STV Group

What STV Group does

STV Group plc is a Scottish digital media company and the holder of the Channel 3 commercial broadcasting licences for north and central Scotland, renewed by Ofcom in March 2025 for a further ten years. Headquartered in Glasgow and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: STVG), the company operates two divisions. The Audience division combines the STV linear television channel, the STV Player free ad-supported streaming service (pre-installed in approximately three quarters of UK connected TV homes), and the newly launched STV Radio (January 2026, targeting 35-54 year-olds across DAB, smart speakers and online). The Studios division encompasses over 20 production labels producing scripted and unscripted content for UK broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4) and international streamers (Netflix, Apple TV, Disney's Hulu, RTÉ), with Blackhill (rebranded from STV Studios Drama in June 2026) and Two Cities Television among the most prominent labels.

The company's revenue model rests primarily on advertising sold across linear TV (national and regional), video-on-demand on STV Player (including addressable advertising via Planet V and the proprietary STV ADapt platform, plus pause ads), and audio on STV Radio. A secondary revenue stream comes from programme production commissions and international format and catalogue sales by STV Studios, with a £33m forward orderbook at December 2025. Subscription revenue from STV Player+ (ad-free tier) is a smaller direct-to-consumer contribution. Strategic distribution partnerships with ITV (content sharing and advertising sales) and Premier Sports (live sports content on STV Player) extend reach and monetisation. A regulated £46.6m market capitalisation (April 2026) reflects its position as a small-cap public broadcaster navigating a challenging UK advertising market — FY 2025 revenue declined 6% to £176.9m and adjusted operating profit fell 44% to £11.6m, prompting £8m annual cost-savings measures and portfolio rationalisation across the Studios division.

Name

STV Group

Legal name

STV Group plc

Website

https://stvplc.tv

Company type

Public

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

STV Group plc is Scotland's Channel 3 commercial broadcaster operating the STV linear channel, STV Player streaming service, and STV Radio, alongside a Studios division of 20+ production labels serving BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Netflix, and Apple TV.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Broadcasting and Content Production

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

Video Streaming Platforms (SVOD/AVOD/TVOD) (BPAMAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Entertainment SVOD Platforms (MPACAAAA)

Keywords

• Commercial broadcasting
• Television production
• Streaming services
• Radio broadcasting
• Content licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising revenue (Linear TV, VOD, Audio): STV generates the majority of revenue through advertising sold across its linear TV channel (STV), addressable VOD advertising on STV Player (via Planet V), and newly launched STV Radio. Advertising includes national linear, regional linear, VOD, pause ads, and addressable advertising through STV ADapt.
2. Programme production and distribution (STV Studios): STV Studios produces original content across scripted drama, factual, unscripted, and entertainment for UK broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4) and international streamers (Netflix, Apple TV, Disney's Hulu). Secondary sales of library content to international buyers at higher margins. Orderbook of £33m at December 2025.
3. Commercial partnerships: STV works with multiple TV platforms under long-term partnerships, providing a 'one stop shop' for advertising services extending beyond ad sales to creative design and post-campaign analysis. Premier Sports partnership on STV Player drives subscriber acquisition.
4. Direct to consumer (STV Player+): STV Player+ is a paid subscription service allowing viewers to stream content without adverts, providing direct monetisation of audiences.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

STV Group is Scotland's leading commercial broadcaster and content producer, operating the STV linear Channel 3 television licence, the free ad-supported streaming service STV Player (with paid STV Player+ tier), and the newly launched STV Radio on DAB and smart speakers. Through its STV Studios division, the company produces scripted and unscripted programmes for UK broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky) and international streamers (Netflix, Apple TV, Disney's Hulu, RTÉ). STV generates the majority of revenue from advertising sold across its video and audio platforms, with secondary revenue from content commissions and international format/library sales.

Product overview

STV Group operates as a vertically integrated media company with two core divisions: Audience (combining broadcast, streaming, and audio) and Studios (content production). The Audience division centres on STV, Scotland's leading commercial TV channel, and STV Player, a free streaming service offering catch-up TV, live streaming, and exclusive content reaching 75% of Scots monthly. STV Radio, launched in January 2026, extends the audience business into audio. The Studios division, anchored by Blackhill (rebranded from STV Studios Drama in June 2026) and spanning over 20 production labels, produces scripted and unscripted content for UK broadcasters and international streamers including Netflix, BBC, Channel 4, and Apple TV. Supporting initiatives include STV Commercial (advertising solutions including STV ADapt for addressable advertising), STV Children's Appeal (charitable initiative), and STV Zero (sustainability strategy).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Two Cities Television: Belfast-based production label producing police drama Blue Lights and period drama Amadeus
• Tod Productions
• Tuesday's Child
• Rumpus Media
• Crackit TV
• Hello Halo
• STV Studios Factual
• Ferryman Films
• STV ADapt
• STV Player+

Products and services

• STV (Linear Broadcast Channel) STV is Scotland's leading commercial TV channel reaching more than two-thirds of Scottish adults monthly through its linear broadcast, offering a mix of news, drama, entertainment and sports programming. Channel 3 licence renewed in March 2025 for ten years from January 2025.
• STV Player

Quantifiable outcome

• Scotland's World Cup drama peaked with 1.2m viewers (highest peak audience since June 2024), with 75% viewing share in Scotland vs rest of UK
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Narrative Entertainment (Great!)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 June 2026Strategic content partnership bringing Great! FAST channels and VOD content to STV Player for the first time. The Great! portfolio includes movies, drama, crime, mystery and romance programming. This is the first time a public service media organisation has partnered with Narrative Entertainment, and STV Player's first foray into FAST distribution.
• Kevin McKidd's Ferryman FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Exclusive partnership with Kevin McKidd's (Trainspotting, Grey's Anatomy) Ferryman Films to strengthen STV Studios' scripted production pipeline. Ferryman Films is a new production label within the STV Studios portfolio.
• Fan ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025STV invested in branded content start-up Fan Club (minority stake) led by ex-C4 Digital Commissioner Joe Churchill, bringing a distinct new offering to the STV Studios family of labels.
• Tunnock'sminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 January 2025Tunnock's secured as the first commercial advertising partner for STV Radio ahead of its launch on 6 January 2026.
• Disney's HulucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst unscripted commission for an international streamer — The Mob (produced by Primal Media) for Disney's Hulu. Represents STV Studios' first unscripted commission from a global streaming platform.
• Premier SportscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnique deal combining STV Player's ad-free programming with live sports from Premier Sports including football, rugby, and motorsports. Partnership aims to drive new subscriber acquisition to STV Player, with subscribers spending 47% of time on Premier Sports content.
• ITVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership (2+ years) with ITV for content sharing and advertising sales. ITV's sales team sells STV's national VOD and simulcast advertising, giving STV benefit from ITV's scale and market leadership. STV Player has exclusive Scottish rights to ITVX original content.
• Rockerdale StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRockerdale Studios produces The Assembly (award-winning interview format with autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled interviewers) in partnership with STV and ITV. The format has been adapted in 20 territories with over 250 celebrities interviewed.
• RTÉminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSTV Studios delivered a returnable drama for RTÉ as part of international expansion of its scripted production business.
• CAN'T STOP MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFormat distributor for The Assembly (adaptation of French series Les Rencontres du Papotin). The format now airs in 20 territories including Canada, Australia and Brazil.
• SSE Energy SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSSE Energy Solutions was the sponsor of STV's Sustainable Scotland Week, supporting the broadcaster's sustainability content initiative.
• Project albertminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTV is a member of Project albert and co-signatory to the Climate Content Pledge. STV partnered with Project albert to ensure all programming and commercials produced by STV and STV Studios achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
• Planet V (ITV's VOD advertising platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationSTV Player uses ITV's Planet V platform for addressable VOD advertising, enabling hyper-targeted and programmatic advertising capabilities.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ITV plc: UK's largest commercial broadcaster and STV's Channel 3 partner. Operates ITVX streaming, sells STV's national VOD and simulcast advertising, and shares ITVX original content with STV Player. Most directly comparable on broadcast, streaming and ad sales.
• Channel 4: UK public service commercial broadcaster with free streaming (All 4) and a commissioned content pipeline overlapping STV Studios (e.g., Screw, Crime Scene Cleaners). Comparable on free ad-supported streaming, content commissioning and advertiser reach.
• Bauer Media: Owner of major UK commercial radio brands and former employer of STV Radio MD Graham Bryce (COO). Closest direct competitor in the UK commercial radio market and a comparable audio advertising sales platform for advertisers seeking Scottish reach.
• Global Media & Entertainment: UK's largest commercial radio operator (Capital, Heart, LBC, Classic FM). Direct competitor in commercial radio advertising and a comparable audio platform targeting national audiences that overlaps STV Radio's advertiser base.
• Banijay: Largest independent global content producer, operating scripted and unscripted labels for major streamers and broadcasters. Comparable to STV Studios' portfolio of 20+ production labels and competing for the same international streaming commissions.
• All3Media: Major UK and international production group with multiple labels producing scripted and unscripted content for broadcasters and streamers. Closely comparable to STV Studios' multi-label structure and international commissioning model.
• ITV Studios: Production arm of ITV plc producing scripted and unscripted content globally. Direct competitor for UK and international commissions and operates a similar portfolio of production labels as STV Studios.
• Fremantle: Global production and distribution group producing drama, entertainment and factual content for international streamers and broadcasters. Comparable to STV Studios in international IP, format sales and catalogue licensing economics.

Broad incumbents

• BBC: UK public service broadcaster operating BBC One, BBC Scotland and iPlayer, and a major STV Studios commissioner (Blue Lights, Antiques Road Trip). Comparable as a UK-wide broadcaster, streamer and major commissioner of original content.
• Sky (Comcast): UK pay-TV broadcaster and streamer (NOW) that distributes Two Cities Television's Amadeus. Comparable as a vertically integrated broadcaster and streamer with a major sports and drama offering competing for UK ad and subscription budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WeAreSTV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stv-group-plc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/stv
• Xx.com/STVPress

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STV Group