TORONTO – TV Ontario announced today it will cut programming and staff to save $2 million and says it will change itself into a more streamlined organization with an expanded focus on digital innovation in children's media and current affairs.
"As a publicly-funded organization, TVO has a responsibility to deliver on its educational mission, with the greatest impact, across multiple platforms," said Lisa de Wilde, CEO, in a press release. "To do this we must find cost savings in some areas and direct more resources into others." The broadcaster will shave 35-40 positions from the payroll and cut some programming, such as the 18-year-old show Allan Gregg in Conversation.
In the March 2012 provincial budget announcement, the Ontario government said all public agencies (which includes TVO) must reduce their reliance on government funding to help reduce the provincial deficit. “TVO's plan responds to this fiscal reality and allows the organization to build a sustainable financial model in 2013-14 and beyond,” reads its press release.
TVO will reduce current expenses and re-allocate resources into digital innovation in children's media and current affairs, for a net reduction of $2M (which is 5% of its provincial operating grant of $42 million and 3% of its total $64 million annual budget. TVO will raise approximately $22 million in self-generated revenues this year through donations, corporate sponsorships, online/digital revenues and fee for service contracts to operate the Province's Independent Learning Centre and Homework Help service). The current employees will leave TVO between now and the end of March 2013 and it means there will be fewer staff dedicated to traditional TV production while those remaining will be concentrated in new multifunctional roles that leverage the efficiencies of digital technology, says the broadcaster.
"Streamlined production processes will allow us to create the kind of distinct content that delivers on our mission and to be more productive with every dollar we have," said de Wilde.
Three series will be cancelled at the end of their seasons next spring. Those are: the 38-year old Saturday Night at the Movies; Allan Gregg in Conversation; and the Big Ideas lecture series. TVO will continue, however, to present special lectures under its flagship The Agenda with Steve Paikin brand.
"These are tough decisions but times change and we have to adapt and innovate. When Saturday Night at the Movies began almost 40 years ago, it broke new ground but now entire TV networks and web services are dedicated to movies," said de Wilde (who used to run The Movie Network). "The choices we've made will direct TVO's resources to the kind of high quality educational content that you can't find anywhere else."
At the same time, TVO is focusing on digital innovation in two priority areas that it says will set the organization apart: Expanding 21st century digital learning resources for kids, parents and teachers and directing more resources into the growth of The Agenda with Steve Paikin and Civics 101 as a multi-platform hub for civic engagement in the big issues of the day, reads the press release.
TVO executives will be meeting with the leaders of its two bargaining units, CEP and CMG, and will by the end of this week present the specifics of the changes and the options available to those affected employees.
"TVO exists to help make the world a better place, by helping every child in Ontario to develop a love of learning and by enabling every citizen to become an informed and engaged citizen. While some of these changes will not be easy, they will position TVO most effectively to deliver on our educational promise to help to make the citizens of Ontario smarter, more aware and more informed in the years ahead," said de Wilde.
