Sky production staff braced for redundancies

[Scubbie]

Sky production staff braced for redundancies | Media | The Guardian

News, sport and entertainment teams called to staff meeting next week as union claims workers worried over costs of Premier League rights deal

Sky production staff in news and sport are braced for redundancies ahead of a meeting with management next Tuesday.

Staff have not been told what is on the agenda at an “Agility and Flexibility” meeting called by Sky Production Services director Darren Long. They have been told only to expect an “important announcement” at the meeting at Sky’s Isleworth offices.

However, several sources say they expect an announcement about forthcoming redundancies.

The redundancies are understood to be part of a wider reorganisation of the unit driven by the shift towards more entertainment programming. New working patterns are also expected to be part of discussions.

Around two thirds of Production Services, totalling about 600 people mostly working in studios and post-production, including those on Sky News and Sports, have been called into the meeting.

A spokesperson for entertainment and media union Bectu said: “People are saying, ‘Sky have spent this mega-money on football deal’, and have linked that with cuts and economic savings.

“Members feel worried about their future at Sky, it is a developing company and there is a lot of capital investment going on at Sky Studios, and people naturally link that type of development to economic stability.

“People are now concerned that their jobs and livelihoods are at risk.”

In February, Sky paid £5.14bn to retain rights to broadcast its package of Premier League football matches. The deal means Sky is now paying £11m a game, up from £6.6m under its previous deal.

Mathew Horsman of consultancy Mediatique told Radio 4’s Media Show on Wednesday that the broadcaster had already raised subscriptions twice this year and would have to make cuts to fund its outlay on new content.

“There may be not that much to put the prices up a lot more, but there are costs they can cut,” he said. “Sky will be cutting costs on other forms of content and money they pay to channel groups who supply channels to the Sky platform.”

Sky has also invested heavily in original content, including big budget drama series such as Fortitude, under the strategy of Sky entertainment channels director Stuart Murphy.

A Sky spokesperson said: “As Europe’s leading entertainment company, operating in a fast-moving industry, Sky continually reviews its business to ensure we are working as effectively as possible and providing the very best service to our customers.”

Separately, it is understood that Sky News is expected to lose some editorial production jobs later in the summer.

About 30 or more could go following plans to integrate Sky News digital and television operations.

Although some staff could transfer to new roles, it is understood that those who do not or are not able to make the move could face redundancy. A consultation period with staff began at the end of January but the results are not expected until after the general election. Sky says the process will not result in a loss of headcount.

Executive producers have already been asked to reapply for their jobs, which will be turned into “heads of content” roles working across both TV and online.

[vfx]

I'm beginning to think job security is a thing of the past.

[Scubbie]

Job security was killed off many years ago.

I think it was Maggie Thatcher who killed off the last hopes of that one, but the nails were already in the coffin by then.

[gymno]

Maggie Thatcher also once said that if you're on a bus & over the age of 30 then you've failed in life.

I'd imagine that talking to her about altruism & benevolence etc would be like talking to the stig.
Both gone now.

[Meteosat]

It's possible that I am not alone in cancelling my SKY Sports package, and thus reducing their income. It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall ;-(

[vfx]

Job security was killed off many years ago.

I think it was Maggie Thatcher who killed off the last hopes of that one, but the nails were already in the coffin by then.

Yeah but I would have thought it be a bit safer if you done well on Sky. Saying that, its unreal the mistakes thats happening on Sky News and Sky Sports News. From missing graphics to cameras bumping into things or falling face down and one point where they lost sound completely on Sky News for 8 minutes before it was restored. As one of the reporters was out on the field at the time reporting on the hour. Bet he was chuffed when nobody could hear him.

Theres lots and lots of small mistakes that appears really bad on the broadcast part in the past years to present day. Which I came to the conclusion the experienced people became too costly and brought in more t-shirts. Hence all the mistakes. Worst of all across all the production channels, its like watching school/work experience people with cameras. The amount of fast panning thats going on or silly zooming as the producer also gets it wrong going to the wrong cameras.

There was one time I remember for so long Sky News and Sky Sports everything was to cue. Nobody getting cut off while they were talking, (including people interviewed from America) no delays. Everything was seamless. I find it so irritating when guests and such are on and they cut them off for the adverts all because they seem poor at managing their time. Plus it also comes across very rude.

I always remember from the early 90s in media class, they drilled it into you about no fast movements to the camera. Let alone not having your back to the camera.

At the same time, it must be awful if you've done well behind the scenes and you've to lose your job at a big place such as Sky all because of an insane football deal.

[gymno]

I wear t-shirts.

[Scubbie]

BBC Breakfast had a classic case of someone leaving the mic on the other week.

It got a little funnier when it was repeated about half an hour later with one person saying to the other 'you'd better be careful, someone on twitter has mentioned about your mic being on'.

Whoops, so should she.

Yes it is sad that someone should lose their job because BT PLC want to take the sports content away from Sky. Sky's response has been to hike u the prices in a manner that doesn't reflect who is watching it and to *possibly* make some people redundant.

Of course the clear winner is BT. They've got money coming in from everyone now and their coffers are over-flowing with cash.

Lets face it, if BT were to go bankrupt, the Government would step in to blster their balance, so they can do what they want.

[reddwarfcrew]

Ooo, politics on the forum. It's Friday night, wine is flowing.... I best refrain.

[gymno]

BBC Breakfast had a classic case of someone leaving the mic on the other week.

It got a little funnier when it was repeated about half an hour later with one person saying to the other 'you'd better be careful, someone on twitter has mentioned about your mic being on'.

Whoops, so should she.

ITV have been the worst though haven't they?
Not just with the last world cup, where right at the very moment england were about to score their first goal in their first game, they inexplicably cut to a car advert so literally millions of viewers missed it...

But also when they tried their hand at formula 1.
There was a season (around 2005) where Alonso was neck 'n neck with Schumacher, not just in the championship but also in a particular race.
5 or 6 laps from the end of the race & with each driver continually overtaking each other, ITV went for an ad break.
Even Money Brundle (who will commentate on anything for a (very high) price) complained on air at the time.