UTV Presentation Thread

I can't find the page with the trail on any of the pages where I'd expect to find it, just the usual loop of various current UTV trailers.

In other news, there's going to be a second series of "Ultimate Ulster"...

http://www4.u.tv/shows/UltimateUlster/

http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/images/tvf/utvmedia2.jpg

Reminds me of the days of TVS and when TVS in the south became TVS Television, hopefully UTV Television is for corporate use only.

Many organisations who use the word "Ulster" in their title have consciously tried to sideline the use of the word in their publicity, or, in the case of UTV, officially cease the use of "Ulster" completely.

UTV Life may face axe

By Maureen Coleman

Staff at UTV are being offered voluntary severance as the company faces "significant" job cuts, it was revealed today.

In a memo obtained by the Belfast Telegraph, management stated that the voluntary severance package was available to staff within the television division and other staff based at UTV's headquarters on the Ormeau Road in Belfast.

Both the Internet department and radio station U105 are exempt from the scheme.

Staff were also warned that once the scheme had closed, there was the possibility of compulsory redundancies, when the compensation package would be "significantly reduced".

In the memo, Michael Wilson, managing director of UTV, said: "Whilst we are still working on our proposals it is already apparent that we are looking for a significant reduction in headcount across all departments."

The news of the voluntary redundancy scheme follows recent proposals by Ofcom with regard to a reduction in local programming hours.

Mr Wilson said that while UTV was considering its response to the proposals, it had decided to reopen the VS scheme to staff. The scheme was offered earlier in the year to employees, but the new package sees the addition of a severence payment being available to staff with one to two year's service.

Mr Wilson continued: "However, once this scheme has closed, should the company seek further staff reductions on a compulsory redundancy basis, the compensation package available to staff will be significantly reduced."

It is understood that journalists and presenters will be hit by the proposed cuts, with rumours circulating that popular show UTV Life, featuring Frank Mitchell and Pamela Ballantine, could be axed.

Ofcom proposed that UTV's news coverage be reduced by one hour, 20 minutes, from five hours, 20 minutes to four hours per week, while the quota for "non-news" programmes will drop from the proposed three hours to 1.5 hours in 2009."

The deadline for UTV staff to apply for voluntary redundancy is 5pm on Friday, October 31.

Mr Wilson said that it was hoped the company would be in a position to brief staff in the coming weeks on UTV's response to Ofcom's proposals for programming for 2009 onwards.

A UTV source said: "With the radio station U105 and the new Media department excluded from the cuts, the phrase 'UTV' is something of a misnomer."

Lynda Bryans parts company with U105
By Maureen Coleman
Thursday, 9 October 2008

Television and radio presenter Lynda Bryans is leaving U105, it has emerged.

One of the best-known female presenters in Northern Ireland, Lynda was told her contract with the station was not being renewed.

She will be replaced by Carolyn Stewart, who currently fills the night-time slot on the station.

Carolyn also presents Saturday Night Fever from 6pm to 10pm.

Lynda joined the U105 line-up in November 2005 and hosted the 12 noon to 3pm slot, U105 Lunch.

A spokesman for Lynda’s company Take I Take II, which she set up with presenter husband Mike Nesbitt, said: “Lynda has been informed that her contract with U105 is not being renewed.

“There were no negotiations.”

The popular presenter began her broadcasting career at the BBC in Northern Ireland and worked on a number of shows including Inside Ulster, Here And Now, Animal Hospital and Holiday. As well as working with her husband on UTV Live, the couple also presented Sunday Morning for Anglia Television and UTV’s home and garden series Home Sweet Home.

It is understood Lynda will continue with her television career.

The spokesman for her company said: “Lynda is awaiting firm proposals for TV work next year.”

U105’s station manager Peter McVerry said Lynda’s departure was part of a review of programming and that the time was right to introduce a different style of lunchtime show to the schedule line-up.

“The new show will be more music focused so Lynda Bryans is handing over to Carolyn Stewart for U105 Lunch from October 27.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lynda for the key role she has played in contributing to U105’s success since its inception three years ago, and wish Caroyln [sic] the best of luck with the new show later this month.”