TVNZ Proposes Cuts To Breakfast, Seven Sharp Roles As It Aims To Save $30m

Thursday, 7 November 2024, 4:59 pm
Article: RNZ

Lucy Xia

TVNZ has proposed cutting several roles within its Breakfast and Seven Sharp shows, RNZ understands.

It's also understood, the broadcaster has proposed cutting its only Northland reporter role and having Northland stories covered by its Auckland office, along with reducing one South Island reporter role.

TVNZ reporters and camera operators are among those being called to meetings on Thursday to hear more about company's plans to axe 50 jobs in a bid to save $30 million.

The company has proposed to get rid of 90 roles and create 41 new ones.

Have you been affected or do you know more? Share your stories with us at: lucy.xia@rnz.co.nz

Two staff members told RNZ camera operators are having meetings on Thursday morning and reporters for the 6pm news bulletin meetings later in the afternoon.

They said the current proposal is to reduce four camera operators in Auckland, up to two in Christchurch and one in Wellington.

The entire Q+A team and some staff from the One News website will be attending meetings later on Thursday as well.

TVNZ said the proposals include dis-establishing roles, reducing roles, and changing reporting lines.

Another TVNZ staff member told RNZ almost everyone at the company had been scheduled for a meeting.

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"You'd almost find it harder to find someone that isn't affected," they said.

Last week TVNZ backtracked on its earlier decision to close its 1News website, it then said it would retain a reduced version of the website.

E tū union confirmed staff are being invited to individual and small group meetings.

Negotiation specialist Michael Wood said staff have been through a lot this year and were feeling worried about their jobs - and about TVNZ's outsourcing plans.

The job cuts at TVNZ would have a significant impact on its staff and its news and current affairs capacity, Wood said.

"There are small cuts across nearly every team, with some specific roles being disestablished, and other cuts in the form of reduced roles in teams.

There had been more significant reductions in camera operator roles, Wood said, which would have a big impact on coverage of news in the regions.

Media and communications minister Paul Goldsmith said TVNZ needed to be economically stable but the proposed job cuts would be difficult for people.

There was no question it was a difficult time in the media space, Goldsmith said, but TVNZ needed to ensure its expenses were in line with its revenue.

It was up to TVNZ how it allocated its resources, he said.

A powerpoint slide that TVNZ chief executive Jodi O'Donnell shared with staff last week said it was proposing to outsource some content workflow and technology areas from FY26 onwards.

The slide stated TVNZ had received a large amount of feedback from staff regarding proposed changes, and the executive team needed more time to consider the feedback before making decisions.

It said TVNZ had decided to defer a decision on the proposal to early December.

What an expert says

TVNZ's attempt to find $30 million in savings could "decimate" its news service, former New Zealand Herald editor and academic Dr Gavin Ellis said.

"They simply cannot afford to let that happen.

"They must do whatever they can to try and protect what they have left."

"Either they have to find savings from other less significant parts of their inventory, or the government must look at providing greater state subsidies for their news operation."

The removal of the Northland reporter role was of deep concern, he said.

"It's an area that requires coverage, it's a deprived area, it has a very very high proportion of Māori who need their voices heard.

"The loss of somebody on the ground up there is a real worry, I hope they're able to reconsider that one."

Ellis said he was also worried about the reduction in the camera operator roles.

"Camera operators are able to go out into the field and give much more in depth visual coverage of the news, losing that is even more significant than perhaps losing one of two or three presenters on a programme.

"You can cover the ground with two presenters as well as you can cover it with three, but camera operators once you lose them, you lose a significant of your news gathering capability."

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