Scottish Television
Encyclopedia
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee
, and has held the ITV
franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active (Granada Television
being the oldest). The channel is now owned and operated by STV Group plc (formerly SMG plc), which also owns another independent television franchise, Grampian Television
(now STV North), based in Aberdeen
.
STV Central produces news
for the West and East halves of its transmission region (STV News at Six
) along with current affairs
, politics
and sports programmes (in both English and Gaelic
) for Northern and Central Scotland. Along with STV North and ITV Tyne Tees & Border
, STV Central is a rival to the publicly-funded
national broadcaster, BBC Scotland. The station is based in Pacific Quay
.
(later Lord Thomson) in association with the Theatre Royal's owners Howard & Wyndham Ltd
. Thomson invited Canadian television producer Rai Purdy
to become the station's first head of programming. In the months leading up to opening night, Purdy pledged that the new channel would provide first class entertainment and as much cultural programming as possible as well as allowing Scottish talent every opportunity to develop and be seen on STV.
studios - STV was the first ITV franchise to launch outside the three largest regions (London, the Midlands & Northern England) and thereby, the first to operate throughout the week.
, under a ten-year deal worth £1 million per year. By 1965, ATV's senior producer Francis Essex
had become Scottish's programming controller.
It also gained a reputation for low budget, entertainment-driven programming. It was jokingly said that STV only owned two pieces of equipment; one telecine
to show western films and another to show the commercials. In 1965, the chairman of the Independent Television Authority
Charles Hill
paid a visit to STV's Glasgow studios during which he observed an edition of the popular daytime entertainment show One O'clock Gang. So appalled by it, he personally axed the programme with the words "My God, how long have you been getting away with this?".
Television for schools from the launch of the station was pioneered in association with Glasgow Corporation, and post graduate television services initiated, including surgery, in conjunction with universities. Programmes were devised for the emerging countries in the British Commonwealth, and the Thomson Foundation was created to educate and train television producers, journalists and engineers, this operated from Kirkhill House - a bespoke studio complex near Newton Mearns. Programmes from TFTC (Thompson Foundation Television College) were never seen by STV's viewers, but much of STV's redundant equipment found a new home here, including STV's first OB unit.
Although the early days of the ITV network were a financial gamble the STV service soon became profitable, resulting in Thomson claiming that 'running a commercial television station is like having a licence to print money'. In 1966, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange for the first time.
Scottish Television retained its franchise at the first time of asking in 1967, despite strong competition from a consortium led by the future BBC Director General Alasdair Milne
and strong indications that the company would lose its franchise. In the event, Lord Thomson was forced by the ITA to reduce his stake in the station from 80% to 25%, effectively ending the company's standing as a subsidiary of the Thompson Group.
By the mid 1970s, a change in taxation rules and a general increase in advertising spend saw STV's fortunes recover. In the following twenty years, the company gained greater access to the national network, primarily through the soap opera
Take the High Road
and the long-running detective series Taggart
. More recent contributions have included the quiz Wheel of Fortune
and the adaptation of the Rebus
crime books.
, the ever-popular epilogue Late Call, and occasional documentaries, produced by Executive Producer Rev. Dr Nelson Gray, a Minister of the Congregational Church, and Rev. Eric Hudson, a Minister of the Church of Scotland. As the 1990s came and public service broadcasting receded, religious programmes were gradually phased out.
Since the company originally went on air, images not provided electronically 'live' within the studio centre were provided via telecine
machines, allowing the station to run local advertisements to fill the ad breaks within and on either side of local and networked programming. Local advertisements - where a single image was shown on screen whilst the continuity announcer read the promotional message 'live' – was sourced from a standard 35 mm slide.
As was industry-practice at the time, STV programming would either be totally studio-based, have film inserts where required (the local news programme Scotland Today
and Take the High Road
being early examples of this), or other completely film-based shows with no studio content. The company employed up to six film crews who could be assigned to providing filmed news coverage on a daily basis, football matches, or feature programming such as Redgauntlet or Weirs Way.
Filmed inserts into local news added a significant delay to the airing of programmes. STV, having no film processing capability at Cowcaddens, sub-contracted this to a specialist company - Humphries Film Laboritories. Exposed film would be rushed to an industrial unit in North Glasgow to be processed and returned to Cowcaddens for the 16 mm film
to be edited and prepared for transmission. This process often caused much annoyance to reporters and crews alike, as to ensure inclusion of a breaking story for the Scotland Today news segment, film had to reach the labs no later than 4.30 pm. By the early to mid-1980s and like much of ITV, STV had dispensed with 16 mm film and embraced electronic news gathering
, with Sony's
Betacam
being the chosen system.
In October 1981, Scottish Television became the first ITV station to operate a regional Oracle
teletext service, containing over 60 pages of local news, sport and information.
history. He subsequence become chairman of Scottish Television plc from 1991 until 1996
In early 1992, Nigel Pickard
become controller of entertainment and drama features. When he transferred from the outgoing ITV company TVS
, some of the station's children's programmes continued production under Scottish Television including Art Attack
and How 2
. Pickard was based at an office in Maidstone (where many of Scottish's new acquisitions were produced) until 1995.
After retaining its franchise in 1993 unopposed, Scottish Television invested shares in various ITV companies and media firms, including a 25% stake in GMTV
(sold off to ITV plc in 2004 for £31 million), a 20% stake in HTV Group plc (sold off to the Wales and West contractor's future owners United News and Media in 1996) and smaller stakes in UTV
and ITN. For a short time, Scottish became a buyout target for Yorkshire Tyne Tees Television.
Scottish Television went onto acquire Caledonian Publishing, which published The Herald and Glasgow Evening Times in July 1996. A year later, Scottish Media Group plc brought out the ITV contractor for Northern Scotland, Grampian Television
, for £105 million.
would also become known as STV. The new-look branding was launched on 30 May 2006.
Regional news and advertising has remained segmented with viewers in the East of the region receiving their own edition of STV News at Six, a late night news bulletin and separate local advertising. Former managing director of Scottish, Bobby Hain is now the managing director for both STV regions. Hain was also briefly director of programmes for the two regions following the departure of former Grampian Television MD, Derreck Thomson. In November 2008, former strategy director of Channel 4, David Brook, took over the role. Scottish Television's head of news, Gordon MacMillan, became STV's head of news across Scotland, following the departure of Craig Wilson from STV North (Grampian).
From the station's launch in 1957 until 1974, Scottish Television used the Theatre Royal, Glasgow
on Hope Street as their main studio base and headquarters. Secondary studios at the Gateway Theatre on Leith Walk in Edinburgh were built in 1969 to accommodate more productions. The new facilities grew in importance in after a fire gutted Studio A and several production suites at the Glasgow studios - a fire in which two firemen were killed.
Scottish's main base moved in 1974 to custom built facilities on Renfield Street, Cowcaddens
, Glasgow
on land opposite the Theatre Royal site. Construction began on the new base in 1972 and it was officially opened on 12 December 1974 by Princess Alexandra
, and was expanded with Scottish's needs in 1977. Following the completion of the new base, the Theatre Royal was sold to Scottish Opera to become the first national opera house in Scotland, and the home of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet.
Cowcaddens became Scottish's main studio base where the majority of their productions were based. However, with the growing use of independent production companies as a source of programming, the need for increased studio space was alleviated. New Scottish programming, such as Art Attack and How 2 from TVS
was being made at the Maidstone Studios, where these programmes were formally based. As a cost saving measure the Gateway Theatre studios in Edinburgh, which for a time became the permanent studio home for Take the High Road
were closed in 1994.
In 2006, the newly rebranded STV moved from their Cowcaddens base to new, smaller studios in Pacific Quay
alongside the headquarters of their rivals BBC Scotland
. As a result of the move, the entire Cowcaddens site, with the exception of an extension containing The Herald and Glasgow Evening Times newspapers, was demolished and redeveloped. STV's Edinburgh operations are now based at small studios in George Street in the city centre.
Scottish's visual identity has changed many times throughout the years, and almost as often has their name changed between Scottish Television and STV. The first Scottish logo's featured the Lion Rampant as the channel's symbol. The first logo featured the static lion with the caption Scottish Television above and below, but was replaced soon after by four boxes containing the letters STV and the lion, with the Channel number below, accompanied by a voice over declaring "This is Scotland" and a shortened version of the station tune, Scotlandia. The next new logo in 1965 featured a box, with the words 'Scottish Television' above and below, into which the lion would spin into. This new look, accompanied by Scotlandia, was designed by Francis Essex in an attempt to make the channel more exciting. The look was later modified so that the lion zoomed into the box following, according to some reports, a complaint from The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the man in charge of protecting Scotland's heraldry
.
When colour came to the region, initially a pale blue lion rampant was used as before, however this was replaced within a year by a stylised STV. The solid STV lettering would be met by an outline of the lettering and the background would turn blue once both had met, accompanied by a trumpeted fanfare. Throughout the 1970s and up until 1985, this stylised STV was used as either a static caption, or form up from a pattered design that was supposed to represent tartan
in which the lines of the tartan would merge to form the STV logo. Accompanying the look was a clock against a blue background with the white STV logo forming a pattern across the screen.
On 31 August 1985, a computer generated graphic thistle
was used to create a new logo for the company when it re branded its on air identity to Scottish Television (no reference to STV) with a new soundtrack composed by Dave cooke, who also created a new start up piece called "Visions" which was never used. The look was accompanied by a computer generated clock on a grey background with the 3D thistle included in the top left corner. In 1987, a special version of this ident was launched, featuring the thistle against a boxed background which was used to mark the stations 30th anniversary. This version was dropped as the main ident in over Christmas 1988, but was occasional still used until December 1992, variation included sculptures made of sand and snow to mark summer and christmas programming respectively or even saw the thistle underwater which was used in the early 1990s, all three were used alongside the normal ident.
In January 1989 new Blue computer graphics thistle
was created which was accompanied by a soundtrack of bells with emphasis when each circle fell atop another. At the same time most In-vision Continuity announcers where dropped with only overnight still having them until the start of 1990. In September of 1989 the first ITV generic look was introduced, Scottish adopted the look in September 1989 when the look launched it, but rarely used it and by December 1989 it was dropped which made the company the quickest to drop the generic look. In 1990 a supplementary ident was introduced which featuring several circles rolling in over the thistle and falling over as one to reveal the name Scottish Television. during 1992, a series of addition idents were developed featuring picture postcard views of Scotland with the thistle fading in at the end of the sequence. In January 1993, updated version of the 1989 thistle
appeared, which fea solid silver thistle, falling back onto a moving purple background accompanied by a trumpeted fanfare. This was altered in November 4, 1996 to a smoother background and orchestral fanfare and more advanced effects upon form-up.
Scottish refused to adopt the 1999 ITV generic look and instead, alongside Grampian Television
launched a new on 28 February 2000, featuring a blue square with the words 'scottish tv' below against an ident featuring Scottish people and or places. There were 15 different idents created with Over 45 different variation being created, included Three 30 sec version These idents, with the cool colour scheme and ambient music lasted until 6 January 2003, when Scottish and Grampian adopted the celebrity idents package, albeit with their own logos attached and with idents featuring a lot more Scottish personalities alongside those of ITV1
.
The celebrity look lasted until 2006, when the Scottish and Grampian names were traded in for one unified look: STV. The idents featured an elongated blue 'S'. The idents were made up of scenes of Scottish people in various locations passing around the 'S' from person to person in differing scenes, until one person places the S in the centre of the screen. The upbeat music makes a stark contrast from the ambient used six years previously. This look continued until February 2009, when an updated look was introduced. A picture postcard theme would flip over to the right to reveal another theme. This flipping increases in pace and as the camera pulls back, we can see these images are inside a triangle, which then flips to reveal the STV logo against a gradiented blue background.
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, and has held the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active (Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
being the oldest). The channel is now owned and operated by STV Group plc (formerly SMG plc), which also owns another independent television franchise, Grampian Television
Grampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
(now STV North), based in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
.
STV Central produces news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
for the West and East halves of its transmission region (STV News at Six
STV News at Six
STV News at Six is a Scottish regional news programme, covering the two STV franchise areas of Northern and Central Scotland, produced by STV Central in the Central region and STV North in the Northern region.The programmes were launched on Monday 23 March 2009, replacing Scotland Today in...
) along with current affairs
Current affairs (news format)
Current Affairs is a genre of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or are ongoing at the time of broadcast....
, politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and sports programmes (in both English and Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
) for Northern and Central Scotland. Along with STV North and ITV Tyne Tees & Border
ITV Tyne Tees & Border
ITV Tyne Tees & Border is a non-franchise ITV regional news service covering the North of England/Southern Scotland and incorporating the former ITV Tyne Tees and ITV Border regions...
, STV Central is a rival to the publicly-funded
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
national broadcaster, BBC Scotland. The station is based in Pacific Quay
Pacific Quay
Pacific Quay is an area south of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is located at the former Plantation Quay and Princes' Dock Basin. The Princes' Dock Basin was the largest on the River Clyde when it was opened in 1900. It ceased to be used in the 1970s as the volume of Shipping using the...
.
History
Scottish Television was founded by Canadian businessman Roy ThomsonRoy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet
Roy Herbert Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet GBE was a Canadian newspaper proprietor and media entrepreneur.-Career:...
(later Lord Thomson) in association with the Theatre Royal's owners Howard & Wyndham Ltd
Howard & Wyndham Ltd
Howard & Wyndham Ltd was a theatre owning, production and management company, founded in 1895 by Baillie Michael Simons of Glasgow to formalise and extend an 1883 partnership between Irish born John B. Howard and Edinburgh born Frederick WP Wyndham which had first formed in order to run the Royal...
. Thomson invited Canadian television producer Rai Purdy
Rai Purdy
Rai Purdy was a Canadian television director and producer. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.- Early life :...
to become the station's first head of programming. In the months leading up to opening night, Purdy pledged that the new channel would provide first class entertainment and as much cultural programming as possible as well as allowing Scottish talent every opportunity to develop and be seen on STV.
1950s
Scottish went on-air on Saturday 31 August 1957 at 5:30pm with the variety special This is Scotland, broadcast live from the Theatre RoyalTheatre Royal, Glasgow
The Theatre Royal is the oldest theatre in Glasgow, located at 282 Hope Street in Cowcaddens. The theatre originally opened in 1867, changing its name to the Theatre Royal in 1869, and is the longest running theatre in Scotland...
studios - STV was the first ITV franchise to launch outside the three largest regions (London, the Midlands & Northern England) and thereby, the first to operate throughout the week.
1960s
The company soon gained a reputation for musical entertainment, variety, documentary films under Dr John Grierson, and sports coverage. It also sponsored Scottish Opera and televised live opera and ballet, networking more opera than similar television companies. Much of the station's early output was provided by ATVAssociated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
, under a ten-year deal worth £1 million per year. By 1965, ATV's senior producer Francis Essex
Francis Essex
Francis Essex was a British Television and stage Producer, Author and Composer. Essex's career spanned several decades during which he worked for several TV Production Companies, including: Light Entertainment Producer for the BBC Channel in the UK from 1954 to 1960; Senior Producer for the ATV ...
had become Scottish's programming controller.
It also gained a reputation for low budget, entertainment-driven programming. It was jokingly said that STV only owned two pieces of equipment; one telecine
Telecine
Telecine is transferring motion picture film into video and is performed in a color suite. The term is also used to refer to the equipment used in the post-production process....
to show western films and another to show the commercials. In 1965, the chairman of the Independent Television Authority
Independent Television Authority
The Independent Television Authority was an agency created by the Television Act 1954 to supervise the creation of "Independent Television" , the first commercial television network in the United Kingdom...
Charles Hill
Charles Hill, Baron Hill of Luton
Charles Hill, Baron Hill of Luton PC was a British administrator, doctor and television executive.Charles Hill was born in Islington, London and was educated at St Olave's Grammar School in Southwark, London. He won a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge where he gained a first class degree...
paid a visit to STV's Glasgow studios during which he observed an edition of the popular daytime entertainment show One O'clock Gang. So appalled by it, he personally axed the programme with the words "My God, how long have you been getting away with this?".
Television for schools from the launch of the station was pioneered in association with Glasgow Corporation, and post graduate television services initiated, including surgery, in conjunction with universities. Programmes were devised for the emerging countries in the British Commonwealth, and the Thomson Foundation was created to educate and train television producers, journalists and engineers, this operated from Kirkhill House - a bespoke studio complex near Newton Mearns. Programmes from TFTC (Thompson Foundation Television College) were never seen by STV's viewers, but much of STV's redundant equipment found a new home here, including STV's first OB unit.
Although the early days of the ITV network were a financial gamble the STV service soon became profitable, resulting in Thomson claiming that 'running a commercial television station is like having a licence to print money'. In 1966, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange for the first time.
Scottish Television retained its franchise at the first time of asking in 1967, despite strong competition from a consortium led by the future BBC Director General Alasdair Milne
Alasdair Milne
Alasdair David Gordon Milne is a former BBC producer who became Controller of BBC Scotland, the BBC's Director of Programmes and then Director-General of the BBC in July 1982. His resignation was forced by the BBC Governors in January 1987, following pressure from the Thatcher government...
and strong indications that the company would lose its franchise. In the event, Lord Thomson was forced by the ITA to reduce his stake in the station from 80% to 25%, effectively ending the company's standing as a subsidiary of the Thompson Group.
1970s
Like many franchises within the ITV network, Scottish struggled through the late 1960s and early 1970s with a recession, increased transmitter rental fees, taxation on income (rather than profits), a decline in advertising revenue and the costs of converting equipment for the start of colour broadcasting - marked by the opening of the Gateway Theatre studios in Edinburgh. Later on in 1974, Scottish moved to new purpose built studios in Cowcadden, Glasgow.By the mid 1970s, a change in taxation rules and a general increase in advertising spend saw STV's fortunes recover. In the following twenty years, the company gained greater access to the national network, primarily through the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Take the High Road
Take the High Road
Take the High Road was a Scottish soap opera produced by Scottish Television, and set in the fictional village of Glendarroch , and claims to have about 2 million fans, including the Queen Mother...
and the long-running detective series Taggart
Taggart
Taggart is a Scottish detective television programme, created by Glenn Chandler, who has written many of the episodes, and made by STV Productions for the ITV network...
. More recent contributions have included the quiz Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (UK game show)
Wheel of Fortune is a British television game show created by Merv Griffin. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes...
and the adaptation of the Rebus
Rebus (TV series)
Rebus is the title of the detective drama based on the Inspector Rebus novels by the Scottish author Ian Rankin set in and around Edinburgh produced by STV Productions for the ITV Network....
crime books.
1980s
During the 1970s and 1980s, Scottish Television produced a wide range of religious programming including weekly church services, half-hour religious programmes on a Sunday, religious contributions to the new Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, the ever-popular epilogue Late Call, and occasional documentaries, produced by Executive Producer Rev. Dr Nelson Gray, a Minister of the Congregational Church, and Rev. Eric Hudson, a Minister of the Church of Scotland. As the 1990s came and public service broadcasting receded, religious programmes were gradually phased out.
Since the company originally went on air, images not provided electronically 'live' within the studio centre were provided via telecine
Telecine
Telecine is transferring motion picture film into video and is performed in a color suite. The term is also used to refer to the equipment used in the post-production process....
machines, allowing the station to run local advertisements to fill the ad breaks within and on either side of local and networked programming. Local advertisements - where a single image was shown on screen whilst the continuity announcer read the promotional message 'live' – was sourced from a standard 35 mm slide.
As was industry-practice at the time, STV programming would either be totally studio-based, have film inserts where required (the local news programme Scotland Today
Scotland Today
Scotland Today was a Scottish regional news programme covering Central Scotland, produced by STV Central . Despite its name suggesting a national remit, the programme was actually limited to stories around STV's Central Belt franchise...
and Take the High Road
Take the High Road
Take the High Road was a Scottish soap opera produced by Scottish Television, and set in the fictional village of Glendarroch , and claims to have about 2 million fans, including the Queen Mother...
being early examples of this), or other completely film-based shows with no studio content. The company employed up to six film crews who could be assigned to providing filmed news coverage on a daily basis, football matches, or feature programming such as Redgauntlet or Weirs Way.
Filmed inserts into local news added a significant delay to the airing of programmes. STV, having no film processing capability at Cowcaddens, sub-contracted this to a specialist company - Humphries Film Laboritories. Exposed film would be rushed to an industrial unit in North Glasgow to be processed and returned to Cowcaddens for the 16 mm film
16 mm film
16 mm film refers to a popular, economical gauge of film used for motion pictures and non-theatrical film making. 16 mm refers to the width of the film...
to be edited and prepared for transmission. This process often caused much annoyance to reporters and crews alike, as to ensure inclusion of a breaking story for the Scotland Today news segment, film had to reach the labs no later than 4.30 pm. By the early to mid-1980s and like much of ITV, STV had dispensed with 16 mm film and embraced electronic news gathering
Electronic news gathering
ENG is a broadcasting industry acronym which stands for electronic news gathering. It can mean anything from a lone broadcast journalist reporter taking a single professional video camera out to shoot a story, to an entire television crew taking a production truck or satellite truck on location...
, with Sony's
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Betacam
Betacam
Betacam is family of half-inch professional videocassette products developed by Sony in 1982. In colloquial use, "Betacam" singly is often used to refer to a Betacam camcorder, a Betacam tape, a Betacam video recorder or the format itself....
being the chosen system.
In October 1981, Scottish Television became the first ITV station to operate a regional Oracle
ORACLE (teletext)
ORACLE was a commercial teletext service first broadcast on ITV in 1974 and later on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, finally ending on both channels at 23:59 GMT on 31 December 1992....
teletext service, containing over 60 pages of local news, sport and information.
1990s
In 1990, Sir William Brown retired as managing director after 24 years of service, making him the longest serving chief executive in ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
history. He subsequence become chairman of Scottish Television plc from 1991 until 1996
In early 1992, Nigel Pickard
Nigel Pickard
-Career:Nigel started in career in the earlier 1970;s, where he was a Floor Manager, working on Thames Television's Armchair Thriller and the children's series Worzel Gummidge for Southern Television. In 1982 Pickard became a senior programme director of the children’s department at the newly...
become controller of entertainment and drama features. When he transferred from the outgoing ITV company TVS
Television South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
, some of the station's children's programmes continued production under Scottish Television including Art Attack
Art Attack
Art Attack is a British children's television series revolving around art. The original series was one of ITV's longest running programmes, running from 1990 to 2007, and was presented throughout by Neil Buchanan. The brand new series launched on Disney Junior on June 6 2011 and is presented by...
and How 2
How 2
How 2 was an informative children's programme produced by TVS between 1990 and 1992, and STV Productions from 1993 to 2006....
. Pickard was based at an office in Maidstone (where many of Scottish's new acquisitions were produced) until 1995.
After retaining its franchise in 1993 unopposed, Scottish Television invested shares in various ITV companies and media firms, including a 25% stake in GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
(sold off to ITV plc in 2004 for £31 million), a 20% stake in HTV Group plc (sold off to the Wales and West contractor's future owners United News and Media in 1996) and smaller stakes in UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
and ITN. For a short time, Scottish became a buyout target for Yorkshire Tyne Tees Television.
Scottish Television went onto acquire Caledonian Publishing, which published The Herald and Glasgow Evening Times in July 1996. A year later, Scottish Media Group plc brought out the ITV contractor for Northern Scotland, Grampian Television
Grampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
, for £105 million.
2000s
On 2 March 2006, it was announced by SMG plc (now STV Group plc) that Scottish Television would revert back to the brand name of STV, that it used from the start of colour broadcasting in 1969 until 30 August 1985, and which the station was still informally known as in parts of Scotland. At the same time, Grampian TelevisionGrampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
would also become known as STV. The new-look branding was launched on 30 May 2006.
Regional news and advertising has remained segmented with viewers in the East of the region receiving their own edition of STV News at Six, a late night news bulletin and separate local advertising. Former managing director of Scottish, Bobby Hain is now the managing director for both STV regions. Hain was also briefly director of programmes for the two regions following the departure of former Grampian Television MD, Derreck Thomson. In November 2008, former strategy director of Channel 4, David Brook, took over the role. Scottish Television's head of news, Gordon MacMillan, became STV's head of news across Scotland, following the departure of Craig Wilson from STV North (Grampian).
Studios
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
The Theatre Royal is the oldest theatre in Glasgow, located at 282 Hope Street in Cowcaddens. The theatre originally opened in 1867, changing its name to the Theatre Royal in 1869, and is the longest running theatre in Scotland...
on Hope Street as their main studio base and headquarters. Secondary studios at the Gateway Theatre on Leith Walk in Edinburgh were built in 1969 to accommodate more productions. The new facilities grew in importance in after a fire gutted Studio A and several production suites at the Glasgow studios - a fire in which two firemen were killed.
Scottish's main base moved in 1974 to custom built facilities on Renfield Street, Cowcaddens
Cowcaddens
Cowcaddens is an area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is virtually in the city centre and is bordered by the areas of Garnethill to the south and Townhead to the east....
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on land opposite the Theatre Royal site. Construction began on the new base in 1972 and it was officially opened on 12 December 1974 by Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
, and was expanded with Scottish's needs in 1977. Following the completion of the new base, the Theatre Royal was sold to Scottish Opera to become the first national opera house in Scotland, and the home of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet.
Cowcaddens became Scottish's main studio base where the majority of their productions were based. However, with the growing use of independent production companies as a source of programming, the need for increased studio space was alleviated. New Scottish programming, such as Art Attack and How 2 from TVS
Television South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
was being made at the Maidstone Studios, where these programmes were formally based. As a cost saving measure the Gateway Theatre studios in Edinburgh, which for a time became the permanent studio home for Take the High Road
Take the High Road
Take the High Road was a Scottish soap opera produced by Scottish Television, and set in the fictional village of Glendarroch , and claims to have about 2 million fans, including the Queen Mother...
were closed in 1994.
In 2006, the newly rebranded STV moved from their Cowcaddens base to new, smaller studios in Pacific Quay
Pacific Quay
Pacific Quay is an area south of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is located at the former Plantation Quay and Princes' Dock Basin. The Princes' Dock Basin was the largest on the River Clyde when it was opened in 1900. It ceased to be used in the 1970s as the volume of Shipping using the...
alongside the headquarters of their rivals BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
. As a result of the move, the entire Cowcaddens site, with the exception of an extension containing The Herald and Glasgow Evening Times newspapers, was demolished and redeveloped. STV's Edinburgh operations are now based at small studios in George Street in the city centre.
Identity
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
.
When colour came to the region, initially a pale blue lion rampant was used as before, however this was replaced within a year by a stylised STV. The solid STV lettering would be met by an outline of the lettering and the background would turn blue once both had met, accompanied by a trumpeted fanfare. Throughout the 1970s and up until 1985, this stylised STV was used as either a static caption, or form up from a pattered design that was supposed to represent tartan
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
in which the lines of the tartan would merge to form the STV logo. Accompanying the look was a clock against a blue background with the white STV logo forming a pattern across the screen.
On 31 August 1985, a computer generated graphic thistle
Thistle
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...
was used to create a new logo for the company when it re branded its on air identity to Scottish Television (no reference to STV) with a new soundtrack composed by Dave cooke, who also created a new start up piece called "Visions" which was never used. The look was accompanied by a computer generated clock on a grey background with the 3D thistle included in the top left corner. In 1987, a special version of this ident was launched, featuring the thistle against a boxed background which was used to mark the stations 30th anniversary. This version was dropped as the main ident in over Christmas 1988, but was occasional still used until December 1992, variation included sculptures made of sand and snow to mark summer and christmas programming respectively or even saw the thistle underwater which was used in the early 1990s, all three were used alongside the normal ident.
In January 1989 new Blue computer graphics thistle
Thistle
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...
was created which was accompanied by a soundtrack of bells with emphasis when each circle fell atop another. At the same time most In-vision Continuity announcers where dropped with only overnight still having them until the start of 1990. In September of 1989 the first ITV generic look was introduced, Scottish adopted the look in September 1989 when the look launched it, but rarely used it and by December 1989 it was dropped which made the company the quickest to drop the generic look. In 1990 a supplementary ident was introduced which featuring several circles rolling in over the thistle and falling over as one to reveal the name Scottish Television. during 1992, a series of addition idents were developed featuring picture postcard views of Scotland with the thistle fading in at the end of the sequence. In January 1993, updated version of the 1989 thistle
Thistle
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...
appeared, which fea solid silver thistle, falling back onto a moving purple background accompanied by a trumpeted fanfare. This was altered in November 4, 1996 to a smoother background and orchestral fanfare and more advanced effects upon form-up.
Scottish refused to adopt the 1999 ITV generic look and instead, alongside Grampian Television
Grampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
launched a new on 28 February 2000, featuring a blue square with the words 'scottish tv' below against an ident featuring Scottish people and or places. There were 15 different idents created with Over 45 different variation being created, included Three 30 sec version These idents, with the cool colour scheme and ambient music lasted until 6 January 2003, when Scottish and Grampian adopted the celebrity idents package, albeit with their own logos attached and with idents featuring a lot more Scottish personalities alongside those of ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
.
The celebrity look lasted until 2006, when the Scottish and Grampian names were traded in for one unified look: STV. The idents featured an elongated blue 'S'. The idents were made up of scenes of Scottish people in various locations passing around the 'S' from person to person in differing scenes, until one person places the S in the centre of the screen. The upbeat music makes a stark contrast from the ambient used six years previously. This look continued until February 2009, when an updated look was introduced. A picture postcard theme would flip over to the right to reveal another theme. This flipping increases in pace and as the camera pulls back, we can see these images are inside a triangle, which then flips to reveal the STV logo against a gradiented blue background.
Programmes
A list of programmes made by Scottish Television. All programmes now come under the banner of STV Productions.News
- Dateline (1960s -1973)
- Here and Now
- Scotland Now
- Scotland TodayScotland TodayScotland Today was a Scottish regional news programme covering Central Scotland, produced by STV Central . Despite its name suggesting a national remit, the programme was actually limited to stories around STV's Central Belt franchise...
(1972–2009) - STV News Review (signed news review, 2006 - )
- STV News at SixSTV News at SixSTV News at Six is a Scottish regional news programme, covering the two STV franchise areas of Northern and Central Scotland, produced by STV Central in the Central region and STV North in the Northern region.The programmes were launched on Monday 23 March 2009, replacing Scotland Today in...
(2009 - )
Current Affairs
- As I Please (1984)
- Platform (1996 – 2004)
- Politics NowPolitics NowPolitics Now was a Scottish political programme produced and broadcast by STV in northern and central Scotland. The half-hour programme, running for 40 weeks of the year, was broadcast on late Thursday evenings....
(2004 - 2011) - From the Top (1976-9)
- The Lion's Share (1974-5)
- Reid About...USSR/Poland/Scotland (1988–90)
- Scottish Assembly (1986-9)
- (Scottish) Report (1970-88)
- Scotland Friday (1970s-75)
- Scotland Today Reports (1972-7)
- Scotland Today Special (1980s - 2005)
- Scotland TonightScotland TonightScotland Tonight is a Scottish news and current affairs programme, covering the two STV franchise areas of Northern and Central Scotland, produced by STV News...
(2011 - present) - The Scottish 500
- Scottish Frontiers on Medicine (1988-92)
- Scottish Questions (1986–96)
- (Scottish) Reporters (1993 – 2000)
- Seven Days
- Sunday LiveSunday LiveSunday Live was a Sunday morning regional current affairs programme, broadcast on Scottish TV in Central Scotland and Grampian TV in the North ....
(2006) - Ways and Means (1975-86)
- The Week in Politics
Sport
- Champions League LiveChampions League LiveChampions League Live is a football programme currently shown on both ITV and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, broadcasting live UEFA Champions League football....
- Extra Time
- Football First
- ScotsportScotsportScotsport was a Scottish sports television programme, broadcast on STV in northern and central Scotland, as well as on Border Television in southern Scotland. It was recognised as the world's longest-running sports television magazine....
(1957 – 2008)
- STV RugbySTV RugbySTV Rugby is a Scottish regional television programme featuring highlights of RaboDirect Pro12 rugby matches involving Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors...
(2009 – present) - STV Sports CentreSTV Sports CentreSTV Sports Centre was a Scottish regional sports stand, covering the two STV franchise areas of Northern and Central Scotland. The strand was produced the STV News department in Glasgow , with contributions from STV North's news team in Aberdeen.Until May 2011, Sports Centre aired two different...
(2010 - 2011) - Touchdown Scotland
Features and Documentaries
- 7.30 for 8
- A Ship from the Clyde (1960s)
- Action Line (1979-87)
- All Kinds of A Country (1983-86)
- Artery (1998 - 2003)
- Bill Tennent Travels High Road (1970s)
- The Bowler and the BunnetThe Bowler and the BunnetThe Bowler and the Bunnet was a Scottish television documentary programme on STV, directed and presented by Sean Connery. It is the only film ever directed by Connery....
(1967) - Club RepsClub RepsClub Reps was a factual entertainment programme made for ITV by STV Productions . It ran from 2001 to 2004. The programme has been repeated on Sky Real Lives and Pick TV.-Main Series:...
(2001–4) - Celtic America
- Crime Desk (1975-88)
- Down to Earth (1980-82)
- Fit to Last (1976)
- The Five Thirty ShowThe Five Thirty ShowThe Five Thirty Show was a short-lived Scottish topical magazine show, which began broadcasting in Northern and Central Scotland on STV on Monday January 28, 2008...
(2008–9) - From the Top (1979)
- Education for Tomorrow (1980s)
- Encore for The Arts (1979-84)
- Get It On
- Green Pages (1992)
- Haggis Agus (1991-3)
- Home for the Holidays
- Homelands
- The Home Show (1994-2004)
- House Call (1973-6)
- Home and School (1979)
- Homework (1984)
- Hooked on Scottish (1996-2000)
- The Hour (2009-11)
- Kay's Originals (1989)
- Kirsty (1993–6)
- Live At One Thirty (1986-7)
- Meet Paul Coia (1981)
- The Maverick Millionaire (1986)
- Moneywise (1976-82)
- Moviejuice
- The Munro Show (1990-1)
- Natural Born Winners?
- NB (1989-97)
- Once Upon Upon A Song (1987)
- One in a Hundred (1981)
- Out and About (1987)
- Paramedics (1993)
- Positively Unemployed (1984-5)
- Time Out With Tennent (1965)
- The NightshiftThe NightshiftThe Nightshift is an overnight regional television programme broadcast on STV in Northern and Central Scotland.The service, broadcast live from STV's transmission control centre at Pacific Quay in Glasgow, features highlights of archived STV programmes, STV News & ITV News bulletins, showbiz news...
(2010 - ) - The Point
- The Real MacKay (for stv.tvStv.tvwww.stv.tv is the URL of the website of the Scottish television channel, STV. The website currently offers the usual sections of News, Sport, Entertainment, Weather, Competitions, Forums and STV programme information, with TV listings...
, 2007 - ) - Rescue (1990)
- Room at the Top/Summer at the Top (2000–1)
- Safe as HousesSafe as HousesSafe as Houses was a Scottish television property programme on STV, hosted by sports broadcaster Ali Douglas and money advisor Fergus Muirhead....
(2007) - Sea Kingdoms (2003)
- Scotland's Story (1984)
- Scottish Action (1987-2002)
- Scottish Books (1988-95)
- Scottish Eye (1988-92)
- Scottish Minute
- Scottish Men (1995-98)
- Scottish Passport (1993 – 2004)
- Scottish Women (1989–98)
- Secret Scotland
- Songs of Scotland (1973 - 1980s)
- Square Meals (1994–8)
- Studio (1983-6)
- Summer Discovery (1999)
- The Talent
- Talking ScotlandTalking ScotlandTalking Scotland was a Scottish social affairs television series broadcast on STV in Northern and Central Scotland.The series was produced in conjunction with the Scottish Executive and broadcast each weekday at approximatelly 4.58am, 3.58pm and 6.28pm, the programme also aired at 11.03pm on Monday...
(2005–7) - This Scotland
- Trial by Night (1993-99)
- Trout 'n' About
- Votes for Women (1988)
- Weather BletherWeather BletherWeather Blether was an occasional supplementary blog for STV's regional weather service, serving Northern and Central Scotland. As opposed to its sister blogs, The Real MacKay and Northern Exposure, the blog consists of online video and written blogs.The first video blog was produced on Wednesday 5...
(for stv.tvStv.tvwww.stv.tv is the URL of the website of the Scottish television channel, STV. The website currently offers the usual sections of News, Sport, Entertainment, Weather, Competitions, Forums and STV programme information, with TV listings...
, 2007-8) - Weir's Way (1976-87)
- Wilkies in Winter (1979)
- What's Your Problem? (1977-86)
- Watch This Space (1976-7)
- Wheel Nuts (1997-2002)
- World Worth Keeping (1975-84)
- White Not MacKay (for stv.tvStv.tvwww.stv.tv is the URL of the website of the Scottish television channel, STV. The website currently offers the usual sections of News, Sport, Entertainment, Weather, Competitions, Forums and STV programme information, with TV listings...
, 2008–9) - Yorkhill
Entertainment
- A Game of Two Halves (1995-7)
- All Kinds Of Country (1983-5)
- Alastair: One Man and His Band (1981)
- The Adventures of Francie and Josie (1962-5)
- The Alexander Brothers Show (1960s-1976)
- The Allan Stewart Show (1982)
- The Allan Stewart Tapes (1979)
- Aly Bain and Friends (1987-90)
- The Andy Stewart Show (1970s)
- Battle of the Comics (1976-7)
- Boiling Point
- Boxed Set (1998-2000)
- Burn Your Bills (2005)
- The Business Game (1992–7)
- The Better Sex (1978)
- Chart Bite (1994–6)
- Club CupidClub CupidClub Cupid, was a Scottish regional dating show co-produced by STV Central and STV North and presented by Des Clarke and Michelle Watt. The series was recorded at the Apex Hotel in Dundee....
(co-produced with STV North, 2006) - Connolly (1970s)
- Dance Party Roof (1960s)
- Devine Country
- The Five Past Eight Show (1960s)
- Funny You Should Say That (1984-6)
- Funny Farm (1990-93)
- Elaine: The Singer of the Song (1976-9)
- Hear Here/The Sound Of (1979–84)
- Hello, Good Evening and Welcome (1976-9)
- Highland Showboat (1976)
- In Concert (1977–86)
- Its Andy Cameron (1983-84)
- Jazz Concert/Jazz at the Gateway/The Jazz Series/Jazz Club
- Jigtime (1957-9)
- The Ken Fine Show (1995-98)
- Kenneth Mckellar at Home (1970s)
- The Larry Marshall Show (1960s)
- Larry Looks Lightly (1975-76)
- Late Edition (1995-96)
- Live at the Fringe
- Night Flyte (1989-92)
- Nippy Sweeties (1986)
- Now You See ItNow You See It (UK gameshow)Now You See It is a British television game show produced by Scottish television and based upon the U.S. version of the show created by Frank Wayne of Goodson-Todman enterprises. The programme originally ran between 5 January 1981 and 27 July 1986....
(1981–6) - The One O'Clock Gang (1957–65)
- Over to Una (early 1960s - 1969)
- Passport Quiz (1998 - 2002)
- Postcode ChallengePostcode ChallengePostcode Challenge is a Scottish television game show presented originally by Carol Smillie and currently by Angus Purden, produced by STV Productions for broadcast on STV.-Format:...
(2007 – ) - Rikki (1966)
- The Rikki Fulton Hour (1965)
- Round Up (1960's)
- Scotch Corner (1972–6)
- The Scottish Home Service/Viv on Sunday (early 1990s)
- Shindig (1986-8)
- Snap! (1997–9)
- Split Second (1988)
- Star Parade (1981-4)
- Steve Jones Illustrated/It's Friday and I'm Steve Jones (1978-9)
- Studio Downbeat (1960's)
- Studio One (co-produced with Border TV, 1985)
- The Sydney Devine Show (1970s)
- Talking Scots (1979-86)
- The Terry Neason Show (1987)
- Thingummyjig (1976-83)
- This is Scotland (First programme broadcast on STV, 31 August 1957)
- Wheel of FortuneWheel of Fortune (UK game show)Wheel of Fortune is a British television game show created by Merv Griffin. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes...
(1988 – 2001) - Victor and BarryVictor and BarryVictor Ignatius MacIlvaney and Barry Primrose McLeish were the creations of Forbes Masson and Alan Cumming.Victor and Barry are the slightly camp, Scottish founder members of the Kelvinside Young People’s Amateur Dramatic Art Society, of which they would share their reminiscences with audiences far...
... (1987–9) - The VJ's (1996)
- Win, Lose or DrawWin, Lose or Draw (UK game show)Win, Lose or Draw was a television game show that aired for several seasons in the ITV daytime schedule in 1990, produced by Scottish Television. The game was based on an American television game show of the same name.-Format:...
(1990-8) - Would You Believe It (late 1970s)
Drama
- A Sense of FreedomA Sense of FreedomA Sense of Freedom is a 1979 Scottish crime film directed by John Mackenzie for Scottish Television. The film starred David Hayman and featured Hector Nicol & Fulton Mackay, is a based on the autobiography of Glasgow gangster Jimmy Boyle, who was reputed to be Scotland's most violent man...
- The Advocates (1992)
- Albert and the Lion (1989)
- Bookie (1983)
- Bookie (1988)
- The CampbellsThe CampbellsThe Campbells was a Scottish-Canadian television drama series, which aired on Scottish Television and CTV from 1986 to 1990. A historical family drama, the series starred Malcolm Stoddard as James Campbell, a Scottish doctor living in 1830s Upper Canada with his three children, Neil , Emma and...
(1986-90) - Charles Endell EsquireCharles Endell EsquireCharles Endell Esquire was a spin-off drama from Budgie , with the role of Endell continuing to be played by Iain Cuthbertson. Due to an ITV technicians' strike which took the network completely off the air for three months, the first two episodes were broadcast in 1979 and the remaining episodes...
(1979) - City Sugar (1980)
- Comfort and Joy (1984)
- CrackedCracked (TV series)Cracked is a Scottish comedy drama, which was broadcast on STV. Created and written by Clare Hemphill and Kate Donnelly, the drama series is set in a Scottish countryside residential rehab clinic, a place where people with various mental and emotional problems check themselves in for some...
(2008) - Doctor FinlayDoctor FinlayDoctor Finlay is a British television series based on A. J. Cronin's stories about the fictional hero, Dr. Finlay. It is a follow-up to Dr. Finlay's Casebook, the successful BBC series. It takes place in the 1940s after John Finlay returns from war service...
(1993–6) - The Flight of the Heron (1960s)
- HessRudolf HessRudolf Walter Richard Hess was a prominent Nazi politician who was Adolf Hitler's deputy in the Nazi Party during the 1930s and early 1940s...
(1988) - High Living (1960s - 1974)
- High TimesHigh Times (TV series)High Times is a Scottish comedy drama on STV, based around the lives of two flatmates and their neighbours in a high-rise tower block in Glasgow, in the last weeks before its closure for renovation...
(2004, 2008) - The House on the Hill (1981)
- Garnock WayGarnock WayGarnock Way was a short-lived Scottish soap opera, produced by Scottish Television for the ITV network, running from 1976 to 1979. Set in a mining community in a town halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh...
(1976–9) - Markheim (1974)
- McCallumMcCallumMcCallum is a British television series that was produced by STV Productions .Dr Iain McCallum was the original lead character, played by John Hannah. McCallum was a forensic pathologist who traveled by Triumph Motorcycle, and solved murders...
(1995–8)
- Missing (2006)
- New Found Land (co-produced with Grampian TelevisionGrampian TelevisionGrampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
) - New Found Films (co-produced with Grampian TelevisionGrampian TelevisionGrampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
) - Northern Lights (1982)
- Out in The Open (1984)
- Preview (1980-4)
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1979)
- The Old Music Master (1982)
- The Queen of Scots (1967)
- Red Gauntlet (1960s)
- RebusRebus (TV series)Rebus is the title of the detective drama based on the Inspector Rebus novels by the Scottish author Ian Rankin set in and around Edinburgh produced by STV Productions for the ITV Network....
(2000–8) - Scenes Like These (1976)
- Short Story (1972-3)
- The Spaver Connection (1984)
- The SteamieThe SteamieThe Steamie is a comedy-drama stage play, written by Rab C. Nesbitt actor Tony Roper. It followed the lives of a group of 1950s Glasgow women washing their clothes in a public washhouse . It was first performed at the Crawford Theatre, Glasgow in 1987.A television version was made by Scottish...
(1988) - TaggartTaggartTaggart is a Scottish detective television programme, created by Glenn Chandler, who has written many of the episodes, and made by STV Productions for the ITV network...
(1983 - ) - Take the High RoadTake the High RoadTake the High Road was a Scottish soap opera produced by Scottish Television, and set in the fictional village of Glendarroch , and claims to have about 2 million fans, including the Queen Mother...
(1980 – 2003) - Winners and Losers (1989)
- Waiting for Elvis (1985)
Children's/Animation
- Art AttackArt AttackArt Attack is a British children's television series revolving around art. The original series was one of ITV's longest running programmes, running from 1990 to 2007, and was presented throughout by Neil Buchanan. The brand new series launched on Disney Junior on June 6 2011 and is presented by...
(1993 – 2007) - Animal Fanatics
- Animates (1999)
- BirdzBirdzBirdz is an animated television series produced by Canada's Nelvana studio, and Scottish Television . The show was first broadcast in 1998 on CBS...
(co-produced with Nelvana) - Butterfingers
- Captain Zed and the Zee ZoneCaptain Zed and the Zee ZoneCaptain Zed and the Zee Zone is a short-lived CITV television series, airing in the United Kingdom. When children go to sleep its Captain Zed and his partner PJ job to prevent children from having nightmares in the dreamzone...
- Caribou KitchenCaribou KitchenCaribou Kitchen was a CITV children's cartoon, that ran from 1995 to 1998 about an anthropomorphic caribou named Claudia who ran a restaurant which served a number of animal guests, including Mrs. Panda, Caroline Cow and Taffy Tiger. Other recurring supporting characters included chef Ade the...
(co-produced with Ealing Animation / World of Wonder Productions, 1995-8) - The Disney Club (co-produced with Buena Vista Productions, 1989-98)
- DramaramaDramarama (TV series)Dramarama is the name of a British children's' anthology series broadcast on ITV between 1983 and 1989. It tended to feature drama of a science fiction or supernatural bent. The programme was administered by Tyne Tees Television in Newcastle, who had a track-record for organising cross-franchise...
- Fun HouseFun House (UK game show)Fun House was a British children's game show produced by Scottish Television that aired on CITV from 24 February 1989 to 1999, which usually aired on Fridays . It was hosted by Pat Sharp, who was also aided by twin cheerleaders, Melanie Grant and Martina Grant...
(1989–99) - Get Wet (1997–8)
- Glen Michael's Cartoon CavalcadeGlen MichaelGlen Michael is a former children's television presenter and an entertainer. His career at Scottish Television spanned several decades with the popular show Glen Michael's Cartoon Cavalcade...
(1966–92) - Finders Keepers (1993–6)
- Flying Rhino Junior HighFlying Rhino Junior HighFlying Rhino Junior High is a Canadian animated television series produced by Nelvana Limited and Scottish Television. It originally aired from October 3, 1998 to January 22, 2000 on the CBS Kids Show. Reruns used to be shown on STV in Scotland, and in 2011 reruns returned to YTV after a four...
(co-produced with Nelvana) - Harry and the WrinkliesHarry and the WrinkliesHarry and the Wrinklies was a children's television series which produced three series between 1999 and 2002. The show was produced by Scottish TV and SMG TV Productions that aired on CITV. It was based on a novel of the same name by Alan Temperley. It starred Nick Robinson as the title role...
(1999 – 2002) - How 2How 2How 2 was an informative children's programme produced by TVS between 1990 and 1992, and STV Productions from 1993 to 2006....
(1993 – 2006) - I Don't Believe It (1998)
- Ice Cream Machine (for Channel 5, 2004)
- The Hot Rod Dogs and Cool Car CatsThe Hot Rod Dogs and Cool Car CatsThe Hot Rod Dogs and Cool Car Cats is a cartoon series which aired between 1995 and 1996 on ITV kids strand CITV, and was recently shown on Scottish children's programme wknd@stv. The series was about anthropomorphic automobiles that bore resemblances to cats and dogs. The main characters are...
- Hurricanes (1993–7)
- Inside Out (2000)
- Letter Go Round (2000–2)
- The Magic House (1993–5)
- Minty’s Double (1998)
- Meeow!Meeow!Meeow! is an animated children's series based on the books by Aileen Paterson, produced in both English and Gaelic. Scottish Television in association with The Gaelic Committee, decided to make the book in to a cartoon series, with Siriol Animation doing the animation. Meeow was narrations by...
- On SafariOn Safari (STV TV series)On Safari is a children's TV show made by SMG Productions for the ITV network children's strand CITV. The show was re-broadcast on STV in 2009 as part of their weekend children's strand wknd@stv....
(2000) - Prove It!Prove It!Prove It! is an educational children's TV series presented by Joe Challands and Jamie Rickers. It is an entertainment programme focusing on the illustration of scientific facts, while raising the question of whether a certain claim can be empirically verified. The programme can usually be seen on...
(co-produced with GeronimoTV, 2005–7) - Red Amber GreenRed Amber GreenRed Amber Green is a Scottish Television children's game show hosted by Bryan Burnett, and later Craig Elliott. It ran from 1996 until 1999....
(1996–9) - RupertRupert (TV series)Rupert is an animated television series based on the Mary Tourtel character Rupert Bear, produced by Nelvana, Ellipse Programmé and TVS for the first season, with Scottish Television taken over control when TVS closed. Aired from 1991 to 1997 with 65 half-hour episodes produced. It was broadcast...
(1991–7) - Roundup
- Seumus (1985-6)
- Skoosh (1994–8)
- Shadow of the Stone (1987)
- Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd CenturySherlock Holmes in the 22nd CenturySherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century is a animation series, in which Sherlock Holmes is brought back to life in the 22nd century. The series is a co–production by DiC and Scottish Television and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Special Class Animated Program.- Overview :The concept series was...
- Snug and CoziSnug and CoziSnug and Cozi was a children's ITV slapstick comedy series about 2 aliens who had crash landed on earth by mistake and met a new friend called Emily.-Format:Snug and Cozi are two aliens, from the planet Squadge...
(1996–7) - Squeak! (2004)
- Stookie (1986)
- T.I.G.S (1995)
- Twister (2001)
- Uncle DadUncle DadUncle Dad is a children's sitcom on CITV in the UK.The show is about brothers and sisters who are forced to live with their uncle in a house full of various animals and creepy crawlies....
- Walter Melon (co-produced with Nelvana, 1998–9)
- What's Up DocWhat's Up Doc? (TV series)What's Up Doc? was a Saturday Morning children's variety series produced Scottish Television and aired on ITV from 1992 to 1995 and hosted by Andy Crane, Yvette Fielding and Pat Sharp...
(1992–5) - Wolf ItWolf Itright|thumb|Bro & Bro- the stars of 'Wolf It'|200pxWolf It was a TV series produced by Scottish Television and broadcast on CITV for 4 series between 1993 and 1996. The show was spin off from the Saturday morning TV series What's Up Doc? and features Bro and Bro, two English wolves who featured...
(1993–6) - wknd@stvWknd@stvwknd@stv is a short-lived children's programming strand on Scottish television channel, STV. The block aired on Saturdays and Sundays, usually starting at 9.25am . It began on Saturday 17 January 2009 with a three-hour edition...
(2009) - Wemyss Bay 902101
Religion
- Morning Worship (contribution to the ITV network)
- By The Way (1980-5)
- Chapter and Verse (1975-85)
- Eikon (1993 - 2003)
- Eye to Eye
- God's Rep (1990)
- Late Call
- Highway (contributions to the ITV network)
- No Easy Answer (1978-86)
- Seek the Truth
- Sunday Service
- Tell The Story (1980-8)
- The Divine Truth (1979)
- That's the Spirit (1979-85)
Scots Gaelic
- About Gaelic (1979-86)
- Abair Spors (1992-4)
- Air An Urlar (Music)
- Air A Bhord (Features)
- Air A Charraig (1990's)
- Air an Spot (Quiz)
- 1 2 Stri (Children's)
- Beachd (Features)
- Bilidh Bio Dach 91996)
- Cairt Turais (Features)
- Carlas (Features)
- Dein Fhein E! (DIY 1992)
- De Tha Seo? (1990-94)
- Ealadairean (Documentary)
- Failte (Features)
- Feis nan Coisir (1996)
- Iomraiteach (Documentary)
- Iomall nan Tonn (Documentary)
- Trang Trang (Children's)
- MachairMachair (TV series)Machair was a Scottish Gaelic television soap opera produced by Scottish Television Enterprises between August 1992 and September 1998.The series was created and developed by Peter May and Janice Hally who was also the storyliner and principal scriptwriter...
(Drama) - Mactalla (discussion programme)
- Nochd Gun Chadal (Music)
- Reoiteag Air Rothan (2004)
- Speaking our LanguageSpeaking our LanguageSpeaking our Language was a Scottish Gaelic learners television programme that ran from 1993 to 1996. Running for 72 episodes through four series, the series was produced by Scottish Television and presented by Rhoda MacDonald, STV's then-head of Gaelic output...
(Learners) - Seachd Laithean (Current affairs, 1979-82)
- Sin Agad E! (Magazine programme)
- Blas Na Gaedhlig/Sounds Gaelic (1980-6)
- Seall (1991-9)
- Sploaid (Children's)
- The Sabhal Mor Ostaig Lecture
- Tiglinn Na Cagatile (1991)