It's not just a few extra Rugby World Cup matches heading to Auckland. TVNZ has announced that its weekday mid-morning programme Good Morning will relocate to Auckland from the end of the year. TVNZ Chief Executive Rick Ellis said today that a new mid-morning programme would be launched in 2012 that would be based out of the company's Auckland Television Centre.
"The Good Morning team have done an outstanding job out of Avalon. But the implementation of our new multi-million dollar digital infrastructure and play out facilities in our Auckland TVC mean we have the opportunity to better utilise staff, technology and studios and further grow the revenue and profitability of the show," Mr Ellis said. "We want to build the show from its current strong base to make it even more attractive to audiences and advertisers."
Good Morning's move to Auckland will also free up Avalon for other potential work. TVNZ was looking at options for utilising Avalon's studios post December 2011, perhaps by third parties for film or overseas long format television dramas.
Some Good Morning production staff may be relocated to Auckland at the end of the year but there could potentially be up to 12 Full time equivalent positions redundant and a number of contract positions affected as a result of the move.
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