STV

STV (Scottish Television) is Scotland's main commercial free-to-air television broadcaster and the ITV franchise holder for Scotland. It serves central Scotland and beyond, operating independently from ITV on news and current affairs with its own dedicated political coverage team.

In April 2026, STV co-produced and broadcast the Holyrood leaders debate alongside BBC Scotland, with STV political editor Colin Mackay serving as moderator. The debate was the defining broadcast moment of the 2026 Scottish campaign: Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pressed First Minister John Swinney on NHS waiting lists, with The Times describing Sarwar's performance as a 'slam-dunk victory on the NHS'. STV is hosting the second Holyrood debate from Edinburgh's Signet Library on 28 April, the final major broadcast event before polling day.

STV's political journalism has operated as a distinct editorial voice in the Scottish media landscape throughout the 2026 campaign. Its decision to co-broadcast with BBC Scotland rather than host a separate debate reflects the compressed campaign timetable and the shared interest in maximising audience reach for the final-campaign broadcast.