Shock as Scotland’s Local TV Sold Off to That’s TV – A Journalist’s Nightmare
Scotland’s local television is being handed over to That’s TV, the Freeview broadcaster already running 14 stations in England and Wales. This move follows the closure of STV2 and STV’s sale of its city TV licences – sparking outrage among journalists and media insiders.
That’s TV: Cheap, Overworked, and Underwhelming
Job adverts are now online, calling for reporters and video journalists to work across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ayr, Dundee, and Aberdeen under the That’s TV banner. But insiders warn the stations will be stretched thin, underfunded, and over-reliant on unpaid interns and minimum wage workers.
A former reporter at That’s Solent, That’s TV’s first station, spills the beans on the toxic workplace culture. “We were on minimum wage, with no holiday or sick pay,” they reveal. “I was expected to self-shoot, edit, script, plan future stories, manage interns, book guests, and more – all for £6.50 an hour.”
“There’s no money for pay rises, yet new stations kept launching. It felt like they were always ready to replace us if we faltered.” – Ex-That’s Solent journalist
BBC Funding Flowing Despite Low Quality and Audience
That’s TV stations receive hefty BBC subsidies in exchange for supplying news content. For example, over three years, each station can receive around £300,000 of public cash. In England and Wales, That’s TV has raked in £4.2 million, with £1.5 million expected for the new Scottish stations.
But reports show abysmal audience numbers, with some stations drawing as few as 30 daily viewers. An Oxford Mail poll found 81% never tune into That’s Oxfordshire. Meanwhile, only 9.4% of submitted stories were used by the BBC during the first year at That’s Solent – costing taxpayers over £1,300 per story.
A BBC spokesperson defended the arrangement but admitted funding stops after three years. Details on any enforcement action against That’s TV remain “commercially confidential.”
Ofcom Investigations and Technical Fails
Ofcom has launched thirteen investigations into That’s TV since 2016, including one involving a controversial 1940s cartoon racist stereotype aired on That’s Oxford.
Technical blunders plagued stations like That’s Solent, whose bulletins sometimes failed to meet broadcast standards. Over time, local programming was slashed to the bare minimum to meet licence obligations – with networked content replacing genuine community input.
As working conditions worsened, morale plummeted. Staff were even told to lie about technical upgrades to hide management’s true intentions.
Journalists Burnt Out, Passion Crushed
The ex-That’s Solent journalist recalls working 10-12 hour days with no support and being bullied when trying to attend job interviews elsewhere. The experience drained their confidence and forced them out of journalism altogether.
“The wage and treatment did serious damage to my mental health,” they say. “I still feel like a failure – and that’s despite being a qualified journalist with Middle East reporting experience.”
The sad reality? That’s TV “opportunities” come with a hidden cost – exploited young journalists and communities left with poor-quality “local” TV.
What Now for Scotland’s Local TV?
Despite the backlash, That’s TV Scotland will launch on channel 8 in five cities. However, Ofcom has stopped issuing new local TV licences over financial concerns. BBC funding agreements will end in July 2020, restricting That’s TV’s income further.
The fight is far from over. Journalists and media watchdogs warn Scotland’s bright young talent deserves better than being fodder for a cut-price TV network with questionable ethics.
Neither That’s TV nor STV responded for comment. Ofcom reaffirmed broadcasters must meet programming commitments or face enforcement actions.
One thing’s clear: selling Scotland’s local TV to That’s TV is a travesty for journalism and viewers alike.
