INDEPENDENT NETWORK News (INN) chief executive John O’Connor left the company yesterday as attempts by INN subscribers to find a replacement news service gathered pace.
INN announced last week that it would cease providing national and world news reports to radio stations at the end of October, with the loss of 16 jobs, because the business was no longer financially viable.
A committee representing radio stations which take INN reports and the company’s 18 independent radio station shareholders, excluding UTV and Denis O’Brien’s Communicorp, yesterday heard bids from six groups for a three-month contract to provide a replacement service.
It is understood that Mr O’Brien’s Newstalk, UTV, Digital Audio Productions which is headed by former 2fm DJ Dusty Rhodes and a group fronted by INN editor Richie McCullen were among those who pitched.
Three of the bidders have been placed on a shortlist and will meet the committee again on Monday. A winner of the contract is likely to be announced by the end of next week.
Mr McCullen said he was examining the possibility of hiring the existing INN facilities and using the current staff to provide a service. “Whether or not it becomes a reality remains to be seen,” he said. “I would not be averse to teaming up with one of the other bidders.”
The committee also indicated that a number of groups had approached it regarding the provision of a long-term replacement service, but these were not in a position to begin immediately.
Sources close to TV3 said the broadcaster had been approached and held talks about the three-month contract but it declined to bid. However, it is understood TV3 is interested in providing a long-term replacement for INN.
INN chairman Charlie Collins said the board greatly regretted having to wind up operations but that he was committed to finding a replacement. “As managing director of Highland Radio, I can also say that it is and absolute imperative that we have a national and global news service available for our listeners from the end of October and we are working to that end.”
A spokesman for INN confirmed that Mr O’Connor had left the company yesterday but declined to comment any further. Attempts to contact Mr O’Connor last night were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members at INN have voted to take industrial action up to and including strike action in pursuit of a demand for a withdrawal of the threat of redundancies on October 30th.
The NUJ has asked the company to refer the dispute to the Labour Relations Commission and to explore alternatives to wholesale redundancies.
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