MTV in the UK is to cut up to 80 jobs – around 10% of its workforce – as part of Viacom’s global plan to save $250m in 2009.

MTV UK, which encompasses channels such as MTV One, VH1 and TMF, told staff last Thursday that it would begin a 30-day consultation on the cuts, which are expected to affect most departments.

As part of the changes, MTV is also currently consulting on whether to outsource its short-form production, which includes programme links and shows such as its chart rundown. Currently, these are produced in-house at MTV’s studio complex in Camden, north London. MTV already outsources all its long-form programming.

Viacom last week announced it would be shedding 850 jobs globally as part of a cost cutting initiative as well as freezing senior management pay. The group, which also owns film studio Paramount Pictures and TV channels including Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and BET, said the job cuts would reduce its global workforce of 12,300 by about 7%.

Meanwhile, Channel 4 is set to make 200 staff redundant in the coming weeks – 50 more than first planned when it unveiled a £100m cost-cutting programme in September.

……….

Categories: Articles, Broadcast