TVO: Major change

Two years after joining tvontario as chairman and ceo, Peter Herrndorf is still grappling with problems he inherited from his predecessor – low employee morale and financial constraints. In a Jan. 19 memo to tvo employees, Herrndorf outlined a restructuring plan that addresses concerns about the work environment raised by employees through a special task force, as well as initiatives geared towards generating new revenues.

In the memo, Herrndorf states tvo is facing ‘a tough economic climate, cutbacks in provincial funding and new technologies that will redefine broadcasting in the not-too-distant future, increased competition from specialty channels and ultimately, an increasingly fragmented audience base.’

He adds: ‘While I don’t want to sound unduly alarmist, I firmly believe we all have to fully understand the realities we’re dealing with if we’re to find effective solutions.’

In acknowledging ‘organizational duplication and overlap’ within the broadcaster, Herrndorf announced some major changes in its programming departments.

– Finance, purchasing and administration have been consolidated under Lee Robock, chief financial officer and director of finance and administration.

– On the English programming side, children’s and youth programming have been amalgamated under creative head Adrian Mills; Doug Grant has been named creative head current affairs; and a new office of independent production will be created and a new creative head hired by the end of March.

French programming

– French programming services have been regrouped into three areas: current affairs and cultural programming, headed by Bruno Beaulieu; children’s schools and training, headed by Bonita Chevrier; and independent production, headed by Daniele Caloz.

– Operations has been separated into broadcast operations, headed by Roy Ireland, with Michael Wright as its new manager, studio and field production. Alex MacGregor will be responsible for supervising transmitters under the broadcast distribution unit.

– Chris Bell has been promoted to director of engineering.

– Information services and business systems have been combined and human resources will be revamped and its new director, Clara Arnold, will be asked to review tvo’s policies on contract employees and non-union positions, as well as new training opportunities.

– A new research department has been formed.

In addition, tvo will consolidate all of its revenue activities into a new marketing and development department. It plans to hire an executive director of marketing and development. Over the next five years, the broadcaster must double its internally generated net revenue.