The operators of the Great! Network of channels have teamed up with STV to make their content more widely available, both live and on-demand.
- Great! Movies plus streaming versions of Great! Romance and Great! Mystery now on STV Player
- Back door access to Freesat
- Deal follows ITV, Channel 4 and 5 opening up streaming services to third-party streaming channels.
STV has announced a content partnership with Great! Network owner Narrative Entertainment, including live channel streams and on-demand content.
The agreement sees the Great! free streaming channels and video-on-demand content become available through STV Player, expanding access to Great!’s library of movies, drama and entertainment programming.
The partnership marks the first time Narrative Entertainment has partnered with a public service media organisation. It also marks STV Player’s first foray into the distribution of streaming-only channels. The broadcaster already streams copies of existing linear broadcast channels on STV Player (scroll down for a list of channels).
Live streams of GREAT! Mystery, GREAT! Movies and GREAT! Romance are already live. On-demand content will be added in July.
💡 Streaming versions of GREAT! Mystery and GREAT! Romance, available on STV Player and other FAST platforms, follow a different schedule to the regular broadcast channels on Freeview, Virgin Media and Sky.
Incidentally, as newer Freesat receivers carry the STV Player app (without live streams), the imminent addition of on-demand content from the Great! channels provides ‘back door’ access to content. Narrative removed its channels from Freesat in 2024. Content from classic entertainment channel Great! TV is not available via the STV Player.
Context: buddying up and benefiting from prominence
The STV-Narrative Entertainment deal is just the latest in a series of similar partnerships announced in the past year. UKTV buddied up with Channel 4 to boost reach of its content. ITV has opened up to other broadcasters, for both live TV and on-demand content. 5 has also followed the pack.
Smaller broadcasters benefit from boosted reach, without the hassle of trying to get users to download yet another app. As STV is a public broadcaster, by virtue of holding Channel 3 licenses in Central and Northern Scotland, it’s app is also eligible for prominence. New rules will force smart TV manufacturers and digital TV platform operators to make apps like STV Player available ahead of non-public service apps like Netflix. That also makes partnering up more attractive for smaller broadcasters.
Narrative Entertainment says its channels are watched by 14% of all Scottish viewers each month, with average watching up 22% from 2025 to 2026.
STV Player achieved its highest ever annual consumption in 2025, with total viewing hours of 75 million, up 9% on the previous year. STV Player is open to users across the UK, but can’t offer some content in regions served by ITV on channel 3.
Which live channels are available on the STV Player?
To live stream TV on the STV Player, you’ll need to register for an account with STV.
- STV*
- STV+1*
- STV Radio (Visual Radio stream)
- GREAT! Romance
- GREAT! Mystery
- GREAT! Movies
- Premier Sports 1 **
- Premier Sports 2 **
- La Liga TV **
- Premier Sports Rugby **
* Requires an STV Player account registered with a postcode within STV’s broadcast region (Central and Northern Scotland). Viewers outside this area can watch most other shows via ITVX. ** Subscription required.
Corporate comments
Fateha Begum, Commercial Director at Narrative Entertainment, commented:
“We’ve built a loyal and growing audience for the Great! channels in Scotland, and we’re delighted to be partnering with STV to bring our content to even more viewers. Audiences increasingly want to access their favourite shows on the platforms they use every day – our distribution strategy reflects that and is driving real growth for the brand.”
Richard Williams, Managing Director of Audience at STV, added:
“STV Player is already home to the nation’s favourite shows, with much-loved soaps, conversation-starting dramas and fondly remembered classics all at viewers’ fingertips. As we continue to broaden the range of content available to our viewers, we’re delighted to welcome the Great! network, which is a strong addition to our line-up with a compelling mix of classic and contemporary programming.”
By: Marc Thornham | Image: STV and Narrative Entertainment