:: press release ::

November 5, 2008

ROSS CONCERN AT UTV JOB LOSSES 

Alastair Ross MLA has said that many constituents in East Antrim has contacted him in relation to the news that there may be a number of redundancies in Ulster Television.  

The East Antrim MLA went on to say that he feared that the reduction in the hours in news programming would effect the quality of local broadcasting.   

Speaking from his Carrickfergus Office Mr Ross said,  

"A number of constituents have contacted me raising their concern about possible job losses at UTV. OFCOM decisions mean that UTV will reduce the hours of local news from over five hours a week to four hours.  

It is important that Northern Ireland viewers have a choice of local news broadcasters but this will be diminished if UTV reduce their local news output. Many experienced staff and reporters could lose their jobs under current plans.  

I would appeal to senior management to resist these changes to ensure that local people continue to enjoy locally produced programming.”