ITV to axe more jobs at UTV

More of UTV’s workforce are facing redundancy following ITV’s takeover of the Channel 3 station for Northern Ireland earlier this year.
The redundancies are a result of a centralisation of duties within the ITV network and the sale of UTV Ireland to Virgin Media.

In a statement issued today by UTV to media outlets, the broadcaster confirmed it had updated staff on the plans. It added:
“The workforce is currently 138 in UTV Belfast. From today 43 roles at at risk of redundancy – that’s 27 new roles put at risk today on top of the 16 in playout that were already at risk from July. There are 8 redeployment opportunities so that’s potentially 35 job losses – so potentially a 25% decrease in workforce.”

ITV has this month made further changes to UTV’s output, having axed UTV’s late evening current affairs programme UTV Live Tonight in a move that will enable ITV to harmonise UTV’s late schedule with the main ITV network. This follows reports last month that indicated ITV is plotting at giving News at Ten a more flexible timeslot. Staff fear that UTV will be downsized to little more than a small news gathering and production centre, in line with other ITV regional news centres.