Users outside of Scotland now account for 20% of users, as STV continues to grow its streaming service with new content.
During the past year, the STV Player saw 1,000 hours of new and acquired drama added to the service. This included 173 new titles and 49 new Player-only drama boxsets. New titles included the UK premiere of The Commons starring Joanne Froggatt.
In Scotland, the STV Player provides access to STV’s catch-up service, including on-demand content from the ITV network as well as a variety of third-party shows.
Elsewhere in the UK, the service provides access to STV’s own programmes for its Channel 3 service, plus content, notably drama, from a variety of third-party providers. This includes Sony Pictures Television, which has made dramas including Necessary Roughness, The Art of More, The Player, Sequestered and The Mob Doctor available on the STV Player.
STV is the holder of the Channel 3 broadcast licence in Central and Northern Scotland. ITV Border Scotland covers Southern Scotland. In the world of linear TV and catch-up, STV and ITV co-exist, each covering their broadcast regions.
But for all other streaming activity, both companies are actively competing to grow their respective services. To increase its reach in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, STV has rolled out its player on all major platforms.
STV results
The details were revealed as part of STV’s annual report.
Overall, STV’s all-time viewing share is the highest since 2008 (19.6% up from 19.2% in 2020). STV’s channel 3 service is also the most watched peak-time channel in Scotland, with a share of 22.2%. The channel accounted for 98% of all commercial audiences over 500k in 2021.
Online, total streams on STV Player was 63% last year, with online viewing up 42% and monthly active views up 54%.