Despite staff cuts and financial losses, Ulster TV plans to expand
south of the border.
Although UTV, one of the smallest ITV companies, recently reduced its
annual costs by pounds 3 million and lost 35 of its 150 staff in the
process, the channel plans to expand into Southern Ireland and
concentrate on digital developments in the coming months.
'We are already received in the majority of homes in Eire and want to
take advantage of the opportunity to reach a wider audience. The key to
UTV'S future lies in expansion into the Southern Ireland, and the growth
of our digital channel, TV-You,' said John McCann, the newly appointed
managing director at UTV.
The recent cuts, thought to be linked to additional investment in the
company's digital services, were 'driven primarily by the recent
franchise agreement last year,' said an industry spokesman.
