Jobs cut as TV3 completes acquisition of rival UTV

Twenty-one jobs will be lost as TV3 completes the acquisition of fledgling broadcaster UTV Ireland and moves all production to its existing Ballymount base in south-west Dublin.

UTV Ireland set up in the Dublin docklands in 2014, marking a bold foray into the Republic’s television market by its Belfast parent. However, despite its award-winning news output, the move came unstuck when the cost of launching escalated and the station failed to build local scheduling around its exclusive rights to Coronation Street.

TV3 said yesterday it had started consultations with staff but that of the 61 permanent staff at UTV Ireland “it has 40 open vacancies, many of which it is hoped will be filled by current UTV Ireland staff”. The broadcaster said it will continue to have three channels — TV3, 3e, as well as a rebranded UTV Ireland.