VRT to scrap 90 jobs in coming year
Flemish public broadcaster VRT is protesting at government cuts that will see major changes in its programming, including cuts in sports and daytime programming
Fans of Flanders online only
Unions are protesting against the government of Flanders’ spending cuts of €18 million in the coming year and the 128 full-time jobs that will have to disappear as a result – a net loss of 90 jobs when planned hires are taken into account.
VRT currently employs 2,338 full-time job equivalents. Details of how the cuts will be implemented were revealed by the board yesterday. Unions warned the one-minute shutdown was just the beginning.
The savings will affect the VRT’s market share, but not its responsibility to the viewing public, said Leo Hellemans, director of productions. However, the cost-cutting goes beyond what was announced in the government accord.
VRT already had plans to adjust its classic radio and TV output in favour of digital offerings. That involves a further €8 million in cuts on top of the €18 million imposed by the new government.
The €18 million saving concern only 2015. From 2016, the broadcaster will be expected to economise by a further €4 million a year.
Among other changes, the Cobra.be culture website will shut down, with content moving to Canvas.be and Deredactie.be. The third network OP12 will also be retired. The network had proved its worth, Hellemans said, by sparing children’s channel Ketnet from being interrupted by sports coverage. However, reaching children by this method is, he said, “very difficult”.
The main prime-time offering on Eén remains relatively spared, although three slots for new fiction will go. Travel show Vlaanderen Vakantieland will adopt a new, cheaper format. The annual Sportgala and Night of the Television Stars awards shows will both disappear.
Daytime programming will involve more repeats and fewer bought-in programmes. The expat programme Fans of Flanders, which normally airs weekly on Op12 and Canvas, will no longer be broadcast but will still be available online.
Football’s Belgian Cup will only be broadcast from the semi-finals; one match will be shown each day of play in the Europa League instead of two. Wimbledon, the WTA Masters tennis championship and the Eneco cycling tour will no longer be broadcast.
Radio, with its lower budgets, suffers less. Radio 2’s Avondpost will be broadcast region-wide from Brussels instead of having five provincial editions. Studio Brussel and MNM will spend less on events. Klara will spend less on outside broadcasts.
Photo by Alan Hope
About the author
