ITV axes 429 jobs and Plymouth studio
TELEVISION news journalists in Plymouth admitted they were ‘between a rock and a hard place’ yesterday, after they were given details of ITV’s plans to close its Plympton news operation.
The studio will close by the middle of March next year, with the loss of almost all its 88 jobs, as ITV Westcountry is merged with Bristol-based ITV West.
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ITV-Westcountry
A tiny bureau will remain, employing just four people: a correspondent, a reporter, a cameraman and a film editor.
A similar bureau will continue to operate in Exeter as local news is reduced to a 15-minute slot in the main news bulletin.
There will also be a bureau in Cornwall, and a reporter in Barnstaple.
John Andrews, the Plymouth station’s National Union of Journalists spokesman, said: “To put it bluntly, we aren’t in a strong position. Making news programmes costs several times what ITV gets back in advertising revenue.
“They have said that if we push them too far they will just hand back their licences.
“I don’t see any prospect of strikes in Plymouth.
“We’re between a rock and a hard place.”
He said there were about 150 jobs in Bristol and Plymouth now, and 84 of those would go.
ITV had agreed to a redundancy package of three weeks’ pay for every year worked, up to a maximum of £36,000, Mr Andrews said.
Across Devon 186 jobs will go, but an ITV spokesman refused to say how many Plymouth jobs would be lost. He said 429 jobs would be cut across all regional services as the broadcaster sought to save £40million.
A letter sent to journalists, technical staff and other employees said nationally, staff would be reduced from 1,075 to 646, a cut of 429 jobs.
The NUJ has warned the company that any attempt to force through the changes without meaningful negotiations will be met with strong resistance, including the possibility of industrial action.
NUJ national broadcasting organiser Paul McLaughlin said: “Unless ITV meaningfully engages with unions over its plans for the future of regional news, industrial action seems inevitable.
“Any attempts to force through these massive cuts will be met with strong resistance.”
Luke Pollard, who is Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for South West Devon, said: “This is the news we have long feared, as ITV puts profits before its public service commitments.
“The loss of ITV Westcountry will not only mean poorer-quality and less relevant news for local people; it will also mean 90 talented people in Plympton will lose their jobs.
“This decision has been taken by bean-counters at ITV in London who do not understand Devon and Cornwall.
“I suspect the news coverage from now on will reflect this distance too.”
Laura Davison, assistant broadcasting officer of the NUJ, said it was ‘a really bad day’ for ITV News staff.
“We do not accept the level of cuts ITV News wants to make and it is difficult to see how we can avoid a fight over this,” said Ms Davison.
She added that she could not rule out the possibility of industrial action by ITV staff as part of a campaign to try to reverse the planned job losses.
Related news:
ITV may give up public service remit
23 Comments
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by Soapboxellie, Plymouth
Thursday, October 02 2008, 11:56AM
“It all went downhill when they axed Gus Hunnybun. Seriously though, whatever the politics, it's sad to read that jobs will be lost.”
by Ken, Saltash Passage
Thursday, October 02 2008, 10:32AM
“Sorry Folks it was an epic but so is this story been since 1992 As for Advertising revenues going down yes they did, but Local ITV ie Westward TSW Westcountry was always a License to print money they were all very successful before they became part of the wider ITV1 channel, the bigger a company the higher its overheads and the bigger the waste, OFCOM should have accepted ITV's offer of returning the Franchises and re-advertised them we would have had a new company with and injection of new money, sadly OFCOM are spineless they caved in as soon as ITV made their threat and if the unions do as they say the screens will go blank anyway plus ITV will regret this decision as they will lose so many viewers, shot themselves in their foot, but all you can help write to OFCOM complain and it just may reverse this daft decision. ITV will never be able to compete with SKY why because its a subscription based company plus it has the bonus of advertising sponsors too ITV just has the Adverts revenue and a tiny bit from the License fee as being a columnist the Herald knows where I am I doubt I will get the call nice of you to think so though LOL”
by Molly, Sutton
Wednesday, October 01 2008, 4:30PM
“i notice no such trait here or elsewhere Mandy. maybe you don't read across the boards. the point about itv at langage is that they don't have the cash. That's probably because the advertising revenue down here isn't high value or productive. Why do we need a second local news channel. Whenever i have recorded westcountry and spotlight to see a particular item i am interested in, the duplication and similarities are virtually complete except that BBC specialist reporters tend to be better, they seem to catch humour without wallowing in absolute mindless trivia and there investigative feel seem more carefully honed. But then it's all a matter of opinion and angle, isn't it?”
by amanda, plymouth
Wednesday, October 01 2008, 4:08PM
“molly,sutton.i have noticed over the past couple of weeks that you leave such stupid,negative comments.i take it you have nothing better to do.
the loss of local news will be sad,and yet another econmy cutback!!!”
by RobRoy, South Yard
Wednesday, October 01 2008, 1:34PM
“Ken, Saltash Passage - I, too, started to read your epic, but thn started to lose the will to live.
Why don't you apply to the Herald for a job as a columnist? You had better be quick though, all the journalists from Westcountry will doing the same thing.
For the benefit of everyone else, I'll abridge your narrative: I don't like the changes either.”