Business
STV welcomes publication of draft Media Bill
STV welcomes publication of draft Media Bill.
About this update from Stv Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n NEWS RELEASE\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 29th March 2023\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n STV welcomes ten-year renewal of Channel 3 licences\n \n \n \n \n and publication of draft Media Bill\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n STV welcomes today's announcement by the Secretary of State that its Channel 3 licences can be renewed for a further ten-year period from January 2025.\n \n \n \n \n \n The confirmation that STV's licences for central and north Scotland can be extended secures the provision of public service obligations, including the country's highest performing news and current affairs programmes.\n \n \n \n \n \n STV is Scotland's highest rated peak-time channel reaching 3m people every month with a mix of regional and Channel 3 network programmes including drama, soaps, entertainment and major sporting events.\n \n \n \n \n \n STV also welcomes the publication of the draft Media Bill, including provision to extend the prominence that Public Service Media (PSM) providers are currently entitled to on broadcast platforms to new digital platforms. This will mean that STV Player will be more easily discoverable on connected TVs, streaming sticks and set top boxes.\n \n \n \n \n \n STV's Chief Executive Simon Pitts said:\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"We welcome confirmation from the Secretary of State that STV's Public Service Broadcasting licences can be renewed for a further ten-year period. STV remains Scotland's most popular peak-time channel and our schedule provides an unrivalled mix of original UK content including drama, soaps, entertainment and live sporting events. STV News, with its unique localised programming has been Scotland's most watched news service for four years in a row and plays a vital role in keeping audiences up to date with trusted news, facts and insight.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"As more viewing shifts online, we also welcome publication of the draft Media Bill and in particular the Government's recognition that new legislation is urgently required to make Public Service Media as prominent on digital platforms as they are today on broadcast.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"STV looks forward to the swift passage of the Bill through Parliament to ensure that Public...