NBC's Wright confirms 5%-10% cuts at NBC

Layoffs will be across the board, co. looking at digitization

By PAULA BERNSTEIN

NEW YORK -- NBC president Bob Wright confirmed in an internal memo to staffers on Friday that the company will reduce its 6,000-strong workforce by 5%-10% (Daily Variety, Jan. 12).

The cuts -- which come amid concerns about a softening ad sales market -- will extend across all divisions, with some made through attrition. Employees affected by the cost-cutting measures will be informed within the next few weeks.

"We will do everything we can do to ease the transition, including provisions for severance and outplacement counseling," Wright said.

Last fall, Wright asked division heads to take specific cost-cutting measures to enable NBC "to stay on course in terms of our overall financial performance." But, he said, because of the current economic climate, "It is now clear that we must go beyond belt-tightening and take the additional step of reducing the size of our workforce."

Wright said the company is looking to see how digitization can help save money. "Unfortunately, for some NBC employees, this will mean the loss of a job as specific tasks are consolidated or eliminated."

Many NBC staffers said they had been expecting cuts for some time. "There certainly are a lot of top-heavy areas here," said one staffer. "This is a necessary trimming of fat. We're in a time when it has to be done."

Others noted there are numerous job positions that will not be filled as a way to reduce the workforce by attrition. A hiring freeze has been in effect at NBC since October.