Channel M staff have been told that 41 people are likely to be made redundant as owner, MEN Media looks to cut costs.
Live shows will also be scaled back from June.
It comes weeks after the publisher announced job losses at its local newspapers and just a few months after it was announced that Channel M would be appearing on Freeview.
The company explained that the channel’s revenues had been “severely affected” by the recession and that it was reducing costs to become “more sustainable as a business.”
“These further redundancies at MEN Media are deeply regrettable but, in the current climate and in the context of wider changes in our industry, they are unavoidable,” said Mark Dodson, chief executive of GMG Regional Media.
News and sport
“The company continues to believe there will be a successful future for local TV in the UK. Channel M will continue to broadcast, and we reserve the option to restore aspects of the schedule should economic circumstances improve.
The changes come as a result of a company review into the Channel, in which it was recommended that it focus on an early evening news show and general sports programming.
“We will also carry on our discussions with government, regulators and other industry players. Through the DDR (Digital Dividend Review) process Channel M now has a future on Freeview. Furthermore, recent reviews by Ofcom and the government have raised the possibility of consortia of organisations – including regional press publishers – bidding to provide regional broadcast news,” added Dodson.
“We will continue to explore the potential of this progressive idea, and remain in a strong position to take advantage of such opportunities as they develop.”
The redundancies will initially be voluntary, but MEN Media hasn’t ruled out compulsory redundancies. The company is now in a period of consultation.
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