NBC Universal engaged in another round of belt-tightening on Monday, enacting a small number of layoffs across its cable entertainment networks, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.
According to the individual, the cuts were minor, accounting for about 1.5 percent of NBCU's workforce, which totals about 30,000 -- or about 450. Also read: "Tonight Show" Lays Off 20 Staffers, Leno Takes Pay Cut to Save Jobs Networks such as USA, E!, Bravo, G4 -- which recently canceled "Attack of the Show" and "X-Play" -- and Syfy were affected by the cuts. NBC's news group, which includes MSNBC, also felt the pinch. The creative side of NBC Entertainment was not affected by the layoffs, the individual said. The cuts came after the corporate end of the company asked each of the business units to look at what inefficiencies or duplications could be eliminated as the company prepares for 2013. The conversation about potential cuts began some months ago, the individual said. Also read: Universal Pictures Makes Across-the-Board Layoffs Monday's layoffs are the latest example of budget-shoring for NBCU, which has been trimming its workforce in the latter half of 2012. In August, 20 staffers at "The Tonight Show" were laid off. Earlier this month, Universal Pictures enacted across-the-board layoffs that affected 25 employees -- which accounted for about 1.5 percent of Universal Pictures' workforce.
Deadline first reported the news of Monday's layoffs.