NINE jobs are to go at Meridian TV in Newbury after plans were unveiled to relocate the studio, which broadcasts local news programmes, to Southampton.
The National Union of Journalists has described last week's announcement that the studio, plus senior editorial staff, would be leaving Newbury as "a downgrading of news coverage for the area".
Some Meridian reporters and cameramen will remain in Newbury as a smaller-scale news bureau will replace the current studio.
A Meridian spokesman said: "Our viewers will notice no change on screen and we will retain a comprehensive television news-gathering operation in Newbury and the surrounding community."
The spokesman described the job losses as "regrettable". A 30-day consultation period is now under way and it is hoped the redundancies will be voluntary.
The move by Meridian is set to go-ahead after it got the blessing of the Independent Television Commission which had to agree to a variation in the company's operating licence.
Sarah Thane, director of programmes and advertising for the ITC, said: "By keeping a Newbury news bureau and maintaining a locally-based news-gathering strength, the Com- mission believes that these changes protect viewers' interests in the Meridian West area."
But attacking the move, an NUJ spokesman claimed: "The news programmes for north Hampshire will be produced in Southampton by people without local knowledge and this will mean people won't get the local programmes they are entitled to."
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