Melodifestivalen's project manager leaves SVT
image text: Melodifestivalen’s outgoing project manager Anders Wistbacka. Photo: Björn Larsson Rosvall/TT
Anders Wistbacka has been the top director of Melodifestivalen since 2023. Now he is leaving the position and SVT, something Aftonbladet was the first to report on.
Anders Wistbacka confirms to the newspaper that he is one of the 85 SVT employees who has chosen to apply for severance pay.
It has gone pretty fast. I thought about it for a few days and then I felt it was too exciting. It was an offer I couldn't turn down. I had to apply and then I got it approved in a few weeks," he told Aftonbladet.
“Incredibly happy and proud”
Wistbacka has previously been the project manager at “Mästarnas Mästare” but has held the role of project manager for Melodifestivalen since 2023. He has also worked with the broadcasts from Eurovision.
What's going to happen next is still undecided, he said.
– I am incredibly proud and happy to have project-led Melodifestivalen. It is for me the greatest thing you can do. It is the largest entertainment program in Sweden and for me entertainment is not a pastime, on the contrary, entertainment is gathering and it is needed in Sweden today.
SVT's savings plan
Last week, it was announced that 85 employees will be laid off at SVT with severance pay including the presenters Karin Magnusson and Kristofer Lundström and foreign correspondent Bengt Norborg.
The severance payments have been offered due to SVT needs to save 355 million SEK and the company has notified 141 employees of potential layoffs. The reason is because of increased costs for the terrestrial network. In addition, SVT has received an expanded assignment with an increased requirement for digital readiness.