TVA Group will cut approximately 31% of its workforce, wind down its in-house production work and restructure its news division, all as part of a major reorganization plan.
The Quebec broadcaster said Thursday Nov. 2 that it will eliminate 547 positions overall, including 300 in-house production roles, 98 in operations and an additional 149 across other departments. TVA’s end goal is to reduce operating costs and streamline the workforce, and its reorganization is designed to “safeguard TVA Group’s core businesses,” according to a news release.
“The deficit TVA Group is currently running is simply no longer sustainable,” said Pierre Karl Péladeau, acting President and CEO of TVA Group and President and CEO of Quebecor in the release. “We have a responsibility to correct the situation.”
TVA reported a year-to-date loss of close to $13 million in its broadcasting segment, compared with $1.6 million for the same period last year.
Steps the broadcaster is taking the remedy the situation include a three-part reorganization plan that includes the “cessation of in-house production of entertainment content,” a reorganization of its news operations and “optimization” of its real estate holdings.
In-house productions Le Tricheur, La Poule aux œufs d’or and Vlog will be outsourced to independent producers, according to TVA, with production activities gradually phased out. TVA said it will continue to produce its morning shows Salut Bonjour and Salut Bonjour Week-end, its newscasts, the TVA Nouvelles and Le Canal Nouvelles (TCN) public affairs programs and some sports programs.
Changes to the news division include merging its conventional and digital news media teams in Montreal into a single hub. The TVA Nouvelles and LCN teams will continue to be managed separately. Meanwhile, daily newspaper Journal de Québec will relocate to the TVA Quebec City office, and the Quebec City team will record newscasts for all other local stations.
The third prong of the reorganization plan includes merging teams into the company’s Quebec City head office and possibly converting its Montreal headquarters into social housing.
“The necessary measures we are taking today will change the way we do business in order to withstand the market pressures and face the competition,” he continued. “We will refocus our activities, reduce our operating costs and concentrate on the strengths that set us apart… our goal is to be able to continue offering viewers original Québec content, to continue investing, and to bring all Quebecers reliable coverage of news and major sporting events.”
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