ITV is planning to shut the factual division of one of its regional centres, staff were told today.
The closure is part of moves to cut 1,000 jobs to deliver £40 million of savings in its regional news services.
The broadcaster said it was proposing to merge its current affairs and features divisions in Manchester and close the factual division, also based in the city, at the end of next January.
“ITV will now be entering into a consultation period with employees,” said an ITV spokesman.
Sources said around 26 posts will be affected by the announcement.
Broadcasting union condemned the move, which it said would affect 12 of its members.
Assistant general secretary Luke Crawley said: “It is disappointing but hardly a surprise that ITV are withdrawing from another area of programme making. It was only last year that the factual department at Yorkshire TV in Leeds was closed.
“Taken together with the cuts being imposed on local cews across the ITV network means we are seeing retrenchment and the loss of valuable programme makers from outside London.”
ITV said last month that it would cut 430 jobs from its regional news operation, taking the television company’s job cuts for the year to around 1,000.
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