TVNZ is expected to inform staff on restructure plans tomorrow, including a previously signalled reduction in headcount.
TVNZ has confirmed little to 1News but — in a statement shortly before 6pm — a spokesperson said: "We’ve been upfront with TVNZers that we will need to reduce our headcount to meet the immediate revenue challenges facing the business. We also need to develop a more sustainable operating model to take us into a digital future.
"We will always take our people through proposed changes first, and so we have no comment to make on the timing or details of any business restructuring at this stage."
Responding to speculation from other media outlets that TVNZ journalists had been invited to a meeting on Thursday where the restructure plan would be outlined, the spokesperson said, "a newsroom meeting has not been scheduled for tomorrow".
Last Friday, the broadcaster revealed an operating loss of $4.6 million for the six-month period to the end of December in its half-yearly results.
Total revenue of $155.9 million was down 13.5% on last year and was blamed on “a challenging trading environment” with television advertising revenue significantly down.
Job cuts and redundancies have been signalled at TVNZ for weeks.
Speaking to RNZ's Checkpoint, Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee was asked about potential job losses at the national broadcaster earlier today.
"That is up to TVNZ to announce," she said.
Lee added in response to another question: "These are issues that TVNZ board and their leadership team is actually facing. It is not for me to actually announce for them."
The state-owned broadcaster has long operated with a "no surprises" policy with the Government and was expected to communicate with the Broadcasting Minister in advance of any issues that were controversial or likely to be of wider public interest.
Last week, global media giant Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to significantly downsize its New Zealand operations, including shuttering Newshub.
Simon Mercep says there is "genuine concern" for those affected at Newshub, with the rival news networks driving each other to be better. (Source: 1News)
The proposal would result in hundreds of staff losing their jobs, and be the most significant layoff of New Zealand journalists in years.
It would also leave TVNZ as the sole remaining television provider of local news.
SHARE ME