KEY POINTS:
TVNZ has finally put a figure on the number of job losses expected at the state broadcaster.
CEO Rick Ellis has told staff that between 140 and 160 positions will go, across the organisation.
About a third of those cuts will be made in news and current affairs.
Details of restructuring at TVNZ will be announced later this week, Mr Ellis said.
"We 'guestimate' that at the end of this process between 140 and 160 roles will be made redundant. These will be spread across the organisation," he said in the memo.
About a third of TVNZ's 1000-plus staff are in news and current affairs, and Mr Ellis said he expected about a third of the job losses would come from there.
Engineering Print and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said members were concerned by the scale of the cuts.
"The principal thing they're concerned about is that a broadcaster that has charter obligations and has also pledged to establish a 24-hour news channel is cutting back," he said on Radio New Zealand today.
"Everyone is wondering how they're going to produce a quality service and a quality broadcast in doing that."
Mr Ellis said: "I realise this is difficult news to communicate but I am committed to being open with you about this."
This month, Mr Ellis gave a video presentation to staff outlining changes to top level management and warning difficult times were ahead.
The review of management comes as the organisation faces big changes, including the establishment of two new digital free-to-air channels and the launch of a website offering TV show downloads from March.
The state broadcaster has been under pressure, with several high profile staff leaving under strained circumstances, and as ratings for TV One's flagship One News have been in decline.
There was speculation that the departure of controversial head of news Bill Ralston this month would signal a redundancy programme that could see up to 200 TVNZ staff losing their jobs.
In November, Mr Ellis told a parliamentary select committee that TVNZ was not meeting its budget and job losses were looming.
TVNZ's last annual report recorded a $9.4 million drop in advertising revenue.
- NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA
