So, Granada are to axe the live programming on Wellbeing and may also cut back the transmission hours. I have to say this venture has been a huge flop, there just isn't the demand for this type of channel. Granada would be better combining the channel with Breeze as they have similar content. Eighty jobs are to be cut in Leeds, and I guess this means many Calendar presenters will return !
As you well know, I was a regular Wellbeing viewer and this news has broken me.
Indeed, Wellbeing was the only thing which allowed me to survive my exam season.
Most of the things Granada have launched have been total failures.
Indeed, only Plus, M&M and Breeze have survived.
Remember Granada Talk TV? Well that was a disaster and now they are planning to launch ITV TALK.
Why? Do they never learn?
(Edited by cheshirec at 12:38 am on July 21, 2001)
So, Granada are to axe the live programming on Wellbeing and may also cut back the transmission hours. I have to say this venture has been a huge flop, there just isn't the demand for this type of channel. Granada would be better combining the channel with Breeze as they have similar content. Eighty jobs are to be cut in Leeds, and I guess this means many Calendar presenters will return !
So Faye Barker and Clare White's jobs might be on the line?
To be honest, I thought Wellbeing was satisfactory enough. I mean compared with Liberty TV and other nonsense on Digital satelite
And for a local view, this is from the Yorkshire Evening Post
Job axe at YTV studios
BY NIGEL SCOTT
ABOUT 80 jobs are being axed at the ailing Leeds-based digital TV channel Wellbeing.
Staff were called to meetings yesterday afternoon to be told the news.
The future of the station has been shrouded in uncertainty and the Yorkshire Evening Post rev-ealed last month that the programme's content was 'under review'.
Now, following that review, the live studio
element of the programme is being scrapped.
The station, launched in a blaze of publicity in March, employed around 110 people. Only around 30 jobs will be retained.
The majority of the jobs being axed are at the Yorkshire TV studios in Leeds with just a few in Manchester. Those affected include presenters, camera crews and production staff.
Wellbeing was heralded as the world's first interactive digital TV channel and website from a high street retailer, bringing together YTV's owner Granada Media with Boots.
Both invested millions in the project, which has been broadcast from Leeds.
A Granada TV spokeswoman said the many of the staff were on short-term contracts which would not be renewed. Others would be redeployed within the Granada TV network. Staff representatives were being consulted and all existing contracts would be honoured.
BO
bobbleface
Quote:
Theres an article on Medai Guardian about it.
Media Guardian Article[url]
All Wellbeing staff got this as an anonymous email on Friday. Nice way to break the news, eh?
