STV2 stocks up ahead of debut

STV News Tonight host Halla Mohieddeen

STV in Scotland has acquired rights to Finnish drama Black Widows and UK series Secret State for its new channel STV2.

STV2 will launch on April 24 with a schedule featuring a live daily magazine show, classic movies, acquired series and the first integrated Scottish, UK and international news programme, STV News Tonight.

The Scottish broadcaster has also acquired 400 episodes of Fair City, the longest-running soap in Ireland, as well as UK crime drama Taggart.

Other content set to air on STV2 includes weekly show E…, presented by Laura Boyd and Gerry Cassidy; sports series Peter and Roughie’s Football Show; and The Late Show, hosted by Ewen Cameron.

“STV2 is the new channel for Scotland designed to reflect life across the country. The channel will provide a unique opportunity to broadcast content that isn’t available for viewers anywhere else, including in-depth coverage of local sport and live events and exciting acquisitions including soap and drama, alongside an enhanced news service with local, UK and international stories,” said Bobby Hain, director of channels at STV.