The new media agreement, made up by the liberal government with necessary support from Dansk Folkeparti (the rightwing Danish Folk Party) just before summer, made it clear that DR would loose one FM channel + the money to produce - but should still produce the same content but spread it to other platforms like DAB Digital Radio. So bottom line is that, DR firstly was punished by delivering FM4 back, deliver the money they have produced content for the FM4 for - and also should keep producing the same amount of content without any money to produce for.
If you are a CEO, you then need to look on, where to cut costs. A few years ago DR fired 521 people and last year about 100. Yesterday another 104 people lost their jobs and more to follow. The budget custs are not over yet. Next year, DR will need to cut another € 10M.
That is the reálity and that is how it is. The staff went on a short strike yesterday. Their way to raise their voice and say : "hey - just as you know it - but this will cause lworse quality in the programmes and news...."
I each and any democracy you are allowed to raise your voice, if you are unhappy with an decision made by the politicians and/or other people. In Denmark we have been fighting for the freedom of speech for years, which had also caused much trouble deserved or not.
When I look on some of the comments from people in the newspapers and on Facebook, I must admit, that I am a bit shocked. Shocked when I see well educated people from other media, raising their flags and saluting the sacking of the 104 DR staffers. "Now the spoiled DR kids can learn the lesson" is among the Facebook updates.
Excuse me ladies and gentlemen.
I have followed DR tight the last fice years and NO - there are not one employee too much in that PSB company. All fat has been cut off the DR body years ago. The last couple of years, they have been cutting in the flesh - and now they are cutting in the bones.
I simply can not accept, that people - without knowledge about the eternal situation in DR - continues to throw stones after the DR staff, who produces hundreds of thousands of TV and radio every year under very difficulty financiel and editorial conditions.
I am simply not accept, that other people within the Danish radio industry is trampling on collegues, who have lost their jobs, pointing fingers of those persons and point then out as "spoiled".
This is disrespect not only for those people but for the whole entire Danish radio industry.
If you do not have the heart to participate in each others successes and each others bad times, you should leave the industry and give space to people who really loves radio and the people working there.
We don´t need anymore bloody Mondays in PSB DR or the commercial stations.
Amen....
