STV 'to shun more ITV dramas'

STV viewers will reportedly miss out on ITV dramas starring Sir David Jason and Dame Maggie Smith this autumn after the Scottish broadcaster stuck by its controversial scheduling policy.

According to The Daily Telegraph, STV is forging ahead with its contentious strategy of ditching high-profile ITV Network dramas in favour of Scottish-focused programming.

STV believes that the policy better serves its Scottish audience, but critics claim that the broadcaster is merely attempting to save money with cheaper content.

In the autumn schedule, STV has opted against airing Sir David Jason's new drama Albert's Memorial, which is about two World War II veterans attempting to fulfil their friend's dying wish.

The broadcaster will also shun Downtown Abbey, a period drama written by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes and starring Dame Maggie Smith, as well as Joe Maddison's War, which stars Kevin Whately and Robson Green.

It will also not air A Bouquet of Barbed Wire, a psychological drama starring Trevor Eve and Hermione Norris.

Instead, STV will run a new series of detective show Taggart before it is aired in the rest of the UK and a second series of Australian crime drama Underbelly.

Despite the scheduling strategy, an STV spokesman stressed that 90% of the channel's programming is sourced from the ITV Network.

He added: "STV's programme strategy has proven to be a success and we'll continue to bring viewers a rich, varied and relevant schedule."

However, an ITV source said: "STV is opting out of a huge swathe of our autumn drama schedule. It will be interesting to see what they are going to replace them with.

"Will it be more local produce, imported Australian cop shows or dusty old film repeats?"

Last year, viewers in Scotland were left outraged after STV dropped popular ITV programmes such as The Bill, Doc Martin and Midsomer Murders.

The broadcaster replaced the shows with Scottish heritage series Homecoming, mini-series Sirens, US Cracker remake Fitz and surfer movie Blue Crush.

Last September, ITV launched legal action against STV to recover £38 million of alleged unpaid network budget contributions.

However, STV counter-sued ITV for £35m on grounds of alleged airtime sales debts and unfair exploitation of video on-demand rights.