JO
Found this intresting article over that The TV Room + - http://thetvroomplus.com
JOB LOSSES AT SCOTTISH AND GRAMPIAN
15 December 2005
Scottish Media Group has announced that it is to cut staffing levels in its television business by one fifth. SMG are citing the reduction of its Public Service Broadcasting committments - approved by Ofcom in June - and the move to new premises at Pacific Quay in Glasgow as the rationale for the 59 redundancies.
The new PSB arrangement has seen the group's regional TV news commitments reduced by one third. The consequence is fourteen job losses in news and regional output. There are also other cuts in finance, administration, technical and engineering.
"It's vital for our business, our viewers and our advertisers that we respond to the fast changing nature of today's media world. We're building a business that will continue to compete well for the attention of our customers," the Chief Executive of SMG Television, Donald Emslie said.
"Regrettably, the changing shape of this business and the...leap in technology from our investment in Pacific Quay mean that we expect to need less people...and we've been discussing this with staff today," Mr Emslie added.
Scottish NUJ spokesman Paul Holleran said that the cuts would "decimate staffing levels among already overworked journalists and news staff who have watched management destroy the high standards our members work hard to maintain".
The Scottish BECTU spokesman Paul McManus said: "If these proposals go through there will not be one member of staff left in Grampian TV to make regional programmes. The politicians and Ofcom were warned by us six months ago that this is what SMG wanted and they should now be acting as a matter of urgency to investigate these proposals."
The unions will be holding meetings with SMG and staff tomorrow.
If what the article says about no one being left to make regional programing is true - is there much point in Scottish TV's existence. Why not just do the inevitable sooner rather than later, and join ITV.
Jonnie
Quote:
JOB LOSSES AT SCOTTISH AND GRAMPIAN
15 December 2005
Scottish Media Group has announced that it is to cut staffing levels in its television business by one fifth. SMG are citing the reduction of its Public Service Broadcasting committments - approved by Ofcom in June - and the move to new premises at Pacific Quay in Glasgow as the rationale for the 59 redundancies.
The new PSB arrangement has seen the group's regional TV news commitments reduced by one third. The consequence is fourteen job losses in news and regional output. There are also other cuts in finance, administration, technical and engineering.
"It's vital for our business, our viewers and our advertisers that we respond to the fast changing nature of today's media world. We're building a business that will continue to compete well for the attention of our customers," the Chief Executive of SMG Television, Donald Emslie said.
"Regrettably, the changing shape of this business and the...leap in technology from our investment in Pacific Quay mean that we expect to need less people...and we've been discussing this with staff today," Mr Emslie added.
Scottish NUJ spokesman Paul Holleran said that the cuts would "decimate staffing levels among already overworked journalists and news staff who have watched management destroy the high standards our members work hard to maintain".
The Scottish BECTU spokesman Paul McManus said: "If these proposals go through there will not be one member of staff left in Grampian TV to make regional programmes. The politicians and Ofcom were warned by us six months ago that this is what SMG wanted and they should now be acting as a matter of urgency to investigate these proposals."
The unions will be holding meetings with SMG and staff tomorrow.
If what the article says about no one being left to make regional programing is true - is there much point in Scottish TV's existence. Why not just do the inevitable sooner rather than later, and join ITV.
Jonnie