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UTV stars fear for jobs as bosses swing axe
Friday, 17 October 2008
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Some of Northern Ireland’s best known presenters are facing the chop as part of a massive cost-cutting cull at UTV in Belfast.
Three flagship shows — Insight, UTV Life and Late and Live — are being axed leaving the presenters |unsure about their futures, while the station’s top team of news journalists, features and sports reporters will also be “significantly |reduced”.
Among the names affected by the drastic job-cutting |exercise are Tina Campbell, Frank Mitchell and Pamela Ballantine.
It is understood features editor Jeannie Johnston and sports editor Adrian Logan are also in the firing line.
At editor level, staff were told they would have to lose two out of five positions — editor of news gathering, |executive producer of news output, features editor, sports editor and executive producer of current affairs.
The sports department was also informed that it is to be reduced by one.
Two out of the four main presenters’ jobs will also go, leaving Frank Mitchell, Paul Clarke, Tina Campbell and Pamela Ballantine on |tenterhooks. And in news and current affairs, up to eight jobs are set to go.
It is understood the only safe positions within news and current affairs are Ken Reid’s political correspondent’s post and Jamie |Delargy’s business title.
But the station also |announced plans to hire three new cross-platform journalists a part of the shake-up.
In a further memo issued yesterday, staff were told the deadline for Voluntary Severence had been extended to November 14.
One UTV insider described the mood within the company as “desperate” and said everyone was “frightened and concerned about the future”.
“It’s terrible, nobody feels safe at the moment,” said the source. Everyone is |concerned about what this means for their futures and for their families.”
“These people facing the chop have given their lives to UTV and then this is the way they are treated.”
Another UTV insider said the cull was aimed at high earning people who had given long years of service to the station.
“They can get rid of so many loyal employees, people who have sweated blood and tears for UTV, then go and take on these cross-platform journalists for a lot less pay,” they said.
“Yet these journalists and presenters who could be losing their jobs are experienced, talented people, known and loved by UTV viewers across Northern Ireland.
“Then, as if they weren’t pointing the gun at their heads enough, management say that the new deadline is November 14.
“But that if they don’t get the numbers they want, they’ll just tap people on the shoulders and give them a reduced severance package.
“What’s happening is a disgrace. Everyone’s very upset. There were a lot of tears yesterday. These are very frightening times at UTV.”
Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey expressed concern at the news of the job losses at UTV and said he would be raising the matter with his party’s representatives within the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
“This is in stark contrast to the decision by the BBC to invest in some additional programming in Northern Ireland,” he said.
“The success of UTV has been its ability to reflect local opinion and local stories and give people here a sense of belonging.
“Therefore, not only is the loss of jobs regrettable but it is inevitable that there will be loss of local content.”
Michael Wilson, managing director of UTV Television, said: “As part of our ongoing review of UTV programming following Ofcom’s announcement, we wrote to all UTV Television staff offering them a voluntary severance programme and have met with the team to outline our proposed plans.
“This is aimed at taking into account UTV’s anticipated staffing as we restructure our business and programme requirements for 2009.
“In recent months all major broadcasters have announced job losses. UTV has been successful in outperforming the market in terms of both advertising and audience. However we now must make difficult decisions to ensure we remain able to deliver quality public service programming in a challenging economic environment.
“We are very proud of our local programming and our commitment to a sustainable level of high quality production for Northern Ireland remains as strong as ever.”
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UTV is tired and dated. The whole channel is trapped in a bad 70's time warp, and treats its audience like morons. It certainly does not reflect a modern Northern Ireland, especially when its studios are based in a vibrant and growing city like Belfast.
I for one would be glad to see the back of people like Pamela Ballentine and Frank Mitchel.
The only redeeming feature of UTV is the legendary Ken Reid, who is shamelessly under used.
Looks like the Ulster Tatler is going to have to find some new 'Norn Iron celebs' ( and I use the term 'celebs' very loosely).
Posted by Charlie | 24.10.08, 14:05 GMT
Whoever is behind this sham is the one who should be in the firing line. While we may not 'love' these presenters, they are certainly welcome familiar faces. I for one feel ill at ease watching these new people try to read the news bulletins, one in particular laughs at her own mistakes. UTV is a joke, the young presenters are cringe worthy and I for one will be tuning to the BBC from now on .
Posted by Paula | 20.10.08, 22:51 GMT
I can't believe they will even consider getting rid of Frank Mitchell.
He is the best all round broadcaster in Northern Ireland.
Posted by Dan Kirk | 19.10.08, 21:34 GMT
I haven't seen Julian's name being mentioned for the axe. Do the whole world a favour and get rid of him.
Posted by CannuckCol | 17.10.08, 23:39 GMT
Most of the UTV presenters are too flashy and tend to turn their news stories into tabloid style. The BBC Northern Ireland presenters are generally more professional and less flashy.
Posted by John of Derry | 17.10.08, 22:35 GMT
I can't believe people are so cruel, these presenters have given their lives to UTV and you lot of begrudgers can only moan.....see how you lot like it if you loose your jobs
Posted by Steven Shaw | 17.10.08, 21:51 GMT
I'm delighted that late and live is being axed
Posted by Strucker | 17.10.08, 20:42 GMT
I've just returned back to Britain from Northern Ireland and can't believe how parochial that UTV and BBC have become, and unfortunately the quality of programming has suffered. Yes we all need local tv programmes, but when the broadcasters and producers don't have the funds to make features or stories then the quality suffers.
Posted by Andy | 17.10.08, 20:04 GMT
Give younger ones a chance and let's make it YourTV
Posted by David Foster | 17.10.08, 16:12 GMT
“Yet these journalists and presenters who could be losing their jobs are experienced, talented people, known and loved by UTV viewers across Northern Ireland" said an insider.
Wise up. What planet are they on!
Posted by Gareth | 17.10.08, 16:08 GMT
UTV Life will not be missed at all. Sometimes it is excruciating to watch. I like Paul Clarke and Tina Campbell, but Frank Mitchell comes across as a bit of an Alan Partridge character, to be honest, I find it very irritating that most of BBC NI and UTV "local" coverage is only of things happening in and around Belfast anyway. If I am in the mood for a news fix, I'll mostly watch national UK and RTE, with a dip into the short local bulletins in the later evening. And what about the local woman who does the news on GMTV in the morning - she has the most contrived accent ever. She makes me cringe so much!
Posted by Mrs B | 17.10.08, 16:03 GMT
Some new faces would do no harm, they all look pretty cosy on the couch together
They're all well paid ~ and they have radio and celeb income as well
Posted by David Foster | 17.10.08, 16:03 GMT
And what about the 5/8th who is sturggling day and daily? Alot of these presenters are well paid and have numerous years service, which means the redundancy package will be good. I am sure their salaries along with their appearance monies will cushion the blow.
Posted by Broke | 17.10.08, 15:20 GMT
Christmas has come early!!!
How will we ever cope without them Im sure there is some nice retirement home for ex announcers with a mock up of a studio
to play in.
Please make Julian the main presenter of news at least it would be intentionally funny.
Come on BBC Northern Ireland time to throw out your rubbish.
Posted by John | 17.10.08, 15:09 GMT
And Julian is new CEO with responsibility for vernacular and diction .. but seriously our local television news operation seems now to be a five day a week operation ..for example the news of the great flood of Belfast only truly surfaced on the Monday when they all turned up to work. Can you imagine how hard a job it is covering sport on the air in Northern Ireland which traditionally has a thriving social scene around it
Posted by Nancy Faketan, Holywood | 17.10.08, 14:43 GMT
Perhaps they could save money by scrapping some of abominable local programmes and the BBC could do even better by scrapping their even more abominable local programming.
Thank heavens for satellite TV!
Posted by robbo | 17.10.08, 14:11 GMT