Nope, Still Not Caring

Is anyone else struggling to care about the demise of around 50 positions at TVNZ? These cosseted luvvies have had it too good for too long, and they are wailing about their futures. Listen to the self-absorbed wailing.

“Some got them around 8.30am, others around 10.30am. So when some people assumed they were safe, they were suddenly not,” said one staff member.

“It was cruel.”

And then yesterday, as formal meetings got under way, the full extent of TVNZ’s plans – the broadcaster calls them ‘proposals’, some staff might feel better describing them as ‘carnage’ – became apparent.

“It’s bad. Really, really bad,” another worker said.

“Super shit,” said another. “Yip, [my] job done.”

Most of TVNZ’s 600-strong workforce had been summonsed to meetings to hear their fate. They were each presented with a range of proposals – from the relatively minor (for example, a reporting line change) to the life-changing (proposed disestablishment).

Hosts. Journalists. Salespeople. Mid-tier leaders. Camera operators.

There were tears. Staff were already dusting off CVs, said one source. Later, some staff crossed the road, from TVNZ’s Auckland headquarters to the Empire pub. Beers replaced tears.

In total, TVNZ plans to cut some 50 of its 600 fulltime-equivalent (FTE) roles by the end of the year, in its quest to help find $30 million.

NZ Herald