STV have been accused of "throwing away" a "Scottish media success story" because of financial worries after Ofcom confirmed the broadcaster would be allowed to go ahead with controversial cuts to its north of Scotland programme.
Ofcom has said it will allow STV to move ahead with plans to remove the programme and axe 28 jobs.
It will be replaced with a single programme from Glasgow, which will include sections devoted to regional news from the area. However, this section of the programme will have to be pre-recorded.
It comes just weeks after journalists and technical staff walked out on strike in a dispute over pay.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has blasted the plans as "astonishing" but "predictable", claiming STV has sacrificed what was a valued programme because of "one bad year" of finances.
Nick McGowan-Lowe, the NUJ's national organiser for Scotland, said: "It is both astonishing and predictable.
"Ofcom when launching this said they were minded to accept it. They told Holyrood they thought this was the best thing for viewers. We now know 83% of viewers in the STV North area opposed these changes going through.
"It is very disappointing the regulator, which is supposed to represent viewers, has sided with the broadcaster in this case."
Reflecting on the consultation, he added: "There were so many voices saying the same thing that we need a distinct voice for the north of Scotland, for business in the north of Scotland, for all the priorities that are different in Aberdeen, different in Ullapool, different in Inverness, to the central belt.
"STV North and them running two different programmes at 6pm was a real Scottish media success story and STV have thrown that away because they've had one bad year of financial results."
Prior to announcing the proposed cuts, STV had invested in an upgrading of its Aberdeen newsroom but then subsequently had a profits warning while the value of the company has been halved.
McGowan-Lowe said: "Everything else that has followed has been a panic, including the cuts in news."
McGowan-Lowe said while the programme from Glasgow will have a dedicated section for north of Scotland news, this will be in danger of being out of date by the time it goes out due to bring pre-recorded.
The news of the cuts has provoked widespread backlash, with the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce expressing its disappointment after its survey showed 83% opposed the plans.
Chief executive Russell Borthwick said: "It is difficult to understand how such clear and emphatic opposition from the communities affected has ultimately been set aside.
“Local news matters. It plays a vital role in holding institutions to account, reflecting the experiences of communities and ensuring that the north of Scotland has a strong and distinct voice in the national conversation.
"While STV has made changes to its original proposals, the reality remains that the north of Scotland will lose its dedicated news service and the local presentation that has been a trusted part of viewers’ lives for generations.
“STV has made a series of commitments throughout this process about the quality, quantity and local relevance of its journalism. We will be monitoring its output closely in the months and years ahead to ensure those promises are honoured in practice, not just on paper."
The SNP called it a "dark day" for journalism in Scotland.
Richard Thomson, who is running as the party's candidate in the Aberdeen South by-election, said: "Westminster has just rubber stamped an end to the STV North news bulletin. This is a dark day for regional broadcasting in Scotland.
“My thoughts are with the staff affected by these cuts and viewers across Aberdeen and the wider North East who have cherished the unique local news service for decades.
“Trusted local news outlets are more important than ever and the backlash to these plans showed just how much STV’s local journalism was valued by viewers across the country.
"The plans given approval by Ofcom today stipulates that the STV News at Six programme will have at least 30% regional content. It is essential STV guarantee this will consist of genuine local news from the north rather than padding it out with sport, weather and travel to meet an already disappointing quota for local content."
Aberdeen Central MSP Jack Middleton added on Twitter/X: "Serious questions to be asked about Ofcom's conduct throughout this process.
"Broadcasting [is] reserved to Westminster but Labour refused to intervene.
"Today we've lost a trusted local news institution and more high-quality staff are at risk of losing their jobs."
STV has said newsgathering resources will remain on the ground at all existing sites in Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee, as well as Holyrood and Westminster.
STV’s chief executive Rufus Radcliffe said: “We’re incredibly proud of STV News at 6, which remains Scotland’s most watched news programme, but like all Public Service Media companies, we must respond to the significant shift in audience behaviour.
"The changes Ofcom has approved to our licences will enable us to continue serving viewers with the high-quality, trusted national and regional news they expect from us."
STV has been approached for further comment.
