TVNZ news and current affairs is set to lose $5 million
from its budget.
About 75 jobs could be affected by the move as management
scale back the $40m news and current affairs budget, the
Dominion Post reported.
Sources told the newspaper TVNZ staff had been told changes
would include downgrading the Wellington and Christchurch
bureaus and centralising control in Auckland.
Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman said the measures were
an operational matter, so it would be inappropriate for him
to comment.
Labour broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns said the latest
cuts pointed to the Government preparing the company for
sale.
Dr Coleman previously said he favours establishing TVNZ 7 as
a public broadcaster, leaving TV One and TV2 as commercial
operations.
News and current affairs head Anthony Flannery told managers
in February that "some jobs will be lost ... and many more
will be impacted" as the company sought cost efficiencies and
more multi-skilling of staff. Spokeswoman Megan Richards said
in February that the exercise was different from early last
year when the company shed 80 jobs to cut costs by $25m.
TVNZ made a profit before interest and tax of $10.1m last
year. That shrank to $2.1m after tax, interest and
restructuring costs.
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