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70 roles cut at Nova as broadcaster deals with COVID-19 impact

Commercial radio business Nova has been forced to cut around 70 roles as it deals with the economic headwinds brought about by COVID-19 and a rapidly declining ad market.

Reported first by Radio Today, employees were told about the cuts in a Town Hall meeting held today and impacted workers will be notified over the next five weeks.

O’Connor said 2020 has been a tough year for Nova

Nova CEO, Cathy O’Connor, said the business had taken a hit of around 25% to its revenue this year and that things aren’t likely to improve in the short term.

“Nova Entertainment, like most other companies, has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis with an estimated fall in revenue of over 25% this year. The media industry has been particularly hard hit and we expect the downturn to continue for the next twelve to eighteen months,” said O’Connor in a statement.

“As a result, we have reviewed every aspect of our business to reduce costs and increase efficiency while continuing to deliver for our clients and audiences. Today we advised our team of the results of the review.”

The redundancies are part of cuts which will reduce costs by 9%. Nova will attempt to move staff into other roles, but the workers who do leave the business will be paid above their entitlements and given further support, including training courses and assistance to find other positions according to the business.

“These decisions will protect our core business and ensure that our company remains strong and successful and is positioned for growth as the economy recovers.”

It isn’t the first round of cuts for Nova in the last 12 months. In December, 15 roles were cut from the business with ‘tough economic conditions’ to blame.

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