CONTROVERSIAL STV Chief Executive Simon Pitts has defended the job losses at the broadcaster, and the decision to close digital channel STV2.
He claimed the changes were necessary to reshape the company for the digital age and will help put the Scottish TV sector "back on the map".
Mr Pitts' appointment was greeted with anger when it was revealed that he received a "golden hello" of more than £800,000 prior to announcing the closure of ITV2 and dozens of job losses.
Writing in The Herald today, he acknowledges the concerns, writing: "I’ve made some hard decisions since joining STV and, rightly, they’ve been scrutinised every step of the way."
However he says the strategy is right in a context where 300,000 people watched STV's live news reports from the Glasgow School of Art fire, but online footage received more than two million views.
"Closing STV2 and modernising our news operation are vital steps towards securing STV’s place at the heart of Scottish news and entertainment," he says. "This isn’t about preparing STV for sale, or responding to pressure from shareholders to save money, as some have claimed. It’s about staying relevant to our viewers and investing for the future."
He said the Scotttish TV production sector had punched below its weight for years and claimed £15m would be spent on new programming in the years ahead.
He also says he aims to see STV making world class series for Netflix and Amazon as well as UK networks. He cited new drama The Victim starring Kelly Macdonald and John Hannah, due to air on the BBC in the autumn, as "the sort of show we need more of."
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