivering local news content across the web, mobile, and other new platforms, along with the television slot currently occupied by ITV and STV regional news.
The Conservatives have previously said they will examine whether the scheme can be scrapped if they win the forthcoming General Election.
Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw, who made the announcement, said: "The funding available to these consortia represents a massive commitment from this government to help encourage the long-term sustainability of news in the nations, locally and in the regions.
"I hope this focussed work will now continue with everyone working together to ensure these pilots are up and running by the end of the year."
'Strong proposals'
The announcement followed an evaluation process completed by an independent selection panel led by Richard Hooper.
Mr Hooper said the bids had demonstrated how television, local newspapers, the internet and local radio could work together in new and interesting ways.
He added: "In Wales and Scotland, in addition to strong proposals for regional, local and hyperlocal/community news, the bidders put forward credible ideas for quality news for those nations which is urgently needed as a result of devolution. We asked for innovation and were not disappointed."
Mr Hooper said he was particularly impressed by the "enthusiasm and resource commitment" of the bidders to deliver multi-platform and multi-layered news in order to compete with the BBC.