ITV accused of misleading public

BECTU has accused ITV of misleading the public when it says heads will not roll as a result of Deloitte's phone-in investigation.

BECTU Supervisory Official Sharon Elliott said: "Whilst Michael Grade says that 'he does not intend to take a couple of scalps in expiation' the reality is that the company's rank and file staff fear that the company will seek to recover the resulting financial losses through job cuts elsewhere in ITV".

Since the premium rate services phone-in storm broke in March this year, there have been job cuts in Factuals departments in Leeds and in London and an effective halfing of staff numbers in Arts and Features, producers of the South Bank Show.

Today the company invited Factuals staff in Manchester to express an interest in voluntary redundancy.

Last month, ITV announced its intention to seek Ofcom approval to cut dedicated regional news services by half in order to save £40m effectively putting at risk hundreds of jobs.

"What is really troubling is that it is poor leadership of the company's leading entertainment shows which is damaging the company's brand and reputation and yet staff elsewhere in the company, working on the company's public service output, are paying with their jobs" commented Sharon Elliott.