YLE is to increase its content purchases from independent production companies by 35 per cent by 2022.
YLE is considering downsizing its production department in order to satisfy the requirements imposed by a parliamentary working group assigned to assess the funding and mission of the national broadcasting company.
The working group has stipulated that the broadcasting company must increase its content purchases from independent production companies in Finland and Europe by as much as 35 per cent by 2022.
“Winding down the production operations will, if carried out, translate to personnel effects and consultative negotiations. An announcement about the consultative negotiations will be made in the near future, once the plans become clearer,” the broadcaster says in a press release.
YLE currently estimates that it will have to reduce its production capacity by roughly one-third. Its design and production departments currently have a total of 466 permanent employees, 309 of whom are based in Helsinki and 157 of whom are based in Tampere.
Janne Yli-Äyhö, the director of the production department, says the decision by the parliamentary working group made it clear that the public broadcaster will have to begin its transformation and overhaul its production operations.
“The sector has clearly been under pressure to change for some time,” he says. “YLE's production department has traditionally been a full-service organisation. The structural changes will allow us to trim our fixed resources and, if necessary, supplement them with service purchases. We will thereby have flexible access to the production capacity we need at any given time.”
Yli-Äyhö adds that one of the objectives of the transformation is to maintain the strong production expertise of YLE.
YLE also says it will shift its focus firmly towards digital development and develop its services and ways of operating. A particular emphasis in the years to come, it adds, will be placed on journalism, drama and content for children and young people.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT Photo: Petteri Paalasmaa – Uusi Suomi
