TVNZ looks to cut 100 jobs to save costs - report

TVNZ runs the nightly 1 News bulletin.
Lawrence Smith/Stuff
TVNZ runs the nightly 1 News bulletin.

Broadcaster TVNZ is planning on cutting about 100 jobs in an effort to save money, it's been reported.

TVNZ was planning to cut the roles over the coming weeks, in an effort to save $10 million, NZME reported on Friday night.

However, the claims have been unverified publicly by the state-owned broadcaster.

Do you know more? Email newstips@stuff.co.nz

A spokeswoman for the broadcaster would not immediately confirm the cuts to Stuff.

TVNZ's headquarters in central Auckland.
Lawrence Smith/Stuff
TVNZ's headquarters in central Auckland.

READ MORE:
* MediaWorks takes razor to radio
* Stuff staff asked to accept 15% pay cut for 12 weeks after huge drop in advertising
* TVNZ head of news and current affairs John Gillespie quits

"TVNZ has no announcements to make other than to indicate that its cost reduction initiatives will continue to focus on preserving investment in news and local content and maintaining jobs where possible," Rachel Howard, TVNZ spokeswoman, said in a statement.

Howard would not be drawn on further questions about the report.

NZME reported that the planned cuts at TVNZ would come from the programming, content and sales departments.

John Gillespie will leave the company this month.
TVNZ
John Gillespie will leave the company this month.

It comes after TVNZ's head of news John Gillespie announced his resignation earlier this year. He's due to leave the company this month.

However, NZME said it was unlikely the TVNZ restructure would affect its news department.

Television New Zealand (TVNZ) operates the nightly 1 News 6pm bulletin on channel TVNZ channel 1. The network broadcasts throughout New Zealand, and in parts of the Pacific.

Although it's a part-public broadcaster, the network is also commercially funded.

The report comes on the same day as several prominent Māori broadcasters voicing alarm over a proposal from the Ministry of Māori Development, to axe funding for Māori news services other than those delivered through Māori Television.

Also on Friday, television channel Three's owner MediaWorks posted a loss of $25 million for the year to December, saying it faced an uncertain future.

MediaWorks announced a restructure of its own in late May, which it said would result in the loss of about 130 jobs there.

Most of the cuts from MediaWorks would be coming from the radio and sales departments.

Stuff