More local TV from today

stv-city-peter-and-roughie-cartoons-glasgow-edinburghSTV’s city TV channels, STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh, have enhanced their schedules for viewers in Scotland’s largest cities from today with extended hours and a range of exciting new original programmes. 

The channels are now on air from 7am and will feature hourly week day news bulletins from midday. At 1800, 2000 and 2200, 30 minute news programmes will bring viewers across central Scotland all the latest updates.

The enhanced schedule will also include original, 30 minute Scottish programmes at 2030 each week day evening.

The schedule now includes: 

The People’s History Show – Mondays 2030

Published authors and local historians, Dan Sweeney and Dan Gray take us on a journey through the streets of our modern Scottish cities into the past to reveal the real people’s history. This series takes viewers across the history of Scotland’s largest cities, including visits to Edinburgh’s St Bernard’s Football Club, the closes off the Royal Mile and Glasgow’s Merchant City in days gone by.  The People’s History Show also takes a look at much loved familiar favourites such as The Sheep Heid Inn and Leith Theatre. 

Jak and Eddie’s Scottish Kitchen – Tuesdays at 2030

Top chef Jak O’Donnell and master baker Eddie Boyle join forces to make delicious dishes from the very best of Scottish ingredients. Jak will be cooking culinary delights while Eddie bakes, both have a passion and talent for cooking and produce Scottish traditional favourites with a modern twist. This series is packed with delicious dishes, fabulous ingredients, helpful baking tips and inspired Scottish recipes that will be available on the STV website. 

My Life in Ten Pictures – Wednesdays at 2030

Some of Scotland’s best known faces share their personal photo albums to give viewers an insight into their lives through ten carefully selected pictures. The series sees celebrated Scots pick ten pictures which sum up their life giving a fascinating insight into TV, politics, radio, music and comedy. Guests include TV presenter Carol Smillie, TV and radio presenter Ross King, and comedian Andy Cameron. 

Grass Roots Music – Thursdays at 2030

This one of a kind show is at the forefront of the Scottish music scene giving brand new local bands and established Scottish artists a platform to share their talent. Scotland’s only weekly music TV show, Grass Roots Music will put local music first and host some of the biggest names in Scottish music, plus emerging new talent in Scotland. Presented by Paul Hughes, STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh channel editor, the show offers an eclectic range of music from Scotland’s live scene, including interviews with Del Amitri front man and acclaimed solo artistJustin Currie, and singer-songwriter Donovan. Filming takes place in famous gig venues across central Scotland, such as Glasgow’s Nice N Sleazy’s and The Jazz Bar in Edinburgh. 

Ch-Ewen the Fat – Fridays at 2030

Non-stop chatterbox Ewen Cameron hits the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh to find out what real Scots think about his topic of the day. Ewen is a unique character who has a knack for bringing out the best in people and Ch-Ewen the Fat is a great opportunity for The Fountainbridge Show presenter to speak to people about topical issues events and ask the questions they may not want to answer. In the first few episodes, Ewen gets his groove on to see if he can get the Scottish public dancing in the streets with raves, tangos, and ultimately a mass Zorba the Greek style dance.

In the first month on air, STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh reached a combined monthly audience of over one million viewers with an engaging mix of news, innovative formats and classic dramas from the STV archive.

Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “These exciting changes will serve to strengthen the range and distinctive offering of City TV and allow us to reach new audiences.  The new STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh schedules reinforce our commitment to delivering local programming for our consumers and we hope the 8.30pm slot will become appointment to view TV for viewers in Scotland’s largest cities.”

STV Glasgow broadcasts to a potential audience of two million viewers in the west of Scotland and STV Edinburgh has a potential reach of one million viewers in the east. The channels are delivered in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh Napier University, with over 100 students from the universities having gained experience so far through their involvement in broadcast operations of the channels.

STV Glasgow launched in June 2014 with STV Edinburgh following in January 2015. The channels broadcast on Freeview channel 23, Sky channel 117 and Virgin Media channel 159 within their transmission areas. STV, STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh are available to watch live online with the STV Player.

STV Edinburgh launch night figures ‘encouraging’

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STV Edinburgh launched last night with a reach of approximately 166,000 viewers in Edinburgh and the east. 

The new channel began broadcasting at 7pm with brand new magazine show The Fountainbridge Show and the opening night audience peaked during the show with around 48,000 viewers.

In addition, the new channel was streamed live 2,000 times on the STV Player with hundreds of catch-up views so far.

STV Edinburgh interacted throughout the day via social media with over 4,000 interactions on Twitter and Facebook and over 1,000 entries to the STV Edinburgh competition.

Bobby Hain, director of channels at STV, said: “The launch night of STV Edinburgh delivered an audience that was in line with the first night of STV Glasgow in June 2014, which is an extremely encouraging start as the channel’s reach is a potential audience of one million compared to two million in Glasgow and the west.

“City TV has proved a popular addition to STV’s range of platforms serving consumers across Scotland and we look forward to building on engaging with our audience across the 12 year licence that has been awarded.”

A survey conducted by ScotPulse on Monday night showed over half (54%) of those that tuned in would recommend it to friends and family, and three out of four viewers (76%) said they will watch again in the future.

Across the 253 BARB channels, the STV city channels (STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh combined) ranked ninth best watched channel* across all commercial channels within our transmission area across the central belt.

STV Edinburgh began broadcasting at 1900 on Monday 12th January 2015 to a potential audience of one million viewers in the east of Scotland on Freeview channel 23, Sky channel 117 and Virgin channel 159. The new channel is available to watch live online via the STV Player.

STV has also submitted applications to Ofcom to deliver local TV in Aberdeen, Ayr and Dundee.

*Across peak time on launch night, 1900 – 2230

STV Edinburgh gets ready to roll

STV_Edinburgh presenters_Nov11_ghp_67New city TV channel STV Edinburgh will launch next Monday (12 January) at 7pm with the first ever broadcast of The Fountainbridge Show.

Also included in the launch night schedule are Edinburgh’s Murder Mysteries at 9pm, STV Edinburgh News at 10pm and Peter & Roughie’s Football Show at 11pm.

Popular archive programming will return to the STV Edinburgh schedule on Tuesday 13 January with the very first episode of Take the High Road at 5.30pm. STV Edinburgh will also broadcast one hour of non-English speaking content per week with Polish drama, Czas Honoru (Days of Honour), beginning on Friday 16 January, with subtitles.

STV Edinburgh will be on air midday to midnight each day with an entertaining mix of news and features, live and interactive formats, and quality acquired and archive programmes.

Paul Hughes, channel editor for STV Edinburgh said: “The response from local people to the launch of the brand new channel has been fantastic. We’ve been inundated with requests from local bands and chefs from the capital who want to appear on the The Fountainbridge Show which is really encouraging ahead of launch.

“STV Glasgow launched to a terrific reception last June and we anticipate the people of Edinburgh will welcome this new platform that will reflect everything going on in the city on a daily basis.”

The Fountainbridge Show will be presented nightly from the studio by former Heart and Real Radio breakfast show host, Ewen Cameron and broadcaster and presenter Hayley Matthews. The Fountainbridge News will air from 6.30 – 7pm every evening, followed by The Fountainbridge Show from 7 – 8.30pm.

Ofcom announced the award of licences to STV for Glasgow and Edinburgh in January 2013. STV Edinburgh will be delivered in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, offering students the opportunity to work in a live television environment. STV has also submitted applications to Ofcom to deliver local TV in Aberdeen, Ayr and Dundee.

STV Edinburgh will broadcast on Freeview channel 23, Sky channel 117 and Virgin channel 159 and will be available to watch live on the STV Player. Ahead of the channel’s launch, viewers will be asked to retune their televisions to pick up the Freeview signal for channel 23.

Pictured: George Ward, Hayley Matthews, Zara Janjua and Ewen Cameron.