Channel 4 has been urged to give a “cast-iron commitment” to protect jobs in its Bristol creative hub following reports that it is poised to slash up to 200 roles to cut costs.
The plea has come from West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who said he was seeking a guarantee that staff working in Bristol would escape the jobs axe.
The broadcaster is understood to be planning to cut as many as 200 jobs as it comes to terms with the biggest slump in TV advertising since the financial crash of 2008.
According to media reports, Channel 4 bosses started drawing up a plan late last year to accelerate its digital streaming service as a way of cutting its budget for new content.
Channel 4 had been growing rapidly on the back of increased ad revenues until the cost of living crisis and other factors hit its income from advertising.
Staffing levels have also increased in recent years to reach around 1,200.
While most of the affected positions are expected to be London-based roles, Mayor Norris – who leads the West of England Combined Authority – has written to Channel 4 bosses calling for its Bristol jobs to be fully protected and that plans for more roles in the nations and regions – including in Bristol – will be implemented.
This time last year Channel 4 said it was committed to further investment in the regions after controversial government plans to privatise it were ditched.
That included increasing the number of staff working outside London from 500 to 600.
Channel 4 opened its Bristol base in 2019 following a high-profile campaign to bring it to the city led by its creative industry in partnership with Mayor Marvin Rees and the city council.
The hub at Finzels Reach has since become such an important part of Bristol’s media sector, employing more than 20 people and developing strong links with programme makers in the city.
It has also spearheaded highly acclaimed work on diversity and inclusion in the city, including encouraging young people from different backgrounds into jobs in the creative sector.
Mayor Norris, who was a strong opponent of the government’s sell-off plan for the broadcaster, said: “Channel 4 is one of Britain’s cultural crown jewels, and Bristol’s brilliant Channel 4 creative hub really does have unparalleled skills and experience.
“While I understand West of England jobs will be protected, I’d like a cast-iron commitment that’s definitely the case. That’s vital to protect West of England-made programming and representation.”
