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No rescue for closure threat Leeds ITV studio - COMMENT ON THIS STORY
ITV's Leeds base has suffered another blow after Yorkshire Forward announced it will not be buying studios earmarked for closure.
The news comes as the beleaguered broadcaster outlined plans to strip out another 40 million in cost savings after reporting a 14 per cent slide in first quarter revenues.
A spokesman for ITV said they would not be breaking down where the 40 million cost cuts would be made but he could not rule out further job cuts in Leeds.
He said: "I am not going to rule out (further job cuts) but we will be updating (where cuts will be made) when the interim results are out in August."
Last month saw Yorkshire Forward, Screen Yorkshire and Leeds City Council work on an emergency action plan after ITV announced cuts in March.
This was part of an ongoing review over a support package for the media industry as a whole during the recession.
A report was commissioned over the potential use of the studios after ITV announced plans to close one of five of the buildings which is part of ITV's Kirkstall Road complex.
In a joint statement, they said: "We can confirm that potential public ownership and management of this studio complex as a facility for the region is no longer being considered by Yorkshire Forward.
"It is felt that the future of the production industry would be best served by the investment of public funds into activities that generate production work - in generating jobs and maintaining the skills and talents of both creative and technical staff here in the region.
"We continue to work closely with a number of agencies and ITV to put together comprehensive support for those people who are under threat of redundancy and to support existing businesses to survive and adapt to the changes that face them."
ITV estimates that about 180 jobs will go in Leeds as part of its nationwide drive to make hundreds of millions of pounds in efficiency savings.
The cash-strapped broadcaster is stressing that although part of its long-standing Kirkstall Road home is closing, Calendar and interior scenes for Emmerdale will still be filmed there.
An ITV spokesman said: "With regards to the studio (that is closing) we are exploring options for the site."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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