The TV4 Group has made a preliminary strategic decision to change its news coverage and will discontinue its local news programming. Some 140 people could be let go. The decision also includes strengthening of national news coverage with 25 local reporters in nine locales throughout Sweden.
"It's a tough message for employees, for local journalism and for TV4 and [TV4's news production company] Nyhetsbolaget," said Casten Almqvist, CEO for the TV4 Group, in a press release (in Swedish). "But the media industry is undergoing a major restructuring, and with current uncertainties around regulation, we need to prioritize. We currently put nearly half of our news resources into local TV programming, which isn't sustainable in the long run. The goal is to put more resources in news coverage on digital platforms and our major news broadcasts at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Despite the cutbacks we will have broader coverage throughout Sweden than any other commercial news outlet on a national level."