The culture secretary has told the chief executive of STV of his “deep concerns” after it announced cost-saving plans that include cutting 60 jobs and axing its north of Scotland television news programme.

The broadcaster is seeking £2.5m of savings by next year, after announcing a £200,000 loss in the first six months of 2025.

In the letter to Rufus Radcliffe, Angus Robertson said he recognised STV was facing “challenging financial circumstances” but was deeply concerned about a reduction in Scotland’s news provision.

Following the announcement of the cuts, Mr Radcliffe said the plans were necessary amid “changing consumption habits” among the broadcaster’s audience.

The company currently provides two distinct news services, one for the central belt based in Glasgow, the other for the north based in Aberdeen. The proposal is for one programme from Glasgow covering stories from across Scotland.

The announcement comes after advertising revenue fell to £45m compared to £50m in the same period last year.

Angus Robertson said STV was an important part of Scottish identity and culture and had a key role to play in Scottish broadcasting.

He said: “The sustainability of quality news from reliable sources is crucial in the fight against false or misleading information.

“It is alarming to see decisions to reduce services and resources of news provision across the country, particularly given STV’s public service commitments to invest in news and help tackle misinformation.”

Describing the plans as a “worrying step backwards”, the culture secretary said he would “continue to champion stronger journalism and a Scottish broadcasting sector”.

In a statement, STV chief executive Rufus Radcliffe said: “The way audiences consume news content is changing rapidly and fundamentally.

“Our output needs to respond to that as linear viewing declines and digital consumption of news increases.”

First Minister John Swinney said “sustained media engagement” was a “vital part of our democracy”.

The cancellation requires permission from regulator Ofcom. Its spokesperson confirmed a request from STV “relating to its news programming” had been received and that “all such requests” would be looked at carefully.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said it would oppose the “devasting” cuts.

NUJ organiser for Scotland Nick McGowan-Lowe said: “While there is no doubt that STV faces financial pressures and a decline of studio productions, none of that can be blamed on the hard-working journalists.

“These proposed cuts threaten the high quality of local and national journalism produced by STV News staff across Scotland.”

The proposed changes to STV News will require the approval of the TV regulator Ofcom.

The watchdog will decide whether to approve them, throw them out or give the green light to a modified plan.

Ofcom is expected to start a public consultation in the coming weeks.

The proposal means the northern half of Scotland will no longer have a bespoke TV news service – the legacy of the former Grampian Television which STV bought almost 30 years ago.

Local politicians from across the political spectrum and the National Union of Journalists are highly concerned.

But the regulator will not just consider the reaction to the proposals. It will also consider what kind of news service from STV might be sustainable in the years ahead.

Audiences for linear TV have been falling. Advertising revenue is down. STV made a pre-tax loss.

The question looking forward could well be about whether the regulator may modify STV’s proposals – perhaps insisting on the retention of some dedicated news for the north, but not a full programme.

The Scottish government and MSPs are likely to be seen as important stakeholders in the consultation. However, broadcasting policy is a Westminster issue.

Ultimately, though, STV has the option of a powerful threat.

If it was forced to do something by the regulator which was not in its commercial interests and which could render the business unviable, it could surrender its broadcasting licence.

That scenario is highly unlikely at present, but the regulator is likely to be mindful of this possibility when they are considering imposing any loss-making legal obligations.