More layoffs in Belgian media industry as BX1 announces job cuts

More layoffs are hitting the Belgian media industry, as Brussels' French-speaking multimedia platform BX1 has announced job cuts not long after Bruzz and LN24 did the same.

The BX1 board of directors informed staff this week of its intention to reorganise the channel for "economic reasons", among other factors, which will include redundancies.

“This reorganisation is based on a desire to introduce greater fairness among employees,” the board of directors said.

“Among other things, it involves redundancies but also a repositioning of the channel through increased productivity and a greater number of programmes.”

Eight of the 50 full-time equivalent positions are at stake, RTBF reports.

According to the board of directors, the media has been hit hard by "a major crisis" for many months.

“BX1 has not been spared by the media crisis – we have to make some painful decisions and today we announced our intention to terminate the collaboration with several BX1 employees,” said Martine Barbé, chair of BX1.

“We are starting discussions with the trade union delegation this week. Our ambition is to save the financial situation of the organisation for the coming years.”

Discussions will continue in the coming days, “with the aim of relaunching BX1 on 5 January with a new programme schedule and an offering that is even more relevant to the people of Brussels”, the organisation said.