NBC News is reportedly planning to let go of around 100 to 150 employees as it grapples with challenging media industry conditions and the impending spin-off of NBCUniversal’s CNBC and MSNBC into the new publicly traded entity Versant. Sources indicate that affected staff members will receive notification by Wednesday.
Not all individuals impacted will be leaving the company; many will be encouraged to apply for 140 available positions within the organization’s news divisions. Roughly a dozen of the roles that are being cut will be transformed into new positions, and those who are affected will be invited to apply for these opportunities.
Overall, the positions being eliminated represent approximately 7% to 8% of NBC News’ workforce and roughly 2% of the broader news team across the company.
The impending job cuts have been anticipated for several weeks, particularly due to the restructuring of NBC News Group, a division that included the cable networks as well as businesses linked to NBC News, with revenues from cable now directed toward enhancing operations at Versant.
There are aspirations to develop news offerings in the near future. Last week, NBC News Group Chairman Cesar Conde revealed plans to introduce a new subscription service aimed at mobile users, alongside an increasing concentration on sports coverage.
NBC is not alone in its efforts to reduce expenses. Paramount Skydance is anticipated to lay off hundreds of employees, including those at CBS News, in the upcoming weeks as part of its plan to cut costs. Additionally, CNN has recently conducted layoffs while shifting its focus more towards digital initiatives.
