Nearly 30 jobs are to go as a result of a decision to dramatically scale down a local TV station originally set up by a regional newspaper publisher.

GMG Regional Media has announced that Channel M will no longer broadcast original news and video content from this Friday and that its evening news programme, Channel M Today, will be axed altogether.

It means the channel’s 33-strong workforce is being reduced to four with consultations already under way with those affected.

The future of the loss-making station has been uncertain ever since it was left out of the £44m deal by GMG to sell its regional operations to Trinity Mirror last month.

A company statement issued today read: “Following the announcement of the sale of GMG Regional Media to Trinity Mirror, GMG has been reviewing options for Channel M.

“We have today informed staff that, despite interest from a number of parties, a viable offer for the station has not emerged.

“Following the review of Channel M, we have reached the conclusion that the station is no longer sustainable in its current form.

“This is due to a number of factors, including the absence of a committed buyer, the loss of access to news from MEN Media, and the costs associated with the requirement to leave the Urbis building.

“As a result, from this Friday the station will no longer broadcast evening magazine show Channel M Today, and will cease production of original news and features video.

“Channel M will remain on air, focusing in the short-term on a mixture of archive material, traffic and networked news.

“We regret to announce that as a consequence of these changes the company proposes to reduce the number of people employed by Channel M from 33 to four. The company is in consultation with those affected.

“GMG will remain the owner and operator of both Channel M and the associated Freeview multiplex business in Manchester.”

Comments

Dee Motivated (17/03/2010 12:16:28)
Lions led by donkeys – yet it’s the donkeys who still have jobs…..

Dan (18/03/2010 09:20:32)
Did some work exp for Channel M and thoroughly enjoyed it – such a shame. Another local, original voice gone.