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The leaders of Scotland’s five main political parties have called for STV to abandon plans to scrap its separate news service for the north.

In a highly unusual move, the SNP, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour, Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens united to sign a letter to TV watchdog Ofcom condemning the proposal.

STV wants to stop producing a separate news service from Aberdeen for the former Grampian TV region.

Ofcom is expected to start a consultation on whether to allow this shortly.

The letter was written by Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

It has been signed by First Minister John Swinney, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and Ross Greer, co-leader of the Scottish Greens.

Mr Borthwick’s letter said: “This planned change – replacing dedicated northern coverage with a single pan-Scotland bulletin – is of grave concern to businesses, communities and elected representatives across the region.

“It risks depriving a major economic and cultural area of Scotland of the representation it requires and deserves.”

It also highlighted the north of Scotland’s “pivotal role in the nation’s success”.

The letter continued: “It is home to world-leading industries in energy, food and drink, tourism and technology, and its communities contribute enormously to Scotland’s economy and society.

“It is therefore essential that the issues, achievements and challenges of this region continue to receive proportionate airtime and coverage.

“We believe STV’s proposed reduction in regional output is inconsistent with the principles of public service broadcasting and risks materially disadvantaging audiences across the country, most acutely in the north.”

The letter warned the move would “weaken the diversity and plurality of Scotland’s media landscape”.

It concluded: “We therefore urge Ofcom to use its regulatory powers to review, and ultimately block, this proposed change.”

STV announced the plan to scrap separate news programmes for the north just over two weeks ago.

Instead it would show one programme, presented from Glasgow, across both central and northern Scotland.

However news teams would still be based in Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness.

It is part of a wider plan to try to save £2.5m across the business.

Advertising revenue and commissions to make programmes for other broadcasters is down.

The company lost £200,000 before tax in the first six months of the year although it is expected to be profitable over the year as a whole.

Its share price collapsed after a profits warning in July and the business is now worth just over £50m on the stock market.

The company plans to cut around 60 jobs, including about 30 in news.

A search for volunteers for redundancy was due to end on Friday.

In a tense session at Holyrood’s culture committee last week, STV’s chief executive Rufus Radcliffe and divisional managing director Bobby Hain explained their proposals and the thinking behind them.

They noted the continuing fall in the audience for TV news programmes – a challenge across the industry – and the changing way in which the public consumes news with growing numbers looking online.

The company insists its proposals will create a TV news service that is both sustainable and affordable.

The Scottish government has no power over broadcasting which is reserved to the UK government.

It is instead up to the communications regulator Ofcom to decide whether to allow the necessary changes to STV’s broadcasting licence.

Its consultation is expected to begin soon.

STV said Ofcom had indicated that a four-week consultation may be possible but unions have called for a longer consultation process to allow a fuller examination of the issues.