Manx Radio, the Isle of Man’s National radio station, is embarking on restructuring its operation to take account of its future needs following a planned reduction to the station’s subvention.  This public service broadcaster is co-funded by the Isle of Man Government’s annual subvention and by commercial revenues.

Following several years of reductions to Manx Radio’s subvention, a further cut expected in the forthcoming budget for 2012/13 and given the limited opportunities to further raise commercial revenues in our Island community, the decision has been taken to ensure the station is ‘fit for the future’. The company has now entered into a consultation period with staff to identify potential savings and a new structure for the company.

The proposed Budget reduction in our subvention to £850,000 leaves Manx Radio around £300,000 short of where the station should be, had government adhered to the funding formula approved by Tynwald in 2006. Manx Radio is, therefore, looking to reduce its staff presentation team from five down to one and plans for the vast majority of programmes to be presented on a freelance basis in the future.  This has become the norm within the wider commercial radio industry and is expected to be adopted by Manx Radio.

The News, Sales and Engineering teams have all come under close scrutiny and have also been asked to make their contributions to reduce the station’s overheads. Two News Editor posts, namely News Editor Online and News Editor Broadcast are earmarked for closure to be replaced with a new, single News Editor position. It is expected that there will be a further reduction to Newsroom staff in the summer when a Broadcast Journalist will be retiring and the position will not be filled.

As instructed by our shareholder, The Treasury, It is expected that, subject to the 2012/13 Budget being approved by Tynwald, that the necessary savings will have been identified and implemented by Manx Radio by the 31st March 2012.

Manx Radio’s Chairman, David North said,

"The staff at Manx Radio are extremely talented and have been committed to delivering the best listener experience possible. It is hugely disappointing that some of our award winning team are likely to leave the station at this time and I’m sure this will come as a great disappointment to many listeners.

"However, all listeners should be re-assured that the Manx Radio board will be doing all it can to retain the range and quality of programming that listeners have come to expect and enjoy from the station over recent years." 

Manx Radio’s Managing Director Anthony Pugh said,

"It is very regretful that the company could be losing some talented and loyal individuals, however, our main objective has to be to maintain the award winning services of Manx Radio for our listeners without further burdening the Manx tax payer.  We have worked hard to ensure the majority of our programming will remain largely unchanged and we will still be offering the Island business community the same excellent standards and opportunities for advertising. Our engineering team will also continue to offer first rate engineering services to commercial clients.

"The restructure of Manx Radio will allow the station to continue on a sure footing for the future.  The station commands the premier role in broadcasting in the Isle of Man and will continue to do so."



Note:  Manx Radio was the first commercial radio station to start broadcasting in the British Isles in 1964. Today Manx Radio commands one of the largest percentage audience reaches of any radio Station in the British Isles. The station has won the Nations and Region’s station of the year – North West - 3 times in the past 5 years.