Ulster Television wants to cut its workforce by 20 per cent, it said yesterday. "Competition is great and we have to reduce costs," a company spokesman said. Ulster TV reported a 50 per cent rise in profits earlier this year.

Cuts will be made in all departments and the spokesman said: "We would like to reduce staff through a purely voluntary exercise." He added it was hoped the cuts would be completed by the end of the year.

Belfast-based UTV recently reported pre-tax profits of £12.5 million sterling (€18.84 million) for 1998, up from £8.8 million in 1997, and gave a special dividend to shareholders.

UTV's costs are set to rise by an extra £1 million a year from the 10-year extension of its licence and through the costs of introducing a digital service this year.